For More Than Half a Century, Justice Remains Elusive to Filipino Comfort Women

For More Than Half a Century, Justice Remains Elusive to Filipino Comfort Women

Published on November 13, 2010
Lila Pilipina, the organization of Filipino women who were used as sex slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, said the Supreme Court decision denying their petition to hold the Japanese government accountable for its crimes against them, which was penned by Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, was not only plagiarized but was also “twisted.”

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Narcisa Claveria or Lola Isa, 80, vividly recalls her horrible experience with the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Lola Isa is one of the 174 comfort women who bravely went public to demand justice from the Japanese government.

“Lila Pilipina is demanding for an apology from the Japanese government. We want the truth to be written in history that the Japanese Imperial Army committed a horrible crime during the Second World War.” said Rechilda Extremadura executive secretary of Lila Pilipina, adding that rape or sexual slavery is a crime against humanity

Narcisa “Lola Isa” Claveria (left) and Lola Pilar Frias (Photo by Anne Marxze D. Umil / bulatlat.com)

Lila Pilipina is an organization of comfort women who survived the Second World War. It was formed in 1994 under the auspices of the women’s group Gabriela. Prior to Lila Pilipina, in July 1992, the Task Force For Comfort Women (TFFCW) was organized by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) together with six women’s organization. The TFFCW through its massive media campaign encouraged victims of sexual slavery during the Japanese occupation to come out and hold the Japanese government accountable.

In 1992, after more than half a century of silence, the women who were repeatedly abused by Japanese soldiers finally came out to tell their stories. Maria Rosa Luna Henson was the first.

The Horror of 1943 There are 174 cases of comfort women that were documented by Lila Pilipina, 65 victims have already died. The remaining 109 lolas are still willing to continue their struggle for justice despite their age.

“We would not stop until we achieve justice. We experienced extreme exploitation at the hands of the Japanese during the war,” Lola Isa said tearfully.

Despite their age, Lola Isa and 84-year old Pilar Frias could still remember vividly how they were repeatedly raped by Japanese soldiers.

They were both in their teenage years then when Japanese soldiers began abducting girls, mostly teenagers. Lola Isa, then 14 years old was a Grade 2 student while Lola Pilar was 16, she was in Grade 5. .... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/11/13/for-more-than-half-a-century-justice-remains-elusive-to-filipino-comfort-women/