Last known survivor, ‘Mami’ (aka ‘Grandma’), dies aged 92 – Over 200,000 women were used as sex slaves by the Japanese who called them ‘relief women’.
The last known survivor of the female victims sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II died at the age of 92, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry announced today, calling that period “a wound in human history”.
The last known survivor, “Mami” (a.k.a. “Grandma”), died on May 10, at the age of 92.
More than 200,000 womenmainly from South Korea but also from other Asian countries, were used as sex slaves by the Japanese military, who called them “relief women”. In Taiwan, which was under Japanese rule between 1895-1945, about 60 women had been identified as survivors, according to the Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation, an organization that helps female victims of sexual violence and prostitution. The foundation estimates, however, that the actual number of these women exceeds 2,000 on the island.
Taiwan’s “Women’s Rescue Foundation” stated on the 22nd that the last “comfort woman” victim in Taiwan known to the foundation passed away on the 10th of this month. Media person Huang Yangming lamented that these grandmothers have never waited for an apology in their entire lives. pic.twitter.com/JQSad2QUpt
— News of Curiosity(NOC) (@KMilmady) May 23, 2023
“The issue of these women is a blight on human history and the government has prioritized the dignity and well-being of the Taiwanese victims.” State Department spokesman Jeff Liu said today. The island’s government “continued to express its concerns” to Tokyo and urged the Japanese “to satisfy our request, to apologize and to compensate the Taiwanese “relief women” and their families.”
The sexual slavery of wartime Japanese women is a politically sensitive issue throughout Asia. Although the Japanese government has admitted to the extremes committed by Tokyo, its critics note that those responsible have for decades refused to take full responsibility for the enslavement of these women. A demonstration was organized in Taiwan by women demanding compensation for the victims. So far only in South Korea has this request been met.
Despite Mami’s death, the Rescue Foundation says it will continue to ask Japan to compensate the victims. “Although all grandmothers have passed away, we believe that their spirit will always remain in our hearts,” this organization said. Her goal is also to include the history of these women in school textbooks. “This piece of history will not disappear with the death of our grandmothers,” he emphasized.
Taiwan’s last known survivor of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery has died at the age of 92, the island’s foreign ministry said Tuesday, calling the issue a “wound in human history”. #ManilaBulletin https://t.co/F46y3qexLZ
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) May 23, 2023
Source :Skai
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