Protests in Seoul at the opening of foundation for "comfort women"
The foundation is part of the historic agreement reached last year on sex slaves in Japan’s military. Tokyo is providing a billion yen to help survivors and presented a verbal apology. Students, activists and Korean Church leaders slam Japan’s refusal to admit official responsibility.
Seoul (AsiaNews) – A foundation designed to help former “comfort women” was formally inaugurated at a ceremony in Seoul this morning.
The women from Korea were used as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers before and during the Second World War.
A group of some 20 university students tried to block the opening of the foundation’s office, but were removed by police. The organisation is funded with Japanese government money.
As the Korean Catholic Church has done in the past, protesters object to the fact that the Government of Japan has never officially apologised to the women nor admitted responsibility for violating their human rights.
The establishment of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation follows an historic agreement reached in December 2015 between the two countries.
Japan is expected to contribute a promised one billion yen (US$ 9.4 million) to the Foundation, jointly set up to resolve the “comfort women” issue for good.
The institute will implement projects aimed at restoring the honour and dignity of Korean former comfort women and healing their emotional wounds. They include providing financial assistance to survivors and holding memorials for those who have died.
The issue of "comfort women" began in 1965. According to the Koreans, about 400,000 women were forced into prostitution in Japanese military bases and brothels through force and deception.
For the Japanese, the issue is one of human trafficking, involving at most 40,000 people, organised by individuals, not military or government officials.
Today historians agree on some 200,000 victims. Of these, 50 are still alive.
Pope Francis met some before the final Mass that ended his apostolic trip to Korea in August 2014.
"You can't silence the victims with money!" protestors cried at Thursday's opening event. "Listen to the voices of the victims!" one protestor shouted.
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12/02/2016 15:14
23/02/2017 18:17
