Ma vows justice for former comfort women

2016/01/22

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said Jan. 20 that the government is seeking justice for Taiwan’s former comfort women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese during World War II.

“Japan should formally apologize to these women and pay appropriate compensation,” Ma said. “The government stands by the victims and will not rest until their dignity is restored.”

The president made the remarks at the funeral of 94-year-old former comfort woman Cheng-Chen Tao in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan.

Cheng-Chen was forcibly sent in the early 1940s at age 19 to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. She was among 58 former comfort women who came forward in the late 1990s demanding apology and compensation from the Japanese government.

“Sadly, it is already too late for Cheng-Chen, who left this world without getting her due,” Ma said. “She was truly a remarkable woman, never failing to show us the bright side of humanity in spite of her pain.

“She will be sorely missed, and her resilient spirit serves as a reminder for us to never stop trying to right the wrongs of the past.”

Statistics from Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation revealed that 2,000 local women suffered a similar fate during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Following Cheng-Chen’s death, the number of survivors stands at three.

Late last year, Japan and South Korea reached a landmark agreement in Seoul that Japan will pay 1 billion yen (US$8.52 million) to set up a fund for the South Korean victims. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also officially apologized and offered his sincere reflection.

The ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring related developments and demanding similar treatment for Taiwan comfort women by the Japanese government.

“Tokyo must waste no time in entering into talks with Taipei on officially apologizing and paying compensation,” the MOFA said. “Japan is obligated to restore the dignity of the women and provide for the welfare of surviving victims.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=241584&ctNode=2194&mp=9)