Former 'comfort women' to mark 1,000th weekly rally

Elderly Korean women who had been forced into sexual slavery during World War II will hold their 1,000th weekly rally on Wednesday calling for an apology and compensation from the Japanese government, organizers said.The former sex slaves, euphemistically called "comfort women" have held a "Wednesday Demonstration" in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul every week since January 1992. The women have called upon Japan to apologize and provide compensation for forcing women into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II. The members of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and their supporters have continued to demand that Japan fully disclose details of its wartime sexual enslavement and build a memorial for the victims. In addition to an apology and compensation, they have also demanded Japan punish those responsible and record the crime in history textbooks.Japan's wartime sexual enslavement is becoming an increasingly urgent priority, since most surviving comfort women, now mostly in their 80s and 90s, may die before they receive compensation or an apology from Japan if the delays continue.The oldest former comfort woman died at the age of 94 earlier this month and an 87-year-old woman died earlier Tuesday, leaving only 63 surviving victims. This year alone, 16 government-registered ex-comfort women have passed away. "Before it is too late, the Japanese government must apologize to the victims so that the elderly women can end the street protests," said Ahn Seon-mi, who leads the council.On Tuesday, a North Korean association for former comfort women sent a letter of support to the council's Seoul office for their planned 1000th rally."The Wednesday Demonstration that has lasted for 20 years is an unbearable blaze of anger against sexual slavery crimes committed by Japan that have trampled on national pride," the group said in a faxed message. "All Koreans, including women in the North and South, should receive a formal apology and compensation from Japan over its crime against our people following active solidarity and protests." Japan has snubbed South Korea's proposal to hold bilateral talks to discuss the issue of an official apology to and compensation for the surviving former comfort women. Tokyo says all potential claims by individuals for sufferings inflicted in the war were closed years ago through treaties normalizing its ties with other Asian countries.According to historians, up to 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, were coerced into sexual slavery at front-line Japanese brothels during World War II.To mark the 1,000th demonstration, the group has said it will set up a "Peace Monument" near the Japanese embassy in Seoul on Wednesday, a plan protested by the Tokyo government. Japan has asked South Korea to block the plan, but Seoul officials said it is difficult for the South Korean government to do so because setting up the monument does not require approval from the government.On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae repeated the stance, saying "It's not an issue where the government can step in.""Also, there is no excuse for the government (to intervene) as the issue (of Japan's apology and compensation) has not been resolved, and so the Wednesday demonstration reaches its 1,000th session," Cho told reporters.