Yesterday (December 8), a meeting was held to mark the 63rd anniversary of Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and its launch of the Pacific War in 1941. That day, more than 40 non-governmental organizations from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) issued a statement opposing Japan to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council, demanding that Japan offer apologies to war victims and make compensation for individuals.
Wang Xuan (C) , head of the Chinese legal group advising plaintiffs suing Japan for damages over its use of germ warfare in China, expresses her support to a joint declaration made by victims of the World War II at a press conference in Tokyo, Dec. 8, 2004.
In the statement, these organizations strongly opposed Japan to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council because the UN is an international body founded on the basis of introspections of the two world wars. Currently, the Koizumi cabinet is actively lobbying worldwide, making preparation for its intention to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. So far, however, Japan has not reached a compromise with the war victims and now there are still 30 war-related lawsuits in Japan's court.
Wang Xuan (C), leader of the litigation delegation of Chinese victims of the bacteriological war launched by Japanese troops against China, said at the meeting that the issue of Japan's bacteriological warfare had far from being solved, and the Japanese government has not yet made public all related materials. "So, it's still hard to talk about apology and compensation,"added Wang.
That same day, speaking at the meeting also included Xiong Shanchu, a Chinese victim of Japan's bacteriological warfare, and a former South Korean soldier.
By People's Daily Online
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