While the Aquino administration is boasting of the success of his trip to Japan, the multisector women’s organization KAISA KA and the Malaya Lolas, the organization of women victims of war crimes in Candaba, Pampanga are dismayed because PNoy has no mention whatsoever of the issue of “comfort women” and other abuses on women by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
Last August 8, 2011, KAISA KA hand-carried a letter to the president asking him to take on the demands of the Malaya Lolas for the government of Japan to acknowledge its responsibility, apologize and give legal compensation to the victims. The Malaya Lolas had asked the same from the former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and had even filed a mandamus before the Supreme Court before this letter to PNoy.
It is disappointing that our own government chooses to be silent when congresses of five countries and the assembly of the European Union have adopted resolutions asking Japan to at least apologize.
The Constitutional Court of Korea, ruled in August this year that their government’s not taking the issue of the comfort women is unconstitutional and following the court’s decision, the Korean Foreign Ministry has now proposed talks with Japan regarding the issue of “comfort women” and is planning to put up an arbitration body if Japan refuses bilateral talks.
The Philippine government seems to give importance only to deals with Japan that will bring in investments, loans and grants and enhance labor export. It seems unmindful of our integrity as a nation and of the dignity of our women.
KAISA KA would like to remind the president that the Lolas are still part of the people he promised to serve, part of what he calls his “boss”.
Kaisa Ka
Contact Person: Atty. Virginia Suarez-Pinlac
Kaisa Ka (Unity of Women for Freedom– Philippines)
Kaisa Ka National Office: # 22-A Domingo Guevarra St.
Highway Hills,
Mandaluyong City, Philippines 1501