위안부 결의안 3주년 의원들 성명서
by kace
의원들은 본인들이 통과시킨 결의안에 대해서 잊어버리고 있다가 인턴학생들이 편지를 보내고 질문하는 하는것에 대단히 미안해 하면서 111회기 전반기가 끝나는 마지막날 대일본 성명서를 발표하겠다고 하면서 성명서를 미리 보내왔다.
—————————————————————–유권자 센터가 의원들에게 요청한 내용 영문——————————————–
STATEMENT UPON THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF
THE PASSAGE OF H.RES. 121 OF 2007
(“COMFORT WOMEN RESOLUTION”)
Washington, D.C., July 26, 2010 .The Korean American Voters’ Council (“KAVC”), which is a grassroots organization established in 1996 to empower Korean American community by promoting civic participation, requests the Government of Japan to comply with House Resolution 121 of 2007 (H. Res. 121), so called “Comfort Women Resolution.”
After H. Res. 121 was passed in U.S. House of Representatives, many countries passed similar resolutions calling “for the Japanese government to formally acknowledge, apologize and accept historical and legal responsibility, in a clear and unequivocal manner” in 2007: Canadian Lower House (November 28, 2007), Dutch Parliament (November 20, 2007), and European Parliament (December 13, 2007).
Many comfort women survivors from Korea, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Netherlands, and Australia thought with those resolutions, the Government of Japan would officially acknowledge the war crime and would bring justice for the survivors.
However, despite those requests from the international community, the Government of Japan has yet to even give an inkling of attention to the resolutions. Rather some politicians and revisionist historians argued that those resolutions were based on false information with false intention and also said that none of the comfort women were forcibly recruited.
As the third anniversary of the passage of H. Res. 121 is approaching, on behalf of the survivors, Korean American Voters’ Council strongly requests the Government of Japan to stop denying the truth and to comply with H. Res. 121 and other international calls by formally acknowledge, apologize and accept its historical and legal responsibility, in a clear and unequivocal manner.
Time is running out for the survivors, as many are passing away. These survivors still live with the burden of the shame and pain they have been put though and are waiting patiently for a formal official apology by the Government of Japan.
Japanese government shouldn’t expect people would forget “Comfort Women” and H. Res, 121 as the survivors are passing away. We will remember it and the resolution and will teach our children about it. And we will keep asking the Government of Japan to comply with H. Res. 121.
As the constituents of U.S. House of Representatives, we also would like to ask the House to remember that H. Res. 121 was not yet satisfied and to take appropriate actions toward the Government of Japan.
미연방 하원 일본군 위안부 결의안 (H. RES. 121)
통과 3주년에 즈음한 성명서
와싱톤, D.C., 2010년 7월 26일 ?한인유권자센터는 일본정부에 미연방 하원의 일본군 위안부 결의안 (2007년 통과된 H.RES. 121)의 권고안에 따를 것을 요구한다.
2007년 7월 30일 미연방 하원은 만장일치로 일본군 위안부 결의안 (H.RES. 121)을 채택하였다. 태평양 전쟁당시 일본 정부는 20만명이 넘는 어린 소녀와 젊은 여인들을 강제로 납치하여 일본군의 성적 위안부로 삼았다. 본 결의안은 일본 정부가 공식적으로 일본군 위안부 사건에 대해 사실을 인정하고, 명확하게 사죄할 것을 요구하는 결의안이다.
미연방 하원에서 본 결의안이 통과된 이후, 많은 국가에서 일본 정부가 공식적으로 사죄하고 그 책임을 다할 것으로 요구하는 결의안들이 채택되었다. (네델란드에서 2007년 11월 20일, 캐나다에서 2007년11월 28일, 유럽 의회에서2007년 12월 12일).
한국, 중국, 필리핀, 베트남, 네델란드, 호주 등지의 일본군 위안부 생존자들은 일련의 결의안들이 채택되면서 일본정부 공식적으로 사죄하고, 생존자들의 명예를 회복해 줄 것으로 기대하였다.
그러나 이러한 국제사회의 요구에도 불구하고 일본 정부는 이 결의안에 전혀 대응하지 않고 있다. 심지어 일부 정치인들과 역사가들은 이 결의안이 잘못된 정보에 근거한 나쁜 의도를 갖고 만들어 진 것이라고 비판하고 있다. 또한 그들은 어느 위안부도 강제로 징집되지 않았다고 주장하고 있다.
미연방 하원의 일본군 위안부 결의안(H.RES. 121) 통과 3주년을 앞두고, 일본군 위안부 생존자 여러분을 대신하여, 한인유권자센터는 일본정부가 이 결의안의 권고 사항을 따라 즉각적으로 사실 왜곡을 중단하고, 자신들이 저지른 일을 인정하고, 공식적으로 사죄하고, 모든 역사적 책임을 다 할 것을 강력히 요청한다.
많은 일본군 위안부 생존자들이 고령이므로 이제 남은 시간이 많이 남지 않았다. 이 생존자들은 아직도 그들에게 강요되었던 육체적 고통과 불명예로 인해 고통을 받고 있다. 이들은 아직도 일본 정부가 공식적으로 사죄하는 것을 기다리고 있다.
일본 정부는 점점 생존자의 숫자가 줄어들면서 “일본군 위안부 사건”과 이 결의안이 사람들의 기억에서 사라질 것이라고 생각해서는 안된다. 이 자리에 선 우리들이 “일본군 위안부”를 기억할 것이며, 우리 자녀들에게 가르칠 것이다. 또한 우리들은 계속해서 일본 정부에게 공식적인 사죄를 요구할 것이다.
미연방 의회의 유권자로써, 우리들은 또한 미연방 의회에게 일본정부가 아직까지 미의회의 일본군위안부 결의안의 요구 사항들을 이행하지 않았다는 것을 기억하고, 일본 정부가 공식적으로 요구 사항을 이행하도록 적절한 조치를 취해 줄 것을 요청한다.
Ranking Member on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R Florida’s 18th)
Draft Remarks for Korean American Voter’s Council Press Conference on
the Third Anniversary of the Passage of H. Res. 121 “Comfort Women Resolution”
July 26, 2010, 4:30 PM
Front of Cannon HOB
· Members of the Korean American Voters’ Council, the Korean-Ameircan Community, supporters of women’s rights and human rights, Ladies and Gentlemen:
· It was my distinct privilege three years ago to serve as a co-sponsor of H.Res. 121, the Comfort Women Resolution.
· The Congressional intent clearly expressed in this resolution was for the Government of Japan to make a formal apology to the victims, presented by the Japanese Prime Minister in his official capacity.
· The fact that this has yet to be done is a cause for concern.
· There have been four new Prime Ministers in
· The time is now for a heartfelt apology.
· Time is not only running out for the elderly victims, some of whom pass away each year.
· Time is also running out for that reconciliation process which can move beyond this painful chapter of history and into a brighter future of constructive relationships across borders.
· I join you in urging the Government of Japan to speak at last with a sincere voice and to apologize.
· Thank you all.
–—————————————- Statement of the Honorable Eni F.H. Faleomavaega ————————-
Chairman
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee
on
The Third Anniversary of House Resolution 121
July 30, 2010
House Resolution 121 was sponsored by my distinguished colleague, Representative Michael M. Honda, and it was my privilege to serve as a co-sponsor of this bill and to hold the first hearing ever held in the U.S. Congress on this sensitive subject. The hearing was held before the House Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment on February 15, 2007 and paid tribute to those who suffered while acknowledging the past contributions of those Members of Congress like former Chairman Henry Hyde of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and also the late Congressman Lane Evans who also championed this cause.
The Korean American Voters’ Council was a strong advocate and key initiator of H. Res. 121 and helped provide witnesses, testimonies, statements and well-researched educational materials for the historic hearing which was held before the Subcommittee. The Korean American Voters’ Council also led the Korean American Community and many other Human Rights Organizations in making this an important issue to Members of Congress which led to the passage of H. Res. 121.
It has been three years since passage and the resolution clearly expressed a need for a formal acknowledgement and apology by the Government of Japan, through the Prime Minister to the victims of this atrocity. The Government of Japan has had multiple changes in the Prime Minister position and not one has formally acknowledged and apologized for this human rights violation. The victims are running out of time for this apology, as most of them are elderly, and the time is now for the Government of Japan to formally apologize for their past mistake. I strongly urge the Government of Japan to formally acknowledge and apologize in order to begin the reconciliation process and to create better relationships in the future.