The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Monument to WWII 'comfort women' Posted: 31 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT FAIRFAX: A suburb of the US capital dedicated a monument to World War II sex slaves in the latest local victory by Korean Americans in historical disputes with Japan. After a campaign and fundraising by Korean American activists, the government centre of Fairfax County, Virginia, unveiled twin sculptures of butterflies and a plaque in honour of so-called "comfort women" – the up to 200,000 women from Korea and elsewhere forced into brothels for imperial Japan's soldiers. On a green knoll on the government building's sprawling lawn, supporters released butterflies and sang the Korean folk anthem, Arirang. A dancer in Korean costume cried as she glided around the plaque, which calls for "eternal peace and justice" for comfort women. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, in a proclamation, said the monument "will serve as a lasting reminder and an affirmation to the world that all crimes against humanity, such as human trafficking, will not be condoned or tolerated". Former comfort woman Kang Il-chul, 87, flew in from South Korea to thank the crowd, saying she would share news of the monument to the dwindling number of remaining survivors. "The Japanese government should make a prompt apology for the comfort woman issue," Kang said. Japan apologised to comfort women in 1993 and set up a fund to compensate survivors. While comfort women in the Philippines and elsewhere accepted the money, most South Koreans refused because the funds came primarily from private sources and not the Japanese government. Japan's embassy in Washington said that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stood by Tokyo's "sincere apologies and remorse" for comfort women's "immeasurable pain and suffering" and did not want the issue to be "politicised". Abe has said he will not revise the apology, after in the past triggering concern in South Korea over his conservative views on wartime history. Some Japanese politicians have rejected the official line on comfort women and accused South Korea and China of keeping alive historical grievances for political gain. Korean American activists have increasingly taken the battle over history-linked disputes to the local level in the United States. State lawmakers in Virginia, which has a sizable Korean American community, in February voted to include the Korean term "East Sea" in textbooks for the body of water more frequently called the Sea of Japan. — AFP |
| Thai junta chief: Move is to allow time for political 'reforms' Posted: 31 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT BANGKOK: Thailand's junta chief ruled out elections for at least a year to allow time for political "reforms", and defended the recent military coup in the face of rising international alarm. In his first televised national address on Friday after announcing the army takeover last week, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said the new military regime planned to work towards returning the nation of 67 million people to democracy in around 15 months. The general, who was given crucial royal endorsement on Monday, said a first phase of around three months would focus on "reconciliation" in the ferociously divided nation. A Cabinet and new draft constitution would then be put in place to enact reforms during a second year-long phase. Only after this could elections be held. "Stage three is a general election under an absolute democratic system that is acceptable to all sides. Laws will be modernised so that we can have good and honest people to run the country," he said. Thailand's military seized power on May 22 – the 19th actual or attempted putsch in its modern history – and set about rounding up scores of political figures, academics and activists. Authorities have abrogated the constitution, curtailed civil liberties under martial law and imposed a nightly curfew. Prayuth reiterated warnings against dissent in the face of near daily pockets of anti-coup protest. He also said that restrictions on the press and social media were "necessary" because they had been used to stoke divisions in the past. Prayuth, whose timetable echoes suggestions from the anti-Shinawatra rallies, said the coup was necessary to restore stability to the kingdom. "Thai people, like me, have probably not been happy for nine years, but since May 22, there is happiness," said the general, who laid out broad economic plans for the country. He said a curfew could be relaxed in certain areas in a nod to fears that it is having a further negative effect on the key tourism industry. Thailand's economy shrank 0.6% year-on-year in January-March due to falling consumer confidence and a slump in tourism as protests put off visitors. Prayuth noted the international alarm over the coup, but said the country needed time to find a "righteous and legitimate" path for the country's democracy. On Friday, the United States rejected the general's election timetable. State Department spokesman Jen Psaki said Washington believed the best path forward was "to set a timeline for early elections and to facilitate an inclusive and transparent electoral process". "There's no reason that they can't be held in the short term," she said. On Thursday, the European Union's foreign affairs head, Catherine Ashton, voiced "extreme concern" over the situation in the country and said only a clear plan for a return to democracy could allow its "continuous support". Around 300 people have now been held for periods of up to seven days. Key political figures were released this week, including former premiers Yingluck Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva as well as protest leaders. The regime has warned that those released face prosecution in military court if they continue their political activism. — AFP |
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