Call for 3.17 Global "600th Wednesday
Demonstration"
by Korean Comfort Women Survivors
Women In Black Tokyo calls Women In Black networks
around the world to join us in the "3.17 Global Wednesday Demonstration"
called for by the Korean survivors of Japan's WWII military sexual slavery.
Korean survivors have been demonstrating every
single Wednesday for 12 years in front of the Seoul Japanese Embassy, eversince
the very first "comfort woman" survivor to speak out in public
broke half a century of silence. Hundreds of survivors of Japan's sexual
slavery throughout Asia and the Neterhlands stood up in response. Their
courage has moved thousands of women throughout the world to together demand
justice and share each struggle and touch on its way.
All survivors are in their late 70s to 80s, and
many of them have passed away without seeing through any apology, reparation
or justice from the Japanese government, which they have demanded to their
last breath. Last summer, 7 Korean Survivors came to Japan because both
Korean and Japanese government seemed to abandon their hope, and "who
else was going to resolve the issue if we don't please directly?" They
said they came even if they die from coming and sat in front of the Japanese
foreign ministry and would not move, because "there is so much unresolved
suffering inside the heart that would not go away."
March 17, 2004 marks the 600th Wednesday Demonstration.
Please find below the call for action by Korean Council for Women Drafted
for Military Sexual Slavery, the organization based in Seoul that has been
supporting the survivors' struggles and Wednesday Demonstrations.
Women In Black Tokyo will stand in front of the
Japanese Parliament on March 17th at noon in solidarity with other Tokyo
and Osaka based organizations and Women In Black Fukuoka in southern Japan.
Demonstrations are also scheduled so far in Berlin, Minesotta and Taiwan
by Taiwanese sexual slavery survivors.
Actions:
1. Wednesday Demonstration
Please take an action in front of the Japanese
Embassy or in your neighborhood. Let us know at (mailto:wibtokyo@earth.co.jp)
if you plan to stand, no matter how small & humble, so that we can convey
and share your presence in Korea, Japan and throughout.
2. Petition
Please sign on to the below listed 600 signature
petition campaign by Korean Council to support this demonstration - by sending
your name/organization/address or email (if at all) to (mailto:eitaikyou@hotmail.com).
Please don't hesitate to send us any comments or
inquiry to WIB Tokyo (wibtokyo@earth.co.jp) or Korean Council(mailto:eitaikyou@hotmail.com).
In solidarity,
Women In Black Tokyo
2004.2.27 |