CRY FOR JUSTICE

A FORUM On Remembering Lessons in History: WWII Atrocities by Japan (the comfort women sex slavery and the Nanjing China massacre)

ESCALER HALL,

Ateneo de Manila University,

3-5PM, FRIDAY JULY 25

Sponsored by ALIWW-ADMU

In partnership with: Lolas Kampanyera WW II Filipino “Comfort Women” Survivors Organization, Asian Wonen Human Rights Council (AWHRC) and the Buhay Foundation for Women and the Girl Child-Philippines

Last Friday, July 25th, at the Ateneo de Manila University, the students took some time out of their busy schedules to attend the Forum called "Cry for Justice." Some 80-100 students, faculty and others came to hear presentations about the shameful history of World War II atrocities that took place here in the Philippines and in other parts of Asia during WW II.

This event was sponsored by the ALIWW (Ateneo Library For Women's Writings) and its executive director Ms. Rica Bolipata-Santos was there to greet the people in attendance. The afternoon also heard from Ms. Nelia Sancho, the National Coordinator of the Lolas Kampanyera Survivors organization who provided a slide show presentation which informed us about the history and background of the phenomenon called the Japanese military sexual slavery or the comfort women system, as well as the current situation for the Filipino elderly women survivors called the Lolas and the Japanese government's current stance towards them. Ms. Sancho also took some time to launch the newest book of testimonies from Lolas who survived the ordeal of being sex slaves of the Japanese military during WW II. The book is called 'Justice with Healing (Anthology of Stories of Former Sex Slaves in the Philippines)', which is available through ALIWW or the office of the Lolas Kampanyera Survivors Organization.

Other forum panelists were Canadian teacher, Mr. Greg van Vugt, who spoke about his recent trip to China and South Korea where a group of Canadian teachers were exposed to the history of World War II. The group of 32 teachers was sponsored by Canada ALPHA (Association of Learning and Preservation of WW II History in the Asia Pacific) which arranged for the teachers to visit monuments, historic sights, and to meet with survivors of horrific actions during that war. The most touching for Mr. van Vugt of his history education tour was meeting with the former sex slaves in Shanghai, Nanjing and Seoul. He shared some of their stories.

Most importantly the forum heard from the Lolas themselves. First to speak was Lola Fedencia David, 80, of Dasol, Pangasinan, who gave her personal testimony of what happened to her during that sad and tragic time in Philippine History. She was 14 years old when the Japanese forces forcibly abducted her and brought to the Japanese garrison to serve as a sex slave for the soldiers. She gave a passionate talk and many in the audience were visibily moved.

She reminded us of our responsibility to hold the Japanese government accountable for their past actions. Next, Rep. Liza Maza , of the Gabriela Women Partylist spoke about the current House resolution (HRN 124) on the "Comfort Women" issue, which she co-authored. It is asking for an official apology and legal redress from the Japanese government. The resolution is similar to the motions recently passed in the USA and in Canada in support of the comfort women victims cry for justice.

The final appeal was given by Lola Lety Guinto of the Lolas Kampanyera for the passage of HRN 124 in the Philippine House of Representatives and the draft Post War Compensation Bill for Victims of Japanese Military Sexual Coercion in WW II now pending in the Japanese Diet. Finally, Ms. Mariquit Soriano, of Buhay Foundation for Women and the Girl Child, who moderated the afternoon announced that the special movie screening of “Iris Cheng’s Rape of Nanking” was to be reset to another date because of the limited time left for the Forum. The co sponsoring organizations of ALIWW – the Lolas Kampanyera Survivors Organization, the Buhay Foundation for Women and the Girl Child as well as the Asian Women Human Rights Council thanked ALIWW for holding the Forum to listen to the Lolas testimonies and providing space for discussion of historical lessons and events in World War which impacted on the Filipino women.

We hope that the students and faculty of Ateneo University will take the words and stories of the Lolas to heart and work for Justice in our time.