[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ENSLAVEMENT OF WOMEN DURING THE COLONIAL OCCUPATION OF ASIA AND PACIFIC 
                                ISLANDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2001

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I was joined by Ms. Soon Dok 
Kim, an unconquered survivor of one of the worst crimes committed 
against women--the mass rape of 200,000 women and girls orchestrated by 
the Imperial Japanese Army. To this date the Government of Japan still 
has not issued a clear apology, offered state reparations, or attempted 
to educate it's population on these atrocities. Therefore, I am 
introducing a resolution in Congress today that calls upon the 
Government of Japan to formally issue a clear and unambiguous apology 
for the sexual enslavement of young women during the colonial 
occupation of Asia and Pacific Islands during World War II.
  Ms. Soon Dok Kim told a large audience this afternoon about how she 
was kidnaped from her village at 17 years old and forced to be a 
comfort woman. She is a very courageous person to take such a public 
role and share the story of her suffering in order to seek justice.
  It has been almost 56 years since Japan surrendered to the allied 
powers. Very few comfort women are still alive and time is running out 
for Japan to properly account for its actions. We must act soon and 
remember that there is no statute of limitations on crimes against 
humanity.
  When human rights are violated, the international community must act 
because we have a moral responsibility to do so.
  So, let us do what is just and what is right for the comfort women 
and other victims. Let us speak out for them. Let us stand up for them. 
Let us lend them our strength.
  We must act, and we must speak out because in the end, people will 
remember not the words of their enemies, but the silence of their 
friends.
  Let us not remain silent.

                          ____________________