New Zealand Abandons Plan to Build Japanese "Comfort Women" Statue Amid Japanese Pressure

New Zealand officially rejected on Wednesday, April 29, a proposed plan to erect a monument commemorating the "comfort women" during and before World War II, following warnings from Tokyo that the project could damage bilateral diplomatic relations.

According to AFP, between 1932 and 1945, Japan forcibly recruited, deceived, or coerced up to 200,000 women from Korea, China, and Southeast Asia to provide sexual services for its military. This organized system of sexual slavery continues to poison diplomatic relations between Tokyo and its neighboring countries.

South Korean women and their families, who were victims of forced servitude during WWII, have long sought formal apologies and compensation from Japan, and relations between the two nations have repeatedly deteriorated over this issue.

The organization responsible for maintaining a Korean garden in Takapuna, an Auckland suburb, had previously proposed installing a statue in the garden to honor these women. While the plan initially received some support, opposition grew stronger during public consultations, leading the city council to ultimately reject the proposal.

Takapuna City Council Chair Trish Deans said, "This was a difficult decision, and we did not make it lightly." She added, "We carefully reviewed staff recommendations and community feedback through a formal consultation process."

Among the feedback was a letter from Japan's ambassador to New Zealand, Makoto Ozawa, who warned that the monument could "create divisions and tensions within New Zealand’s diverse multicultural society, as well as between Japanese and Korean communities."

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade also stated that the Japanese government had lodged a serious protest regarding the statue proposal.

Deans emphasized that despite this, many participants in the consultation still supported the initiative, viewing it as an opportunity to learn about and reflect on war history. She said, "We recognize the historical significance of this statue and extend our tribute to the survivors it symbolizes."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1863800639993882/

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