Democrats: Japanese PM speech at Congress 'shocking, shameful'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech at Congress.

Several US Democrats have showed anger and discontent with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s speech at Congress for refusing to apologize for his country’s enslavement of tens of thousands of women during the Second World War.

During Abe’s speech on Wednesday, he expressed "feelings of deep remorse over the war."

However, the remarks were not enough for some Democrats, who wanted an apology over the sexual slavery of over 200,000 Asian women by Japan’s armed forces 70 years ago.

Other Japanese leaders have visited the US on official visits, but Abe was the first premier that addressed the US Congress.

“It is shocking and shameful that Prime Minister Abe continues to evade his government’s responsibility for the systematic atrocity that was perpetrated by the Japanese Imperial Army against the so-called ‘comfort women’ during World War II,” Rep. Mike Honda, a Japanese-American, said following the speech.

“Today’s refusal to squarely face history is an insult to the spirit of the 200,000 girls and women from the Asia-Pacific who suffered during World War II,” he added. “This is unacceptable.”

Abe, however, mentioned that "our actions brought suffering to the peoples in Asian countries. We must not avert our eyes from that.” The remark did not satisfy many of his critics, including victims of the ordeal who are still alive today.

Yong Soo-lee, 87, was present during the speech and she was waiting for the Japanese premier to apologize.

 

Representative Judy Chu, a Democrat from California, accused Abe of ignoring "Japan’s responsibility for this particularly troubling and painful chapter."

Several Korean-Americans revealed a banner in front of the US Capitol, reading “never again” in disapproval of Japan’s treatment of what Tokyo calls “comfort women” during World War II.

“Armed conflicts have always made women suffer the most. In our age, we must realize the kind of world where finally women are free from human-rights abuses,” Abe emphasized, obviously trying to soothe his critics in Washington.

Many victims of the sex slaves used by Japan’s soldiers at the time were from the Korean Peninsula.

HDS/AGB


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