June
23rd, 2015
The
Declaration by Civilians in East Asia
- We
will open up a new era
on
the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the
End of World
War Ⅱ-
Mr. Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, plans to
issue the statement this summer on the occasion of the 70th
anniversary of the End of World
War Ⅱ.
We are concerned about its contents because Mr. Abe has raised
tensions between Japan and neighboring countries over
the “History”
issues. 70 years ago, Asian countries were liberated from the
aggressive imperial wars and
the colonial subjugations. Many
civilians,
in addition to the loss of millions of
their soldiers, lost their lives during
the absolutely unnecessary wars
of imperial aggressions. We should
sincerely reflect on the past history, and build a new friendship
with neighbors for peaceful coexistence and co-prosperity in East
Asia.
Japan, with
remorse for its aggressions and colonial rule against Asian countries
during the wartime, declared in the Constitution "never again
shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of
government" and "renunciation of war" in its Article
9. Furthermore, Japan was returned to the international community by
accepting the decision of International Military Tribunal for the Far
East which judged Japan guilty of its aggressions.
In 1995, 50 years after the war, "Statement by Prime Minister
Tomiichi Murayama" was approved in the Cabinet meeting and
announced to the world. It said "during a certain period in the
not too distant past, Japan, following a mistaken national policy,
advanced along the road to war, only to ensnare the Japanese people
in a fateful crisis, and, through its colonial rule and aggression,
caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many
countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. In the hope that
no such mistake be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of
humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once
again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology".
Civilians in East Asia accepted its feelings of sincere remorse and
apology and hoped that a new era would be opened for the region.
However, since
then, some forces which deny and refute core contents of the Murayama
Statement have been rampant, today they now even distort the
historical facts by saying "the war was for self-defense or for
liberation of Asia". It is a seriously nefarious challenge to
the billions of East Asian peoples who have been tirelessly demanding
peace, security and co-prosperity in the region. They have also made
nonstop efforts to build confidence and cooperation among Asian
countries.
However, unfortunately, the present Tokyo government’s repeated
attempts to distort and even negate the past history will not only
seriously hinder a co-prosperous future of the vast Asian region but
also further deepen already-irrecoverable wounds of survivors of
Japanese war crimes and crimes against humanity in many Asian
nations.
Therefore, on
the occasion of 70th Anniversary of the end of the war, we must not
allow Prime Minister Abe not only to deny but also negate the core
tenets of "the Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama"
under the pretext of "futurism". Japan should take the
wartime responsibility as a major culprit who triggered the
Asia-Pacific War and invaded, colonized a number of nations in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Since the end
of the war in August 1945, even if persistent efforts have never been
absent either in the region, most, if not all, East Asian nations
have never been free from the constant state of conflicts, wars and
antagonism.
However we, the concerned peoples of the East
Asia region are determined to open up and work for a new era to
arrive through sincere and endless dialogues which will be solely
based upon mutual respect, confidence and cooperation.
Supported by tenacious efforts and undying
commitments, we come up with the following demands and hopes as
follows:
1. We demand a
peaceful environment which is based upon mutual respect, confidence
and cooperation among East Asian peoples by making endless efforts to
promote mutual understandings amongst each other and to share a
humble understanding of the common history;
2. We insist
that the Abe government should recognize and sincerely apologize for
Japan’s aggressive wars and colonial rules against its neighbors in
Asia-Pacific region, and compensate fully all the victims and their
surviving family members;
3. We’ll make
extraordinary efforts to build a genuinely peaceful environment and
establish a common regional security structure in East Asia region by
first replacing the fragile Armistice Agreement on the Korean War
with a Peace Treaty, and then by removing U.S military bases out of
Japan and South Korea which are the ultimate cause of constant
military tensions in the region;
4. We demand
Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and DPRK by the
first’s genuine atoning for the past to the latter, solely based
upon Pyongyang Declaration and the recent agreement concluded in
Stockholm late last year;
5. On the
occasion of the 50th anniversary of concluding Treaty on Basic
Relations between Japan and Republic of Korea, we require to review
the relationship between two nations and to solve the past’s
heinous crimes such as Japanese military's "comfort women"
which was undisputedly Japan’s serious war crimes, crimes against
humanity, and infringement of human rights:
6. We encourage
the North and the South, the only divided nation left in the world,
to resume their lost dialogues for the realization of the independent
peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula which should be solely
based upon the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4
Declaration concluded by the leaders of both sides;
7. We will make
every efforts for the implementation of true peace and security in
the region by holding hand in hand with all the peoples based upon
mutual respect, confidence and cooperation.
■ Japan
The Association of Civil Solidarity to Take a
Step forward to a New East Asia on the Occasion of the 70th
Anniversary of the End of the World War Ⅱ,
Forum Peace, Human Rights and Environment,
Peace Boat,
Campaign for Reconnecting Japan and ROK,
The National Network for Japan-ROK Peoples’ Solidarity,
Network for Opposing Exclusion of Korean Schools from the Tuition Fee
Waiver Programme for High School Education,
Association for Succeeding and Developing " Statement by Prime
Minister Tomiichi Murayama",
The Team in Tokyo for Investigating Truth about Forced Korean
Laborers,
Regional Committee of Koreans in Japan for Implementing June 15 Joint
Declaration of North and South Korea,
Support Network for Korean Schools in Japan,
Japan Committee for Supporting Independent
Peaceful Reunification of Korea,
Association for Exchange of Education and Science between Japan and
DPRK,
Violence Against Women in War Research Action Center,
All Japan Construction Transport Solidarity Trade Union,
■ ROK
People's Action Against War and Realization of Peace,
Korea Christian Action Organization,
The Labor Rights Center,
Supporters Group for Prisoners of Conscience,
Korean Council for Democratic Martyr,
Central Association for Independent Peaceful Reunification of the
Nation,
National Conference of Democratic Workers,
Solidarity for Democracy, Public Welfare,
Peaceful Reunification and Sovereignty,
Buddhism Peace Solidarity,
April 19 Revolution Committee,
Progressive Solidarity in Seoul,
Conference to Promote Reunification of our
Nation in Federal System
Live with Jesus,
Solidarity of Koreans for Independent Reunification and Democracy,
Korean Farmers League,
Korea Association of Bereaved Families for Democracy,
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions,
National Association for Relief of the Poor,
Korea Woman Farmer Association,
National Women's Solidarity
South Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's
Reunification
Reunification Square,
Way to Reunification,
Veterans for Peace, Korea,
Federation of Korean Trade Unions,
Korean Progressive Solidarity,
Korean Youth Solidarity,
Korean College Students Association in 21st Century,
■ U.S
A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)
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