Japan should acknowledge sex slaves' pain: British MPs

Sunday 30th November, 02:51 PM JST

Japan should acknowledge the importance of Second World War “comfort women” as a “painful and emotive” issue in South Korea, an influential committee of British parliamentarians said Sunday.

The Foreign Affairs Committee said that improving relations between Japan and South Korea could play an important part in resolving the nuclear stand-off involving North Korea.

Up to 200,000 women from Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries were kidnapped and forced to work in military brothels used by Japanese troops during World War II, campaigners say.

“The issue of the Second World War ‘comfort women‘—Korean and other Asian women obliged to provide sexual services for the Japanese army—remains a painful and emotive issue for the South Korean public and government,” the cross-party committee said in its “Global Security: Japan and Korea” report.

“Its importance should be recognized internationally, including by Japan.”

The issue of “comfort women” has long proved an irritant in relations between Japan and its neighbors.

Japan has apologized for the military’s involvement in crimes against the women, but denies responsibility for running a system of military brothels before its surrender to Allied forces in 1945.

The U.S. and Canadian parliaments last year called for a fresh apology from Japan for forcing women into sexual slavery.

The British committee also looked at the territorial dispute over the Takeshima or Dokdo islands between the two countries.

“Given the important contribution which enhanced Japanese-South Korean co-operation could make on a number of issues, especially policy towards North Korea, we further conclude that the continuing capacity of the Takeshima/Dokdo islets dispute to disrupt Japanese-South Korean relations is regrettable,” the report said.

“We recommend that the (British) government should urge Tokyo and Seoul not to escalate the dispute and encourage both parties to seek a mechanism for its lasting resolution.”

In July, Japan issued guidance to schools to teach that the uninhabited islands were its territory, prompting Seoul—which controls them—to stage military exercises in response.

The report also turned the spotlight on Japan’s human rights record.

It said there was “cause for concern” over substitute prisons or “daiyo kangoku“—where prisoners are held in police station cells—adding these were “likely” to lead to miscarriages of justice.

Britain should lobby Japan to modify the system and ensure that interrogations are monitored externally “to prevent abuses”, it said.

The report added that North Korea should be returned to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regime as a non-nuclear weapons state and recommended that its demands for civil nuclear power “should be considered.”

In addition, it called on the British government to “press harder” over the human rights of North Korean emigrants in China in discussions with Beijing, the European Union and the United Nations.

Wire reports

Latest 15 of 68 Total Comments Show All

namuo at 10:57 AM JST - 5th December

highhope

Yes....it is shameful.... But, One questions. Every countries has media control. I think you don't know Japanese media at all and you seems to like are controlled by media. There is many lobbyist from China and S.Korea,N.Korea. Thus, anything offend S.Korea or China's mention about WWII were keep attacking by media. Mr. Hata also. What this article tells maybe different than you think. Japanese media controlled unfortunately. And Japan experience, such Sex Slave card was used for political cards to deal with Japan many times. How come S.Korea keep using this cards?? Most of time Japanese media doesn't show any information will benefit our government and shows support for S.Korea or China. Is it funny. If Japanese government controlled Media then it suppose to be opposite that about Takeshima, how much we paid ODA and gives technology to help those country, comfort women as business and etc.

Western MEDIA control fact: We don't have not enough history of colonize other countries, which including Slave business. Then, I wonder those countries has much longer history in colonization doesn't do any same things as sex slave? Why it doesn't spot light in Media? Answer is simple. Because they ignore them and victim or victim countries almost unable to mention those things because of difference of political power and economics. The United States bombed atomic bombs? Do government apologize? Why any countries doesn't blame the fact of WWII like Japan? Is it funny who still keep suffering by Atomic Bomb sue Japanese government not US government???

You should questions how Politics and Media and political relation between country abuse history and the fact.
highhope at 12:18 PM JST - 5th December

Yes....it is shameful....

No, not at all. Which country in the history of the world is free of sins? Where is the perfectly clean man in the world? No country or no man you can find. But... Yes, it is truly shameful that Japan does not acknowledge the shameful history.

The United States bombed atomic bombs? Do government apologize? Why any countries doesn't blame the fact of WWII like Japan? Is it funny who still keep suffering by Atomic Bomb sue Japanese government not US government???

You are slightly confused in this case. Suppose a married man was sentenced life imprisonment because he raped a woman. Can his wife ask any compensation to the judge for the loss of income as the rapist used to earn money? And, where does the victim have to go for compensation? To the court judge or the rapist? The rapist wife has to pay the rape victim from the rapist possession.
Seiharinokaze at 02:46 PM JST - 5th December

highhope

....good relations betwen Japan and South Korea will be beneficial in solving the North Korea's nuclear threats.

Well it seems as if the aim of the comfort women issue is to alienate Japan from South Korea and dampen the image of Japan in the best interest of North Korea. Koreans might listen with a litter more open minds to what Prof. An Byonjik of Seoul University has to say. They tend to be too swayed by sensational image and emotion to try to see through proof and validity and some coolness what actually happened.

As for the Japanese comfort women, I am afraid the issue is unlikely to be discussed later. It's not a matter of opportunity but a matter of perception and facts. They don't think they were sex slaves as the British parliamentarians kindly argue for Korean women. Besides it's nonissue in anyone's interest either.

You can call and pay someone whom you expect that he will say something favorable for you. It is called 'paif testimony', and it is not only partial but unethical.

So you say that Mr. Hata's comment was partial and unethical because he got paid to appear on the media and criticized the former JAFD head's historical view?

Then were the experts also called and paid on the issue of comfort women by the Western media because they would say something favorable to them? Now I can see why Mr. Hata is rarely referred to among Japanese experts on this topic by them.
namuo at 02:59 PM JST - 5th December

highhope

The rapist wife has to pay the rape victim from the rapist possession.

Right,and do you know how much Japanese Government paid for the loss of WWII to S.Korea and China?

But... Yes, it is truly shameful that Japan does not acknowledge the shameful history.

PM Murayama comments:http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/pm/murayama/9508.html
highhope at 03:33 PM JST - 5th December

Seiharinokaze

Well it seems as if the aim of the comfort women issue is to alienate Japan from South Korea and dampen the image of Japan in the best interest of North Korea.

I do not believe that British MPs harrase Japan with the sex slave issue. I think it is a heart-felt sincere advice as a friend to Japan. After all, having good relations with South Korea is beneficial to Japan. Furthermore, I do not believe that Japanese image will dampen by acknowledging sex slaves' pain.

So you say that Mr. Hata's comment was partial and unethical because he got paid to appear on the media and criticized the former JAFD head's historical view?

I am sorry that I was not aware that Mr. Hata criticized the former JAFD head's historical view. The difference, it seems to me, between Mr. Hata and the former JAFD is that the former is a moderate and the latter an extreme of the same denomination of right wing nationalist.
highhope at 03:52 PM JST - 5th December

namuo,

As I said, I believe Mr. Murayama's apology is sincere. Korea and China should accept it and forgive old Japanese sins. However, the problem is political elites who inherited political power who deny and whitewash the old sins. They try to erase the sincere apology of Japanese government and hinder to establish constructive relations with Japan and China. It is very sad that young japanese people have to carry the burden of their ancestor's sin. Why those political establishments can acknowledge the wrong doings of their father and gradfather's sin? while the young generations have nothing to do with sex slaves, why do they have to deal with this issue now? Sooner or later, it must end once for all.
highhope at 04:08 PM JST - 5th December

Typo error

constructive relations with (Japan --> Korea)and China.
Seiharinokaze at 04:46 PM JST - 5th December

highhope

Furthermore, I do not believe that Japanese image will dampen by acknowledging sex slaves' pain.

I believe it dampens it if some heartfelt and overkind British parliamentarians urge us to acknowledge without any proof by repeating what North Korea says for a time that the Japanese military kidnapped and forced up to 200,000 women to work in military brothels.

The difference, it seems to me, between Mr. Hata and the former JAFD is that the former is a moderate and the latter an extreme of the same denomination of right wing nationalist.

So he is now "moderate" instead of "partial and unethical and somewhat biased"? The real difference, it seems to me, is your own attitude.
namuo at 07:08 PM JST - 5th December

highhope

Why those political establishments can acknowledge the wrong doings of their father and gradfather's sin? while the young generations have nothing to do with sex slaves, why do they have to deal with this issue now? Sooner or later,it must end once for all.

True. I wanted to say the History has been used and exaggeration as political cards. You should know why Japan has been accused by S.Korea, China and all ways money involve. Media in Japan is left wing. Because of Mr.Hata, Developing counties aware political relation often time own country will be somewhat change its power relationship.The United States > Europe >.....>Japan = Korea = China. I think British want to deterrent Japan somewhat. Especially Asia is complicated place and it was been involve many political deal who will be a top of ASIA? I just want to mention though It is totally different than Westerner view from the TOP who controlled the political relation.

As source shows http://aangirfan.blogspot.com/2007/08/british-and-american-military-rape.html and http://www.japanfocus.org/TereseSvoboda-RaceandAmericanMilitaryJusticeRapeMurder__andExecutioninOccupiedJapan/ I don't believe only Japan did such bad things. WWII were CHAOS and even other counties practice same things as Japan. Yet,it seems to like Japan has not whitewashed and other countries are already whitewashed.
highhope at 07:45 AM JST - 6th December

Seiharinokaze

I believe it dampens it if some heartfelt and overkind British parliamentarians urge us to acknowledge without any proof by repeating what North Korea says for a time that the Japanese military kidnapped and forced up to 200,000 women to work in military brothels.

You are saying that a rapist did nothing wrong because he was unfairly accused to rape 20 girls instead 10.

So he is now "moderate" instead of "partial and unethical and somewhat biased"? The real difference, it seems to me, is your own attitude.

You are over-stretching. I did not say that Mr. Hata is biased and unethical, but the paid testimony is. To be fair and balanced, mass media should call history experts from both right and left, instead of showing Mr. Hata's in disguised of balanced expertise. According to the Wiekipedia, he is by no means a fair historian.
highhope at 07:58 AM JST - 6th December

namuo

Yet,it seems to like Japan has not whitewashed and other countries are already whitewashed.

It is quite a tragedy to taint the glorious history of Japan because of a small portion of shameful incidents. It is like one rotten clam ruins the soup kettle. Instead of adding onions and garlics to cover the foul odor up, the rotten clam has to be taken out before cooking. I believe the shameful history of Nazi Germany was not whitewashed, but forgiven.
Seiharinokaze at 05:13 PM JST - 6th December

highhope

You are saying that a rapist did nothing wrong because he was unfairly accused to rape 20 girls instead 10.

I am saying that if you urge a country to acknowledge something, you should provide proof that verifies it. Is there any one case in which a Korean women was proved to have been kidnapped and forced to provide sex service by the Japanese military?

I did not say that Mr. Hata is biased and unethical, but the paid testimony is. To be fair and balanced, mass media should call history experts from both right and left, instead of showing Mr. Hata's in disguised of balanced expertise. According to the Wiekipedia, he is by no means a fair historian.

You said it's only because Mr. Hata is a moderate right that he criticized the former JAFD head and that his expertise is in disguise of balanced one. Simply you do not want to accept him as a historian and you seem to criticize him mainly according to English Wikipedia which does not seem to be a fair account on him compared with Japanese Wiki. Is it your own judgement? Have you read any of his books?
highhope at 06:33 AM JST - 7th December

Seiharinokaze

I am saying that if you urge a country to acknowledge something, you
should provide proof that verifies it. Is there any one case in which a Korean women was proved to have been kidnapped and forced to provide sex service by the Japanese military?

I am afraid that it is out of context to argue about the proof of existence of sex slaves here. But I am sure that the British MPs are aware of the extreme nationalists' view denying the existence of sex slaves. I have heard the same thing from ex-PM Shinzo Abe and his cronies last year. Among the countless evidences, I want you hear what old ex- Japanese soldiers were confessing.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUST156410

If you still deny it, you are one of those few who will not believe the existence of conscience.
Seiharinokaze at 01:06 PM JST - 7th December

highhope

I am afraid that it is not out of context to argue about proof and validity on this issue. The article you referred to carried what a medic in the unit of the Japanese army had heard from the comfort women. He said that the women, many of them Korean. were forced into brothels to provide sex for soldiers, and that they were all tricked into going there. But the article didn't mention who tricked them actually. Was it the Japanese army? Does it by itself mean that the Japanese military tricked and forced them?

Why do you ignore the fact that the military brothels were generally run by dealers and the women were recruited by them? If you call for any apology from Japan, you should take it up for fair discussion and make it clear who were really responsible. Otherwise it will not help improve relations in the true sense between Japan and South Korea. That's why I suggest that they might listen to what Prof. An Byonjik and others have to say.
highhope at 04:22 PM JST - 7th December

Seiharinokaze It is quite a tragedy for Japan not to be able to take out those few rotten clams, and the soup kettle of Japan will never get rid of that foul odor. You place is not that far from ex-PM Abe and his extreme nationalists who have third class morality.