Japanese Emperor in the Philippines amid protest from wartime sex slaves

[webfact]

Japanese Emperor in the Philippines amid protest from wartime sex slaves



MANILA: -- Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko paid tribute to the Philippines’ World War II heroes in Manila on Wednesday (January 27).

The pair are on a four-day state visit to the Philippines — the first by a Japanese Emperor — to celebrate 60 years since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, following World War Two and Japan’s occupation of the region.

Emperor Akihito also met Philippines President Benigno Aquino III.

But near the presidential palace, former wartime sex slaves of the Japanese army held a rally to demand compensation.

Eighty-five-year old Narcisa Claveria was among the protesters. She was abducted in 1943 and became a sex slave to Japanese soldiers.

“My message to the emperor is that since they’ve already acknowledged the Korean ‘comfort women’, what about the Filipino victims? They should acknowledge us too because we are all victims,” she said.

Japan and South Korea recently settled their own decades-long dispute on the issue, with Tokyo pledging more than $8 million for the South Korean victims of Japan’s former military brothels.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-01-28

[ukrules]

These women were hookers.

[tonbridgebrit]

Akihito, your father was Emperor Hirohito.

Yes, HIROHITO.

Not all of us have forgotten that the stuff your father's Japan did in Asia was just as bad (or worse) than what the Nazis did in Europe.

So the Nazis killed six million, we all know that. How many millions did Japan kill in Asia during World War Two ?? Why is it that the stuff that Japan did has been forgotten, but the stuff that Hitler did is still very much part of history ?

[bangon04]

Why does Aquino in photo ops always manage to look like a clueless grinning fool?

[malcoml]

These women were hookers.

Which ones? Many women were kidnapped and had no choice.

I watched an interesting documentary on Hiroshima recently and although military leaders and such were making all the decisions the emperor at any time could have stopped the war.

The people of Hiroshima were confused as to why America was so cruel to drop the bomb.

The idiot who ran the Japanese navy wanted to continue fighting even after the second bomb was dropped. Weak bastard then committed sucide.

[Baerboxer]

These women were hookers.

Where you there?

Do you think the kind and benevolent Japanese "iberators" paid for their services? And were careful only to allow "hookers" to be kidnapped and forced to work as sex slaves?

Japanese military massacred, raped, tortured and looted at will, even encouraged. And yet, in their zest to fight communism the Americans glossed over the crimes.

No wonder those from countries who suffered the Japs aren't forgetting.

[Baerboxer]

Akihito, your father was Emperor Hirohito.

Yes, HIROHITO.

Not all of us have forgotten that the stuff your father's Japan did in Asia was just as bad (or worse) than what the Nazis did in Europe.

So the Nazis killed six million, we all know that. How many millions did Japan kill in Asia during World War Two ?? Why is it that the stuff that Japan did has been forgotten, but the stuff that Hitler did is still very much part of history ?

hirohito_flag.jpg

Number of reasons usually put forward. The Nazis exterminated millions. The powerful Jewish lobbies wanted justice, as did the Soviets, who were allies in Europe and in the victory over the Nazis. Many non Jews were murdered too but the attempted genocide and extermination of the Jews made for a visible and strong focal point for atrocities and retribution, rightly so.

The Chinese, ethnic Chinese in other countries who were targeted by the Japanese weren't considered so important, nor were the other millions of murdered Asians. European powers still had the old colonial influences and thinking, and the Americans were concerned with preventing the spread of communism rather than dishing out retribution. The Soviets were very late into the war against Japan, arguably more interested in helping spread communism.

The British, French, Dutch and Aussie desire to punish the Japs was restrained by the Americans who wanted to ensure their dominance in APAC; and the Soviets hadn't been big players and there was no group like the Jews to articulate and co-ordinate lobbying.

Japan got off very lightly, as did a great many of their war criminals and leaders who went on to successful political careers after the war.