하시모토의 위안부 망언에 대한 미 연방 하원 의원 성명서
by kace
이에 혼다 의원과 이스라엘 의원은 일본 고위 공직자의 위안부 발언에 대해 긴급 성명서를 발표하였고, 한인 사회에 성명서를 보내왔다.
혼다 의원은 도루 시장의 위안부가 필요하다는 발언은 “경멸 받을 만하며 (contemptible) 혐오스럽다(repulsive)”고 말하였다. 또한 “우리는 과거를 외면하지 말아야하며 잘못된 것을 인정하는 적합한 정부의 적합한 행동만이 오래동안 지속되온 이슈에 대한 유일한 해결책일 것이다. 하시모토 시장의 발언은 명백하고 분명한 일본 정부의 공식 인정, 사과, 역사적 책임 수용이 왜 여전히 필요한지 보여준다.”라고 말하였다.
이스라엘 의원은, 하시모토 시장의 위안부 역사와 관련된 발언은 “역겹다(disgusted)”며 강하게 비난하였다.
마이크 혼다 의원은 2007년 일본의 공식적인 사과를 촉구하는 연방 하원 결의안을 발의하였다. 이렇게 미국 연방 주류 의원이 성명서를 발표하고 한인 사회에 전달하는 것은 미국 내 한인 사회의 높아진 위상을 나타내는 것이며 위안부 이슈를 미국 주류 정치인들이 아주 심각하게 받아들이고 있다는 것을 보여준다.
다음은 마이크 혼다 의원이 한인 사회에 보내온 성명서 원문이다.
REP. MIKE HONDA AND REP. STEVE ISRAEL CONDEMN COMMENTS
BY TOP JAPANESE OFFICIAL REGARDING ‘COMFORT WOMEN’
~ Osaka mayor calls forced sexual enslavement ‘necessary’ ~
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) and Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) today strongly denounced remarks made by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto regarding Japan’s enslavement of 200,000 young women during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Hashimoto told reporters this week that these so-called comfort women were “necessary” to assuage the emotionally charged Japanese soldiers. From the 1930s through World War II, the Imperial Armed Forces were responsible for systematic sexual servitude of young Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Filipina, Dutch, and Indonesian women, some as young as 13 years old.
“Mayor Hashimoto’s remarks that comfort women were ‘necessary’ are contemptible and repulsive. His view is an affront to history, humanity, and most of all to the young women who were coerced into horrific psychological, physical, emotional, and sexual violence, including gang rape, forced abortion, humiliation, and mutilation,” stated Rep. Honda. “As someone who was put into an internment camp as an infant, I know we must never be ignorant of the past, and that reconciliation through appropriate government action admitting error is the only resolution likely to be long lasting.
“Mayor Hashimoto’s comments demonstrate why a formal acknowledgement, apology, and acceptance of historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner by the Government of Japan is still necessary. The surviving grandmothers, who I have met with numerous times, are the human face of wartime violence against women, and I am still haunted by their heart-wrenching testimonies. Their restored justice and dignity are long overdue.”
Rep. Israel said, “I am simply disgusted by the remarks uttered by Mayor Hashimoto regarding the history of ‘comfort women.’ These survivors of physical, sexual, and psychological violence deserve sincere and formal apologies and recognition for the atrocities they endured – not an abhorrent explanation by a public official. I strongly condemn Mayor Hashimoto’s remarks and continue to urge the Japanese Government to offer a formal acknowledgement and apology for the atrocities committed by its Imperial Armed Forces during World War II.”
In 2007, Rep. Honda introduced a resolution calling on Japan to formally apologize, and addressed the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment. The resolution passed the House unanimously.