Standing with the "Comfort Women"

Helen reads a statement from our UMW delegation in English.  Karen (in the green rain jacket)  will soon read
this same statement in Korean. 

The woman in the center (yellow rain coat) listens intently.
She is one of the remaining "Comfort Women" and attended the rally. 

Rain did not deter those who gathered on Wednesday noon to make a statement in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Korea.   There were speakers from the War and Women's Human Rights Museum, a drama group from Japan, and others who spoke in support of recognizing the aging women who were part of WWII.   All they are asking from the Japanese government is to recognize and apologize for what they did to these women who have endured much over their lifetime.  This Wednesday noon rally has taken place without fail every Wednesday for over 20 years.  
After the rally we walked to a shopping area and Bonnie was stopped on the street by a young Korean woman.   She had been at the rally and wanted to thank us for coming.   She'd decided that she should come to the rally this Wednesday and was moved by the statements that were made.   She thanked us for coming and lending one more voice to the call for justice for the "comfort women".  

  

Here are the words spoken on behalf of all United Methodist Women.

We are a delegation of women from many states in the United States representing the United Methodist Women. 

We are here today in solidarity with the grandmothers who have been protesting every Wednesday for the past 20 years in order to have their dignity and self respect restored. We are here to honor and support their struggle. 

Some of us present here (Karen and Helen) worked as members of a coalition in 2006 to help pass the House Resolution 121 in the United States Congress. This bill called for the government of Japan to make a formal apology to the women drafted to serve as "comfort women." This bill was passed unanimously in the house of the representatives and also in the U.S. Senate and a letter was sent to the government of Japan in 2007. As we all know, no action has been taken by Japan as of today. 

As members of an organization which endeavors to protect human rights of women and children, we demand the most speedy and complete apology from the government of Japan. We want to remind the citizens of Japan that the world is watching what they will do about this issue. 

We say to them that the memory of insufferable atrocities will not fade away in time. We also ask the government of the Republic of Korea to participate fully in removing the indignity and shame of its own citizens. 

We pray that the day will soon come when the aging Grandmothers no longer need to be on the streets protesting. We wish them health and the will to keep on fighting.

We promise you that we will continue to pray and stand by you until there is a resolution.

Thank you for your attention.