S.Korea's comfort women victims to sue Abe in US for damages claims
Updated: 2015-06-23 16:12
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
SEOUL-- South Korean victims of Japan's wartime comfort women will sue Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a US federal court as the Abe cabinet has ignored calls for apology and compensation.
The victims, now in their 80s and 90s, held a press conference Tuesday at the House of Sharing, a shelter housing for the comfort women victims, according to local media reports. The shelter is located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Ten South Korean women, forced into comfort women for Japan's Imperial Army, and two bereaved families plan to file a damages claim lawsuit in July against Abe, the Japanese emperor, and Japan's war criminal enterprises, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,as well as Sankei Shimbun that belittled the victims as prostitute.
The lawsuit will be filed with the US District Court in San Francisco, claiming $20 million in damages.
Kim Hyung-jin, an attorney who will represent the victims in the US court, was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying that the $20-million damages would not matter as Japan's sincere apology should be a priority.
Preparations necessary for the class action had already been completed two months earlier, but they were waiting for a sincere response from the Japanese government, Kim said.
The suit could be dropped if the Abe cabinet sincerely apologizes and actively seeks a way of resolving the issue, but given the old age of the victims, the Japanese government should respond to the call in July, Kim noted.
According to historians, at least 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, were forcibly or deceivably mobilized to military brothels for Japan's Imperial Army during the World War II.
Among 238 South Korean women who identified themselves as former sex slaves, only 50 are alive as five passed away in 2015 alone.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye attended the reception hosted Monday by the Japanese embassy in Seoul to mark the 50th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Park said at the reception that the countries should move toward a new future, but she stressed the importance of curing historical scars left by the militaristic Japan during its colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
Related Stories
Tragedy of 'comfort women' 2015-06-09 17:29
Academics urge honesty over 'comfort women' 2015-05-27 07:34
Japanese scholars call for recognition of 'comfort women' issue 2015-05-26 08:51
'Comfort women' add their voices to history's witness list 2015-05-06 10:11
DPRK blasts Abe's remarks on 'comfort women' 2015-04-30 11:12
'Human trafficking' just tip of comfort women issue iceberg 2015-03-31 11:03
Today's Top News
China unveils plans for V-Day parade
Chinese premier to attend China-EU leaders' meeting
Ministers unable to reach deal on Greece, but door is still open
Polish airline, hit by cyber attack, says all carriers are at risk
EU launches naval operation against human smugglers
Why thousands of Chinese are migrating to Europe every year
European bank seeks to combine strength with AIIB
Alibaba sees potential in Russia
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |
Conca set to return to China |