Lila Pilipina expressed hopes in a media forum at the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) on March 23 that their struggle for historical inclusion, recognition, and justice will be finally achieved, especially given the upcoming 2022 polls.
Sa halip na kilalanin bilang opisyal na ginawa ng pamahalaan noong digmaan at humingi ng tawad sa pang-aabuso, ang ginawa ng mga Hapon ay magtatag ng AWF o Asian Women’s Fund na isang pribadong pondo para sa pantulong sa mga comfort women. Marami pang kakulangan sa pagkilala sa mga naranasan ng mga comfort women. Binubura ang kanilang mga alaala sa bawat mga opisyal na pagtanggi ng kanilang pag-iral. Maraming bayan, lalo na sa Hapon, ang hindi nakapaloob ang karanasan ng mga comfort women bilang bahagi ng pagtalakay sa kasaysayan.
By DEE AYROSO
MANILA – On Independence Day, June 12, members of Lila Pilipinas an organization of comfort women, Flowers4Lolas and supporters braved the rain to protest the removal of the comfort woman statue at Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Lila Pilipina criticized the government for allowing the removal of the statue in exchange for “billions of pesos of…
“The comfort woman statue supposedly serves as a reminder to future generations of Japan’s atrocities and abuses against Filipino women during the Second World War, and women’s historical victimization in times of wars of aggression.”
“Please don’t forget about us.”
“Emperor Akihito’s state visit, prompting the Visiting Forces Agreement between Japan and the Philippines, betrays Japan’s real intentions to bully Asia militarily.”
“All we want is justice. Some of us have died already, yet there is still no justice. Until when are we going to wait?”
“It is abominable that Aquino did not even put on the agenda of his P8.8-million state visit to Japan the plight of Filipino comfort women and instead expressed his support for Japan in its plan to revitalize its military expansionist policy and the resurgent militarism in the whole Asia-Pacific region.” – Gabriela
“Why should we be surprised that there are still victims of sex trafficking today when justice has yet to be served for these women, who we consider as among the first cases of trafficked women?” – Monique Wilson, performing artist and global director of One Billion Rising
The lolas (grandmothers) of Lila Filipina, an organization of former “comfort women,” stormed the Japanese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday to demand justice from the government of Japan for the crimes they committed during World War II. The lolas proceeded to Don Chino Bridge near Malacañang gate and brought with them a letter addressed to President Benigno S. Aquino III, asking why he failed to fulfill his promise of obtaining any measure of justice for them. (Photos courtesy of Gabriela / bulatlat.com)