Comfort Women
During World War II, the term comfort women were used to describe women who were enlisted to give sexual service and pleasure to the Japanese Imperial Army in the so-called comfort stations all over East Asia.
According to wikipedia.com, comfort women are the forced sexual slavery among women who are into prostitution for the Japanese military brothels during World War II. It is said that based on some researchers and historians that among the victims, the majority were from Korea, China, and Japan. Even though the majority were from these countries, women from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Dutch East Indies, Indonesia, and other Japanese-occupied terrains were also exploited to become their comfort stations. The said comfort stations were located in Japan, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Macau, New Guinea, and French Indochina. The women from the said countries were kidnapped from their residences; some women were employed with proposals to work in the military – it is reported that women were under forced employment. (wikipedia.com)
On the other hand, as stated by a Japanese historian named Ikuhiko Hata, the Japanese government and/or military did not plan or organized any forced employment of comfort women. Up to now, the extent and character of sexual slavery by the Japanese military is still being discussed, argued, and debated. Using the statement of a former comfort woman, some Japanese historians disputed that the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were either straightly circuitously involved in forcing, tricking, ensnaring, and even kidnapping young women all over their Asian colonies and occupied terrains. (wikipedia.com)
Affirmation of Kim Hak-soon
In 1991, the issues regarding comfort women exploded in the public when a woman from South Korea came out to the public and testify the issue regarding comfort women. Kim Hak-soon was the first comfort woman who went out to the public and speaks regarding the said issue. Because of the said event, an international movement demanding the Japanese government to make an apology and pay compensation for what they’ve done that was considered to be sexual slavery was rapidly initiated.
In the time of 1996, the United Nations Human Rights Commission filed an account regarding the matter that was primarily based on the witnesses and victimized comfort women’s testimony. But unfortunately, the report was disparaged by some historians in Japan; thus dismissing the case and concluding that the pertinent testimony was unreliable. Aside from that, they also insist that the comfort women were not forcibly taken or kidnapped.
Since 1991, former comfort women have filed a great number of proceedings and complaints in Japanese courts as well as one in the United States. It is demanded in the numerous complaints that the government of Japan should give compensation and ask for an official apology. All the cases were filed on the basis saying that the Japanese government infringes several international treaties that protect and defend the civilians in military-occupied terrains and forbid trafficking in persons; one good example is The Hague Convention.
It is in the filed complaint that women had been either kidnapped from their hometowns or swindled into serving in the so-called comfort stations during that time. The complainants stressed that the tremendously poor living conditions and sexual as well as the psychological abuse underwent by the women has a lifelong impact.
The side of Japan
On the other hand, Japan bickers the following arguments: 1) their country, Japan is subject to a self-governing exemption; 2) because of the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in the year 1951 and other mutual treaties with the countries involved, Japan had by now settled its war crime reparation issues; 3) the claims of the individual victims for the harm and damage are unacceptable by the international law because it is said that the compensation issue was conceded into a government-to-government basis; 4) and lastly, Japan does not have any legal obligation or responsibility to pay damages to the victims in lieu to the termination of the twenty-year law/ order of limitations.
As for this, some of the impending complaints were dismissed while others are still in the course of processing. As of now, the Japanese court has a ruling that the predetermined payment should be given to the women; in March 2001, it was overturned.
The government of Japan primarily rebuff any participation or connection in setting up and operating the said comfort stations in Asia. But in 1992, it confessed its authorized participation and presents an apology after Yoshimi Yoshiaki, a Japanese historian exposed the evidence.
Establishment of Asian Women’s Fund (AWF)
In 1995, the establishment of the Asian Women’s Fund (AWF) was initiated in Japan because of the decision of the government of Japan to raise money from individuals to pay compensations to former comfort women; the government also gave a fraction in the said fund. In June 2002, several 285 women received the said compensation having an amount of four million yen accompanied by a letter from the Prime Minister of Japan. Startlingly, many women declined thought the payment came from confidential individuals and not primarily from the Japanese government. Additionally, 79 women from Holland got medical and welfare aid from the government of Japan. Unfortunately, AWF was disbanded last 2007 after the finishing point of its venture in Indonesia.
National Interest in opposition to the Healing Truth
According to research, the Japanese government on an authorized level seems to consider the national interest to ward off the possible domino effect of accepting the complaints regarding the comfort women survivors’ issue to state compensations; such concern is said to be not unique to Japan.
In 1997, an opinion survey was conducted and according to 50.7%, Japan should make a proper apology to Asian countries and victims. On the other hand, some progressive lawyers and proletariat activists are fighting for legislation that would allow the inquiry of the comfort women issue, an apology, and compensation. In disparity to it, conservative neo-nationalists who neither nor feel any moral and legal responsibility and obligation for the comfort women survivors consider that Japanese supporters of the international remedy movement exhibit an egregious deficiency of consciousness in the national interests.
In the 1998 and 1999 surveys conducted, more than two-thirds of Japanese military veterans respond that their country should neither make an apology nor compensate comfort women because they had been paid money for the services they have given.
Personal Opinion regarding the matter
Instead of the research, I think the issue should be for the countries involved. In my opinion, the countries involved should have a general meeting wherein both parties will be acknowledged. They should have their facts with them so that they can present them during the meeting. And on the end of their discussion, there should be a resolution regarding the issue that will be implemented and declared to the public so that on the same way, the people are also aware of the resolution that will be implemented.
References
- Issues: Comfort Women.
- Wikipedia.com.Comfort Women. Web.
- Soh Sarah C. 2001.Japan Policy Research Institution.Japan’s Responsibility Toward Comfort Women Survivors.