Indonesia Jakarta Post reported criticism about Japan's twisting Kono Statement

The Japanese government announced last month the results of its review of the Kono Statement, which concerned the Japanese military’s sexual crimes concerning so-called “comfort women” during World War II. Interestingly, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet initially made a fuss about the government’s plan to verify the Kono Statement, but the results that were ultimately released were not particularly noteworthy; they were even somewhat ridiculous.

In its announcement of the results of the Kono Statement verification, the Japanese government made no mention of the truth of the statement, but exaggerated an adjustment in drafting the statement between Japan and South Korea. Through the verification efforts, however, Japan tried to come up with something to suit the naysayers, but it could not entirely deny the historical facts or the victims’ testimonies upon which the Kono Statement was based.

The Kono Statement, which was issued in 1993, is a historic document in which the Japanese government first admitted, with an apology, that the Japanese military was directly involved in gathering, transporting and managing “comfort women” for the benefit of Japanese soldiers. Japan’s cowardly move to injure the integrity of the Kono Statement has infuriated the Korean people. Furthermore, the verification of the Kono Statement cannot be viewed as just a Korea-Japan diplomatic problem. The problem concerns not only Korea but also other Asian nations such as Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Malaysia, which all suffered Japanese aggression at the time. Indeed, more than 2,000 Indonesian women were reportedly forced into prostitution by the Japanese military during World War II.

Moreover, a few days ago, the Abe Cabinet issued a resolution that would allow Japan to go to war against other nations. Thus, we should consider the underlying intention of the Japanese government in its attempt to cover up the issue of the “comfort women” despite the protests and criticism from other regional countries. In particular, we still hold vivid memories of the suffering experienced due to Japan’s aggression and colonial rule; many of the women are still alive, so we must not let the problem pass without being resolved.
                                            

by Kang Liang