A group of dedicated comfort women advocates has recently appealed to the government to take action and bring back the “stolen” statue that represents the victims of comfort women during World War II. The removal of this statue from its original location on Roxas Boulevard in Manila is seen as an unjust act that erases a crucial part of historical facts.
During a forum on Thursday, Sharon Cabozao Silva, the executive director of LILA Filipina, emphasized the importance of remembrance and justice when discussing colonialism and wars of occupation. She highlighted that throughout history, wars of occupation have often been followed by issues of decolonization or deconstruction.
Silva expressed her concern, stating that the removal of the statue constitutes a historical regression and erases knowledge and historical facts not only among the people who were occupied but also within the international community.
The Filipino Comfort Women is a group consisting of Filipina survivors who experienced military sexual violence and slavery during the Japanese occupation in 1942. In December 2017, as a tribute to the victims who never received justice, the group unveiled a monument that was installed through the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
In August 2019, it was reported that the statue had gone missing from the sculptor’s studio, Jonas Roces. Initially, it had been removed from its original location by the Department of Public Works and Highways to make way for drainage improvement.
Lila Ramos Shahani, a prominent intellectual based in the US, pointed out that the heritage law grants the National Commission of Culture and the Arts the authority to oversee the preservation of historical markers. She noted that the removal of the statue did not follow the proper procedures or seek permission from the NCCA.
Aside from demanding the return of the statue, the group also called on the government to address the issue of reparations that have never been provided to the victims. They questioned how reparations could be given when the government has refused to acknowledge the plight of these women for nearly 30 years. The advocates urged the government to fulfill its treaty obligations, specifically referring to the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Furthermore, the group emphasized the importance of educating young people about the experiences of Filipino comfort women. They believe that by incorporating this issue into historical education, the younger generation will gain a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by these women.
The call to bring back the stolen comfort women statue and address the historical injustices it represents is a plea for recognition and remembrance. It serves as a reminder that acknowledging the past is crucial for building a just and inclusive society. By honoring the stories of comfort women, we can work towards preventing such atrocities from happening again and ensure that their voices are heard and their experiences are never forgotten.
Source: The Manila Times
