Canada quick to defend Abe's war crimes denial

While there is a worldwide condemnation against Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's denial of coercing women into sex slaves during WWII, it's a big shock when I learn that our foreign affairs department not only refuses to stand by human rights, but de facto defends Abe's position.

Bernard Nguyen, spokesperson with Canada's department of foreign affairs, replied on questions about Canada's position on Abe's denial by email:

Canada understands that the Government of Japan stands by its 1993 apology. The Government of Japan has indicated that it would not revise or reopen debate on its 1993 apology, in which it "acknowledges the involvement of the military authorities of the day" and "extends its sincere apologies and remorse to all those, irrespective of place of origin, who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women."

Isn't that great? WE defend the Japanese denial. I'm so damn proud of our country.

Didn't Stephen Harper say defending human rights was important to him and his government? Wasn't he fast to respond to China when China denied Huseyin Celil's Canadian citizenship?

Of course, Japan is different. When former Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi visited Canada last year, Harper warmly held Koizumi's hands and vowed that the two countries should work together in dealing with the world's largest remaining communist nation, which is, China.

Harper can be pro-Japan in his foreign policy. Japan is an important partner, I agree. However, Japan should not be shielded from condemnation if it keeps denying its war crimes. And Harper, being crowned "human rights fighter" for his tough stance against China, should be tougher yet to tell Japan to face its inhumane, brutal history.

All this only speaks to the fact that Harper bases his foreign policy on his own ideology. (Another good example would be the inaction of the Harper government to face up to the Americans to help an alleged Canadian terrorist jailed illegally by the US in Guantanamo Bay).

I agree with Joseph Wong, the founding president of the Chinese Canadian National Council, who said last week that there's a double standard when it comes to recognizing war crimes in the West.

"We have heard how quick Western politicians are to condemn Holocaust deniers, which is good, because that has to be done," he said. "But on the other hand, Western politicians are so silent when they encounter these denials from Japanese right-wing politicians who say the rape of Nanking was justified and these comfort women, these sexual slaves, were willing victims."

"This is a gross violation of human rights that everyone should learn about."

The Chinese media have asked Bev Oda, the only Japanese Canadian minister in Harper's government and Jason Kenney, minister of state for multiculturalism and key figure in Harper's inner circle for responses on Canada's position on Abe's comments.

Oda declined to make any comments and said all related questions should be directed to Peter MacKay, the foreign affairs minister.

Kenney also said a proper response must be from the department of foreign affairs, but he "encourages Japan to recognize history."

So we went after Peter MacKay. However, we were told it's not possible to speak with MacKay because of his busy schedule.

See also:
Chinese-Canadians ask Ottawa to denounce Abe's comments
Olivia Chow calls on Canada to rebuke Japan PM's sex slave denial
Abe's Violent Denial: Japan's Prime Minister and the 'Comfort Women'
Raymond Chan blasts Abe for denying comfort women
Abe says no apology on comfort women even pressed by US congress
Comfort women denial aims to show independence from U.S.
China demands Japan to face up to wartime sex crimes
Japan's amnesia
Japan PM now says 'comfort women' not coerced

Tags: china, japan, korea, comfort women, war, wwii, war crimes, war denial, sex slaves, atrocities, asian holocaust, right wing, militarism, ultranationalism, chinese canadian