Seoul court rejects sexual slavery claim against Tokyo

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KIM TONG-HYUNG

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court on Wednesday rejected a claim by victims of Japanese wartime sexual slavery and their relatives who sought compensation from Japan’s government.

The Seoul Central District Court based its decision on diplomatic considerations and principles of international law that grant countries immunity from the jurisdiction of foreign courts. This appeared to align with the position maintained by Tokyo, which boycotted the court proceedings and insists all wartime compensation issues were settled under a 1965 treaty normalizing relations between the two nations.

Activists representing sexual slavery victims denounced the decision and said the Seoul Central District Court was ignoring their struggle to restore the women’s honor and dignity. They said in a statement that the plaintiffs would appeal.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katunobu Kato noted the decision conflicted with a previous ruling in a separate case that found the Japanese government responsible for compensating sexual slavery victims.



Former South Korean comfort woman Lee Yong-soo in a wheelchair leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. A South Korean court on Wednesday rejected a...


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/seoul-tokyo-south-korea-slavery-international-law-817be2f7cadfea06fb22cf39ea74724f

[speak easy]

1. Activists are not overly intent on restoring' the women's honor and dignity'

There are about 20 comfort women still alive A 15 year old in 1945 would be 90 years old today.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/who-are-comfort-women-why-are-u-s-based-memorials-n997656

This is about basking Japan for it's wartime record, subsequent cover-up, and denial of responsibility. And rightly so.

The 'Comfort Women Movement' is about holding the Japanese to popular account, not further rapologies or compensation.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. What mankind has endured at the hands of governments at war

and it never ends. Revolts, rebellions, kingdoms, strong men, dictators, conquest, war, lies, treaties.