JAPAN: Australian former prisoners of war satisfied with apology/Japan looking to regain Asia trust
Record ID:
463458
JAPAN: Australian former prisoners of war satisfied with apology/Japan looking to regain Asia trust
- Title: JAPAN: Australian former prisoners of war satisfied with apology/Japan looking to regain Asia trust
- Date: 4th March 2011
- Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
- Embargoed: 19th March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan, Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVADX3ZHGEYNJ8DROM91C7ISHY1G
- Story Text: Australian former prisoners of war said they were happy with what they took as a formal apology given by Japan's Foreign minister on Thursday (March 3), and some Japanese members of parliament now look to a similar reconciliation with other Asian neighbours.
At a meeting with Japanese parliamentarians of the two upper houses, former Australian prisoners of war retold the story of their capture and treatment at the hands of the Japanese military during World War Two.
Many of the POWs said they were sent back to Japan to work as forced labourers in Japanese companies.
The group said they received a formal apology from Foreign Minister Seijiro Maehara in an earlier meeting.
"I think all that we would have asked for has been completed. For the Foreign Minister today making that formal apology and expressing great remorse for what happened was a wonderful experience for us," 90-year old former prisoner of war Norman Anderton told Reuters on Thursday.
The formal apology was made individually in a meeting closed to media.
Norman added they will be not be asking for any compensation from Japan as the Australian government has already given them AUS$25,000 each.
Japanese members of parliament said the time had come to move on and look to resolving the many other issues from its war history, especially with Asian nations.
"There are plenty of other unresolved issues such as the forced labour issue, comfort women issues, B and C class war criminal issue -- these need to be resolved for the future to move forward. There have been various issues haunting Japan last year such as the Senkaku islands, and I think we need to develop as well more trust with Asia now," said upper house parliament member Yukihisa Fujita, from the ruling Democratic Party.
Memories of World War Two continue to bedevil ties with China and other Asian countries the Japanese Imperial Army invaded, occupied or colonised before and during World War Two.
The Democrats have shown a greater willingness to face up to Japan's wartime aggression than many in their ousted rival, the Liberal Democratic Party. Critics accuse ultra-conservative politicians in both parties of trying to whitewash the past. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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