By Lee Hyo-sik
The Korean Liberation Association and other civic groups representing independence fighters and victims of Japan’s colonial rule of Korea (1910-45) are expressing disappointment over Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s apology Tuesday.
They say his apology for Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula lacked in sincerity and was made to avoid responsibility for its brutal treatment of Koreans ahead of the centenary of the annexation, which falls on Aug. 29. They also urged Japan to stop claiming rights over the Dokdo islets.
On Tuesday, Kan expressed deep regrets over the suffering inflicted upon the Korean people during the period and pledged to make efforts to deepen ties with South Korea. He came short of admitting that Japan’s annexation treaty with Korea, which was signed on Aug. 22 in 1910 and took effect a week later, was illegal.
The Korean Liberation Association, which advocates the interests of those who fought for liberation from Japan’s colonial rule and their descendents, said Wednesday that Kan’s apology was “very disappointing.”
It issued a statement at a press conference, “People of Korea and Japan are disappointed and angered by Prime Minister Kan’s empty words. The apology was just further lip service by a Japanese leader. We strongly condemn Japan’s treacherous words and acts.”
It demanded that the Japanese emperor should make a “sincere apology” over past wrongdoings, claiming Kan’s statement was carefully engineered to dodge Japan’s responsibility for forcefully annexing Korea 100 years ago.
“Kan just said Japan’s annexation of Korea was against the will of the Korean people. He did not acknowledge its unlawfulness. Until Japan fully admits to its past wrongdoings and offers a genuine apology, we will continue to fight in cooperation with other civic groups at home and abroad.”
It then demanded Japan stop claiming sovereignty over Dokdo, stressing Korea’s easternmost islet is an internationally and historically sovereign territory of Korea. “It should also acknowledge that its colonization of the Korean Peninsula greatly contributed to separating it. For that, it should make every effort to help the two Koreas reunite. Until Japan meets these demands, we reject the Japanese emperor’s visit to Korea.”
A Citizens’ Meeting with the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan also said Kan’s apology undermines the significance of the centenary of the annexation, saying that it was not much better than past statements.
“He should have mentioned how Japan will compensate ‘comfort women’ and forced laborers during its colonial rule. Japan should stop playing with words and instead start acting on its words,” it said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan held a series of protests in Seoul and 10 other cities across the globe, unsatisfied with Kan’s apology. It also launched a signature-gathering campaign from 500,000 supporters in a bid to press Japan to resolve the comfort women issue.
During a protest in front of the Japanese Embassy in downtown Seoul, the council urged the Japanese government to quickly admit its responsibility for forcing hundreds of thousands of Korean and other Asian women to serve as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II.