High hope for 'Comfort Women' motion to pass next week

(caption: Former 'comfort women' Liu Mianhuan arrives in Vancouver)

CIV - A new version of the "Comfort Women Motion 291" has dropped the word "compensation" in order to win support from the Conservative Party. The motion is expected to be voted on Wednesday (Nov 28), a day after four former "comfort women" tell the story to all MPs on Tuesday (Nov 27).

NDP MP Olivia Chow submitted a new motion to the House of Commons on Friday, after discussions with ALPHA:

"That, in the opinion of the House, the government of Canada should urge the Prime Minister and Parliament of Japan to pass a resolution in the Diet to:

(a) acknowledge the historical facts that more than 200,000 Asian women were coerced into military sexual slavery during the Second World War by the Japanese Imperial Army;
(b) offer a formal, sincere and unequivocal apology to all these victims;
(c) accept responsibility for the harms and humiliation caused to these victims;
(d) educate current and future generations about the war crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial Army;
(e) restore all references to the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery which have been continuously removed from Japanese textbooks."

This is the original version:

“That, in the opinion of the House, the government should urge the Prime Minister and the Parliament of Japan to:
(a) pass a resolution in the Diet to formally apologize to the women who were coerced into military sexual slavery during the Second World War and were euphemized as "comfort women" by the Japanese Imperial Army;
(b) to provide just and honourable compensation to these victims.”

The Liberals and the NDP have already announced their support for Motion 291, originally tabled by NDP's Olivia Chow as a private member's bill in the last session.

However, the Tories have refused to state the party line on this motion until last October when a Tory MP hints that the party might allow members to vote freely on the bill. Source say the Tories agree to support the motion if the language is toned down, as a way to console the pro-Japan force within the party.

The new version has a very good chance of winning through the parliament this time.

The US Congress and the Dutch parliament have passed similar resolution demanding Japan to face up to its war atrocities.

However, ALPHA says dropping the word "compensation" does not stop the non-profit society from continuing their lobbying for real compensation in the future. Having Japan to "acknowledge" and "accept" responsibility is only the first step.

A Chinese former "comfort woman", Liu Mianhuan, 80, arrived in Canada on Thursday to prepare speaking in a series of "witness forums" held in Toronto and Ottawa starting on Sunday.

The four women are expected to appear before the Canadian parliament on Tuesday, Kang Jian, a Chinese lawyer who is representing Liu, said.

Liu has been to Japan four times since 1995 but has so far been unable to extract a formal apology or reparations from the Japanese government.

"I will fight for justice as long as I am still breathing", Liu, a mother of five.

"The fight will never stop until justice is served.

"My sons and daughters will take up my cause if I cannot wait for justice to be delivered in my life."

Liu is believed to be one of a dwindling number of comfort women still alive in China.

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Itinerary of the former comfort women:

• Witnessing Forum, Sunday November 25th at 4:30pm at Convocation Hall, University of Toronto.
• MPs will be welcoming the women to a special hearing to hear their stories on Tuesday November 27th from 11am to 1pm. Room 536, Wellington Building, 180 Wellington Street, Ottawa
• A reception in honour of their special visit on Wednesday November 28th from 4pm to 6pm with MPs and community members. Room 2-3 of the Press Building, 150 Wellington Street, Ottawa
• Dim Sum lunch with "comfort woman" survivor, Monday December 3, 2007 from noon to 2 pm, Floata Restaurant, 180 Keefer St., Vancouver

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