A new group of Chinese victims of chemical weapons left
behind by Japanese troops during World War II will file a suit
against the Japanese government seeking an official apology and
compensation.
Some 40 victims of last August's mustard gas exposure tragedy in
Qiqihar in Northeast China's Heilongjiang
Province signed power of attorneys with Chinese lawyers on Sunday
and yesterday, entrusting them in a joint legal action.
"What matters is not how much money we will get in compensation,
but how the Japanese Government will face its history," said Su
Xiangxiang, a lawyer who will take the case and has been fighting
for the right of thousands of Chinese victims of Japanese invasion
for nearly a decade.
Under increasing pressure from the Chinese Government, the
Japanese Government last year agreed to give 300 million yen
(US$2.56 million) to 44 victims of the August 4 accident in which
one died 17 days later. The payment was made by the end of last
year.
"But the Japanese Government has never admitted its mistakes in
the war, and the purpose of the payment is ambiguous," said Su.
"The aim of the non-governmental action is to urge the Japanese
Government to assume its responsibility on a legal basis and to win
back our dignity."
With the co-operation of Japanese lawyers, a statement of claim
will first be presented to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi and his cabinet.
If the government does not meet the demands and agrees to
negotiate the matter, the Japanese lawyers will bring action into a
Japanese court on behalf of the Chinese victims, said Su.
Su said the other goal is to urge the Japanese Government to
disclose information on where its military buried hundreds of
thousands of chemical weapons.
Following their World War II defeat, the Japanese army left
behind large quantities of unused chemical weapons in China, many
of them are in northeastern part of the country.
(China Daily February 3, 2004)