Advocacy groups voiced outrage Sunday after a memorial to the females who were forced into brothels for Imperial Japanese soldiers before and during World
MANILA – Advocacy groups voiced outrage Sunday after a memorial to the females who were forced into brothels for Imperial Japanese soldiers before and during World War II was taken down in Manila.
City authorities said the bronze sculpture of a blindfolded woman, which had been installed on a bay-side promenade in the Philippine capital, was removed Friday to make way for a drainage and footbridge project.
However, advocacy groups for the “comfort women,” Japan’s euphemism for the victims, wondered whether the Philippine government had yielded to Japanese displeasure over the memorial.
While Japan occupied the Philippines during the war, it is now one of its top investors, trading partners and aid donors.
After the statue was installed in January, some 2 km (1.2 miles) from the Japanese Embassy, Tokyo said the move was “very unfortunate.”
“The Japanese government is working hard . . . they also wanted to get rid of a similar statue in New Jersey,” said Rechilda Extremadura, executive director of Lila Pilipina, an organization of comfort women survivors and advocates.
