Japan Press Weekly

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2014 March 12 - 18 [POLITICS]

Gov’t should refrain from reviewing statement on ‘comfort women’ issue: JCP Shii

Regarding Prime Minister Abe’s denial of support for a review of the comfort women apology statement, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on March 14 said, “If the prime minister really means that, he should refrain from re-examining the statement.”

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo earlier on the day at an Upper House Budget Committee meeting said he has no intention to revise the 1993 Kono Statement which admits to the Imperial Japanese Army’s involvement in the operation of the wartime sex slavery (“comfort women”) system and which offers an apology to the victims.

At the same meeting, however, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide indicated that the process of how the Kono Statement was compiled needs to be re-examined.

Shii, in response to a reporter’s question about Abe’s remark, criticized Abe for lacking consistency. Shii said that while Abe denies his intention to revise the statement, his government says it still intends to re-examine the statement.

The JCP chair also denounced the government as favoring to those who object to the Kono Statement and for making no counterargument. “The government should officially and definitely object to the attacks against the official statement. That is what the government should do.”

Past related article
> JCP opposes revision of gov’t statement offering apology to ‘comfort women’ victims [February 26&27, 2014]