NYT/AP: Koizumi Apologizes for Past Colonization

[DeepModem Mom]

Koizumi Apologizes for Past Colonization
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 14, 2005
Filed at 10:39 p.m. ET


TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's leader apologized for Tokyo's World War II colonization and invasions Monday, after other Asian nations marked the 60th anniversary of the Japanese surrender by honoring their dead and demanding compensation.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pledged that Japan would never forget the ''terrible lessons'' of the war, and expressed his ''deep reflections and heartfelt'' sorrow for the damages.

The occasion inspired commemorations across Asia on Sunday and Monday. North and South Korea held a rare joint event while protesters in Hong Kong Sunday burned Japan's flag and marched on Tokyo's consulate chanting ''Down with Japanese imperialism!''

In the Philippines, elderly women once forced to act as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers renewed demands for compensation and apologies. Former Australian prisoners of war returned to the Thai jungles where they labored under brutal conditions to build the notorious Death Railway.

China exhorted its citizens to remember Tokyo's surrender on Aug. 15, 1945, with ''a fresh wave of patriotism,'' as state-run media whipped up memories of Japanese atrocities....


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Asia-Liberation-Day.html

[jsamuel]

1. It's always nice to hear world leaders admit when their country was wrong.

Ahhheeemmm........ Bush..... Ahhheeeemmmmm

[yorkiemommie1]

2. he doesn't remember making any wrong decisions

shhh... he's resting up so he can be 'crisp' next month.