The Japanese top court dismissed on Tuesday an appeal by a group
of six former Chinese forced workers who demanded a total of 110
million yen (about US$909,000) in compensation from the Japanese
government for their being taken to work in nickel mines in Kyoto
Prefecture during World War II.
In January 2003, the Kyoto District Court dismissed the
plaintiffs' claims, citing the expiration of right to claim
compensation. In September 2006, the Osaka High Court upheld the
district court's decision for the same reason and added "the state
is exempt from any responsibility as the actions were taken before
the National Redress Law went into force in 1947."
The ruling was the latest in a series of dismissal of lawsuits
filed by Chinese for their wartime suffering. The Japanese top
court in April dismissed a forced labor suit and a sex slavery suit
filed by Chinese sufferers.
(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2007)
