Accompanied by human-rights activists and lawmakers, three former comfort women staged a protest in Taipei, condemning the Japanese prime minister's statement denying the existence of sex slavery during World War II.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on March 1 that there was no evidence the Japanese military had forced Asian women to work as sex slaves, also known as "comfort women," during the war.
His statement has triggered a series of protests in the region, where historians believe as many as 200,000 women had been forced into sex slavery by the Japanese military.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Among the victims, 27 are still alive in Taiwan.
"Abe's statement has shocked many Asian countries ... It's a complete denial of historical facts," said Fran Gau (高小帆), executive director of the Women's Rescue Foundation. "We're here to demand the Japanese government admit the wrongdoing, apologize and compensate these victims."
"The Japanese prime minister is a liar. He hadn't even been born at the time, what does he know?" Su Yin-chiao (
"I was forced to take 30 [soldiers] a day. When I refused, they threatened to kill me," Huang Wu Hsiu-mei (吳黃秀妹), another victim, said.
"It has damaged my body severely ... My womb had to be cut out, and I couldn't have children," said Wu Huang, another victim.
Several lawmakers also participated in the protest, calling on the Japanese government to apologize.
The three victims, marched to Japan's representative office to present the letter of protest.
After reading the letter in front of the building, the demonstrators left it at the entrance as officials refused to see them.
also see story:
Korean activist stages comfort women protest at Japanese embassy in Seoul
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES: Despite the threats from outside, Taiwan and Lithuania thrived and developed their economies, former president Tsai Ing-wen said Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Saturday thanked Lithuania for its support of Taiwan, saying that both countries are united as partners in defending democracy. Speaking at a reception organized by the Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group welcoming her on her first visit to the Baltic state, Tsai said that while she was president from 2016 to last year, many Lithuanian “friends” visited Taiwan. “And I told myself I have to be here. I am very happy that I am here, a wonderful country and wonderful people,” Tsai said. Taiwan and Lithuania are in similar situations as both are neighbors to authoritarian countries, she
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is to visit the UK during her ongoing European trip, which originally included only Lithuania and Denmark, her office said today. Tsai departed Taiwan for Europe on Friday night, with planned stops in Lithuania and Denmark, marking her second visit to the continent since her two-term presidency ended in May last year. Her office issued a statement today saying that Tsai would also visit the UK "for a few days," during which she is to meet with UK politicians and Taiwanese professionals, and visit academic and research institutions. Following Tsai's stop in Denmark, she is to visit the
RSS