To build international solidarity, I translated the urgent statement by the Joint Action for Resolution of the Forced Labour Issue and Settlement of Past Issues in response to the "Solution Related to the Court Decision on Forced Recruitment" announced by the Republic of Korea government on March 6. Please note that this is a quick translation with the aid of Deepl and may not be completely accurate. Suggestions for improvement are welcome. The original Japanese version is HERE. (Satoko Oka Norimatsu, Peace Philosophy Centre @PeacePhilosophy)
３月６日に韓国政府が発表した「強制徴用大法院判決関連 解決法」に対する「強制動員問題解決と過去清算のための共同行動」による緊急声明を、国際連帯をつくるために英訳しました。
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| Click HERE to go the website of the Japanese support group. Here is an English pamphlet that explains the basic of the forced labour issue. |
Statement: "Closing our eyes to history and leaving the victims behind is not a solution!"
Today, the Korean government and Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin announced the "Solution Related to the Court Decision on Forced Recruitment."
The "Solution" includes the three points: 1) the "Foundation for Supporting Victims of Imperial Japan's Forced Mobilization" (hereinafter referred to as "the Foundation") will pay judgment money and delayed interest to plaintiffs of the 2018 Supreme Court decision; 2) as a follow-up measure, the Foundation will promote memorial, education, survey, research projects, etc. to remember and pass on the suffering of the victims; 3) the Foundation will provide financial resources for the payment of judgment money and interest on delayed payment through voluntary contributions from the private sector. As part of its "future plan," the Foundation has proposed that victims and bereaved families be asked to understand and agree to the "Solution," and that financial resources for the foundation be provided in a reliable manner.
In response, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference that he appreciates the Republic of Korea government's "solution" as a way to "return Japan-ROK relation to a healthy relationship," and stated that "the Japanese government will take this opportunity to confirm that it has taken over the position of successive Japanese cabinets regarding historical recognition as a whole, including the 'Japan-ROK Joint Declaration' issued in October 1998.
The defendant companies commented that they were "not in a position to comment specifically" on this announcement by the Korean government. They then reiterated their view that "the matter has been resolved under the 1965 Claims Agreement."
It does not reflect any of the "sincere response" that the Korean government requested from the Japanese government. This does not mean that the issue of forced mobilization has been resolved.
First, the defendant Japanese companies have neither apologized nor announced that they will pay compensation. The defendant companies have been found liable for the tort of forced mobilization and forced labor by both Japanese and Korean courts. Despite this, the defendant companies have not even apologized to the victims and have acted as if they were in no position to comment on the matter.
Second, Foreign Minister Hayashi's statement that "Japan has taken over the position of successive Japanese cabinets on historical recognition as a whole" omits the core of the 1998 Declaration, which states that "the Korean people have suffered tremendous damage and pain due to colonial rule." Although the Japanese government was primarily responsible for the forced mobilization of Koreans during the war, it did not apologize to the victims of forced mobilization who suffered "tremendous damage and pain."
Thus, while the Korean foundation is being asked to shoulder compensation payments, the perpetrating parties have not apologized or paid a single yen, and this cannot possibly resolve the issue of forced mobilization.
The Japanese and ROK governments claim that the announcement of the "Solution" will improve and develop Japan-ROK relations. However, there is no way for deepening the true friendship between Japan and ROK or for the development of the bilateral relations unless we solve the issue of forced labour and other issues that occurred under Japanese colonial rule and move ahead in extinguishing colonialism.
The surviving victim plaintiffs have made it clear that they cannot accept this "Solution."
We, together with the victims, will continue our campaign to:
(1) call for the Japanese government and the defendant companies to acknowledge the fact of forced mobilization, sincerely apologize, contribute funds to make amends as proof, and take concrete measures to ensure they will never repeat such acts, and
(2) to the above end, call for the establishment of a forum of consultation with surviving victim plaintiffs and bereaved families.
A statement by the Joint Action for Resolution of the Forced Labour Issue and Settlement of Past Issues https://181030.jimdofree.com/
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Below is the original Japanese version.
声明「歴史に目を閉ざし、被害者を置き去りにしたままでは解決にならない！」
本日、韓国政府・朴振外交部長官が「強制徴用大法院判決関連 解決法」を発表しました。
「解決法」として示したのは、①「日帝強制動員被害者支援財団」（以下、財団）が2018年大法院判決の原告に判決金・遅延利子を支給する、②後続措置として、被害者の苦痛を記憶し、継承していくために追慕、教育・調査・研究事業等を推進する、③判決金・遅延利子支払いの財源は民間の自発的寄与などを通じて用意する、の３点。「今後の計画」として、被害者・遺族に「解決法」への理解・同意を求めること、財団への財源用意が確実に進むようにすることなどを打ち出しています。
これを受けて、日本政府・林芳正外相は記者会見で、韓国政府の「解決法」を「日韓関係を健全な関係に戻すためのものとして評価」すると言い、「この機会に、日本政府は、1998年10月に発表された『日韓共同宣言』を含め、歴史認識に関する歴代内閣の立場を全体として引き継いでいることを確認」する旨を表明しました。
被告企業は、この韓国政府の発表について「特にコメントする立場にない」とコメントしました。そして、改めて「請求権協定で解決済み」との見解を明らかにしました。
韓国政府が日本政府に求めた「誠意ある呼応」は何ひとつ反映していません。これで強制動員問題が解決したとは言えません。
第１に、被告日本企業は謝罪もしていなければ、賠償支払いの表明もしていません。被告企業は日本と韓国の裁判で、強制動員し、強制労働を強いた事実、その不法行為責任を認定されています。にもかかわらず被害者に謝罪の言葉さえなく「コメントする立場にない」と他人事のように振る舞っています。
第２に、林外相の「歴史認識に関する歴代内閣の立場を全体として引き継いでいる」との言葉は、「韓国国民に対し植民地支配により多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」という1998年宣言の核心的部分を欠落させています。日本政府は戦時中の朝鮮人強制動員について第一に責任を負うべき立場にあるにもかかわらず「多大の損害と苦痛」を受けた強制動員被害者に謝罪しなかったのです。
このように韓国の財団に賠償支払いを肩代わりさせておきながら加害当事者は謝罪もせず、1円の金も出さない、これで強制動員問題が解決するはずがありません。
日韓両政府は、今回の「解決法」発表により、日韓関係が改善され、発展していくと言っています。しかし、強制動員問題等を解決し、植民地主義を清算するプロセスを進めていかない限り日韓の真の友好は深まらず、関係が発展していくはずがありません。
今回の「解決法」について、生存被害者原告は受け入れられないとの立場を明らかにしています。
私たちは、被害者ととともに、
（1）日本政府・被告企業が強制動員の事実を認めて真摯に謝罪し、その証として償いのために資金を拠出し、同じことを繰り返さないための措置を具体的に講ずること、
（2）そのために被害者原告及び遺族との協議の場を設けること、
を求めて運動を続けていきます。
強制動員問題解決と過去清算のための共同行動 https://181030.jimdofree.com/
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