March 6, 2007
Ichida pointed out that the then government and military had clearly used coercion in forcing foreign women into sexual servitude and stated, “The government must stick to the position of admitting to the wrongdoing and offering an apology.”
Concerning Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s remarks that there was no evidence to prove coercion involved in wartime “comfort women” cases, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi pointed out that the then government and military had clearly used coercion in forcing foreign women into sexual servitude.
Ichida at a press conference on March 5 criticized the prime minister, stating, “The government must stick to the position of admitting to the wrongdoing and offering an apology.”
Referring to the Kono statement, Ichida stated, “Prime Minister Abe’s remarks have grave implications that lead to the denial of the Kono statement.”
In 1993, then Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono Yohei issued a statement, stating, “The then Japanese military was, directly or indirectly, involved in the establishment and management of the comfort stations and the transfer of comfort women.”
The statement further stated, “[I]n many cases they were recruited against their own will, through coaxing coercion, etc., and that, at times, administrative/military personnel directly took part in the recruitments. They lived in misery at comfort stations under a coercive atmosphere.”
Ichida at a press conference on March 5 criticized the prime minister, stating, “The government must stick to the position of admitting to the wrongdoing and offering an apology.”
Referring to the Kono statement, Ichida stated, “Prime Minister Abe’s remarks have grave implications that lead to the denial of the Kono statement.”
In 1993, then Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono Yohei issued a statement, stating, “The then Japanese military was, directly or indirectly, involved in the establishment and management of the comfort stations and the transfer of comfort women.”
The statement further stated, “[I]n many cases they were recruited against their own will, through coaxing coercion, etc., and that, at times, administrative/military personnel directly took part in the recruitments. They lived in misery at comfort stations under a coercive atmosphere.”
