[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 128 (Saturday, August 4, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENSE OF HOUSE THAT JAPAN SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR ITS IMPERIAL ARMED 
          FORCES' COERCION OF YOUNG WOMEN INTO SEXUAL SLAVERY

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                               speech of

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2007

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas.  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
121, which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Government of Japan should formally apologize and accept historical 
responsibility for its Imperial Armed Forces' coercion of young women 
into sexual slavery during its occupation of Asia and the Pacific 
Islands from the 1930s through the end of World War II.
  During this time period, the government of Japan created a system of 
forced military prostitution where young females were used as 
involuntary sexual servants or ``comfort women'' in one of the largest 
cases of human trafficking in the 20th century. Over 200,000 women are 
believed to have been coerced into these government sanctioned 
programs, and only an estimated 25 percent survived this horrible and 
painstaking ordeal. Although the government of Japan has made some 
efforts to address these past grievances, they have repeatedly 
undermined the sincerity of their own statements by engaging in 
questionable practices to disregard these unfortunate events. Some 
Japanese textbooks have attempted to downplay the existence of 
``comfort women,'' and several officials have tried to dilute or 
retract previously expressed apologies.
  The nation of Japan has long been a valuable friend and ally of the 
United States, and I understand their desire to look forward to the 
future, but that should not come at the expense of ignoring the 
horrible events of the past. In light of its historical shortcomings, 
the Japanese government must be willing to publicly accept 
responsibility for its past sins and offer a sincere and formal apology 
if they wish to be forgiven by the international community. They should 
also discourage any efforts to refute the existence of ``comfort 
women.'' It is important for future generations to be aware of these 
events in order to ensure that these tragedies will not be repeated. 
There is no greater enemy than ignorance of the past.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the many women and 
families that were affected by these terrible crimes. Please join me in 
voting for H. Res. 121 so that we can ensure that this tragedy is 
properly addressed and acknowledged.

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