Newsletter

We 'Haetdam' members were all excited with the news that the Northeast Asian History Foundation was going to host the March 1st Movement Commemorative History Concert for the victims of military sexual slavery by Japan, an event that would raise awareness and understanding of the 'comfort women' issue. It was also fortunate for our new Haetdam members to have a valuable opportunity to attend this event as their first activity.

Keeping in Mind the Teary Testimony of 'Comfort Women'

The concert opened with a pop quiz on the 'comfort women' issue. Fortunately, it was a piece of cake for our 'Haetdam' members :-). And the animated film 'A Girl's Story' was screened with the vivid voice-over of a 'comfort woman' that moved many of the audience to tears. The ensuing talk with seven guest speakers, including the directors of Haetdam, was, in my opinion, the best moment of the history concert. Ms. Yoon, the head of the Korean Council, explained the Japanese government's current position and the progress in the 'comfort women' issue. Even though the victims of military sexual slavery by Japan have not received any legal reparation or official apology from Japan over the last two decades since the weekly Wednesday demonstration began, the Japanese government maintains that they have finished legally resolving reparation, property, or claims issues related to 'comfort women' and helped the victims of military sexual slavery by Japan as much as they could through the Asian Women's Fund. This is in stark contrast with the Korean government's position. One of the guest speakers was Mr. Wada Yoshihiro from the Japanese Committee for the Establishment of the War & Women's Rights Museum. It always makes me feel grateful to see a Japanese who has passion and interest in the comfort women issue. Being a Japanese, he answered the questions related to the internal affairs of Japan, such as: 'In Japan where the conservative party has been in power, is there any progressive politician who demands an official apology for the 'comfort women' issue?' Next, Cyber Diplomats 'VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea)' reminded us that Zimbabwe and other countries were also the victims of much suffering from colonial rule and taught us that the 'comfort women' issue is not limited to Korea but it is a human rights issue that demands attention from the world. The Haetdam directors gave a PowerPoint presentation to introduce our activities to the audience. I felt proud that the young volunteers working hard doing what they could for 'comfort women' had appealed to the audience. Toward the end, a short play was staged where the actress playing the comfort woman giving testimony gave such a powerful performance that it felt like a cry out to the world on behalf of comfort women rather than a play. No wonder all of us were moved to tears. Lastly, two 'comfort women' gave us a short but meaningful talk. Their teary testimony reminded us that what they went through should never be repeated in future generations.

It's Our Turn to Create a Wind of Change Outside Japan

To be honest, it is really frustrating that the cries of comfort women and the rest of us are falling on deaf ears. The weekly Wednesday demonstration has continued for the last 20 years in front of the Japanese embassy with closed windows. But I don't think many of them know that the CCTV of the Japanese embassy is turned on at 12 pm on every Wednesday to monitor the participants in the weekly Wednesday demonstration. I don't understand that Japan remains silent to the cries of the victims and tries to distort the truth with money.
We have seven demands for the Japanese government: 1) admit the war crime of military sexual slavery; 2) reveal the truth; 3) make an official apology; 4) make legal reparation; 5) accurately record the crime in the history textbooks; 6) erect a memorial for the victims and establish a historical museum; and 7) punish those responsible for the war crime. None of the seven demands has been accepted by Japan. Even though the local government of Japan is passing the bill to promote the resolution of the 'comfort women' issue, of course, it is difficult to expect that the issue will be resolved by the wind of change within Japan alone. It is now our turn to create a wind of change outside Japan. We should work hard to ensure that the Wednesdays of the past 20 years will not be repeated. It is us who should start doing something here and now to make sure that a sincerely apology and reparation will be given to those comfort women who had been traumatized at young age and had a tragic past.