Court rejects Chinese sex slave case
30/8/06; www.theage.com.au
Chinese women who said they were forced to act as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II lost their bid for compensation and an apology on Wednesday when a Tokyo court rejected their demands. The plaintiffs, who said they were forcibly taken by Japanese soldiers occupying China’s southern Hainan island, had sought a total of Y184 million ($A2.07 million) in compensation from the Japanese government.
The women were in their teens at the time and some were confined for about three years, they said in the lawsuit. “After hearing the short verdict, I feel indignant, and believe that this ruling is unfair and unjust,” Chen Yapian, one of the surviving plaintiffs, told reporters after the ruling by the Tokyo District Court. “I protest this ruling,” said the 78-year-old Chen, dressed all in black.
The lawyers for the plaintiffs said they would appeal. “With regard to this unjust decision, I want to ask if Japanese people have any conscience,” Chen told a news conference later.
“I feel that all Japanese are bad people,” said Chen, who said she had suffered discrimination in China after the war because of her past.
“You speak again and again about friendly relations, but isn’t it just all talk?”
The verdict ended the last compensation lawsuit at the district court level in Japan, according to the plaintiffs’ lawyers. The suit had been filed by eight women, two of whom died and had their suits taken up by relatives, Kyodo news agency said.
Historians differ on the number of sex slaves - estimates run from 20,000 to 200,000 - but many agree that women from various parts of Asia were forced to work in brothels for the Japanese military before and during World War II.
The Japanese government has set up a partial public fund to provide financial aid to the women, but it contends all issues of compensation were settled by peace treaties after the war.
There have been 10 lawsuits filed involving sex slaves. Seven had already been dismissed and two are still being tried at the Supreme Court, Kyodo news agency said.