Japanese War Crimes: US Vitims

There have been a number of postings on specific war crime issues: (1) 200,000 plus Korean, Chinese and other Asian girls ("comfort women") who were systematically gang raped by the Japanese soldiers, (2) The Rape of Nanking, (3) the Sam-Il Massacre of Ko rean Students, (4) Japan's secret opium war, and (5) Japan's germ warfare experiments in China.

Item (6):

When Japan attacked US, some 14,000 American civilians abroad in Asia were abandoned by the US military. The victims claim that the US military did not allow them to leave even when there was transportation available. The Japanese shipped able-bodied A mericans to Japan for slave labor and the rest, women, children and elderly were placed in concentration camps. The American children and women were subjected to brutal beatings and rapes by their Japanese captors.

Recently, Mr. Gilber Hair, President of the Center for the Civilian Internee Rights (6060 La Gorce Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33140), was interviewed by Mr. David Wood, Newhouse News Service and Mr. Wood's article was carried by a number of US newspapers.

In 1948, US Congress allocated $350 million in Japanese frozen asset for compensation to the survivors but no serious effort was made to inform the survivors of this benefit. As the result, less than $17 million was paid out. In 1951, US signed a peace treaty with Japan wherein US dropped all claims for war reparations against Japan and gave back Japan's frozen asset. In effect, US waived the right to sue Japan for war crimes.

The American survivors are suing Japan on their own - without any US backing or assistance - for a sum of $22,000 for each survivor or victim's descendants. Compare this sum with $3,000 being asked by the "comfort" women - how about the victims of the Rap e of Nanking? The Korean victims of the Sam-Il Massacre? The Chinese victims of the germ warfare experiments? It seems that all victims of the Japanese war crimes should work together - 'United we stand'. All victims united will be more effective in dealing with the Japanese.

Sen. Kennedy, Sen. Hatch and others have introduced a bill to help the victims. The bill hasn't gone far - it needs your support. You may contact Mr. Hair at the address given above or send emails of support to US Senator Ted Kennedy and other US Congressmen.