The Korean Council
149 admin 2008-06-29 2241
Weekly News/ June 9th - June 15th

MONDAY June 9th

1. Visiting "Truth Commission on Forced Mobilization under the Japanese Imperialism Republic of Korea", asking for help to suggesting to UN International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Dissappearance service group :
Representative Mi-Hyang Yoon and the manager dealing with international work, Sun-Mi Ahn visited "Truth Commission on Forced Mobilization under the Japanese Imperialism Republic of Korea".Women who was forced to go to Japan during Japanese Imperialism and dead or disappeared without knowing the reason and women who even could not find the remains..They visited to get some informations for suggesting those women's problems as the examples of violation of"International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance".
Meanwhile, we only worked for the military wexual slavery be Japan. We wanted to work for all the women victims. However, even having difficulties dealing with the military sexual victims, we thought it was impossible to deal with others, too.
But, in May, Sun-Mi Ahn and Si-Hyun Cho, the law expert, participated in UN Human Rights Commission. And while discussing about this, there was a new suggestion. Suggesting the problem of all women victims by Japan in UN International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Dissappearance".
So, to talk about the proofs such as interviews of bereaved family, we made an appointment last week. We wish a good news after today's meeting.

2. Planning the Wednesday Demonstration for the latter half of the year :
The Wednesday Demonstration, open for 52 times a year, is hosted by The Korean Council and NGOs. However, planning the demonstration is such a hard work. These days, Sun-Mi Ahn manager is busy planning the latter half. Workers of the Korean Council cannot focus on one thing. So, Sun-Mi Ahn is burdensome. Won't you help her, requesting for the Wednesday Demonstration?

3. The manuscript of 48th newspaper has done :
After the manager, Ji-Young Lim resigned,Sun-Mi Ahn took charge of this work, too. Last week, she said, "Anyone who submits the manuscript late should pay for our lunch." But,with a big laugh, she payed for all of our lunch.

4. Won-Wok Gil testified in "Our Public Forum" :
On Sunday, one of the victims, Won-Wok Gil and Tae-Hyo Jung manager headed to Tokyo. And today afternoon, she testified in "Our Public Forum". She testified about violence and rape by Japanese military, and said that she participates in the Wednesday Demonstration every week wishing for the apology from them. After her testimony, about 10 P.M., Tae-Hyo Jung called us. "She did a great job. Tomorrow, 20 members of National Assembly and 30 aides are going to be in the Congress public hearing."

5. A Report from Tsubukawa :
Tsubukawa from Japanese Whole Solidarity also reported about the Won-Wok Gil ceremony by e-mail. "Ms.Gil as well as Tae-Hyo Jung is feeling very well. Yesterday, she dined with the Chinese woman and entertained herself with music and dance. Today, she made an excellent testimony!"

6. Arrangement for the UN Human Rights Commission NGO speaker and preparation¡¡of the manuscript :
The Korean Council and Watanabe Mina cannot attend the Human Rights Commision conference. Today, the Japanese part communicated that Watanabe Mina requested a NGO, OMCTWorld Organization Against Torture, for a speech on the Japanese military sexual slavery issue. The organization agreed to do give a speech and according to the report, Si-Hyun Cho, a committee member, is working on the manuscript to confront the Japanese position. The Japanese asserted in the human rights report conference that Japan has compensated its mistakes through Asian Women's Fund. The manuscript also requests for a formal apology and a legal compensation of the Japanese government to recover the rights of the victims.

7. Sending letter to the Federation of Christian Women¡¡asking for help constructing the museum :
We sent letter to the Federation of Christian Women asking for participating in fund raising for constructing museum of war and women rights. And we contacted with the director, Geun-Sook Yoo. She's happy to help us.

8. Visiting Germany :
We were having hard time visiting Germany (to get some informations about the museum construction) with such a little money. Happily, countrywomen in Germany contacted us suggesting to help. Ms. Jin-Hyang Kim will allowed us to sleep at her house and Ms. Soon-Wok Yoo will help us with translating with KOWIN members. Thank you!!!

9. Mr. In-Duk Lee shared informations about our activities in ILO meeting :
Chief of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, Mr. In-Duk Lee called us. He arrived yesterday night and talked about Europe, U.S.A, Canada and Netherland congresses adopting the resolution about sexual slaves by Japanese military. And he said that ILO has to deal with it. Lastly, we are going to meet the co-chief, Mr. Chang-Geun Lee to plan the 2009 ILO meeting.




TUESDAY June 10th

1. Visit to Mz Kim Kyeong-soon in Asan central hospital :
Ms. Kim is quite ill. Glycosuria have been developed in her body for a long time. In 2nd of June, Mz Kim stumbled in her house and broke her pelvis bone and entered the central hospital. She had an operation and, according to her son, seemed to be doing just fine. But then her condition worsened severely. She cannot recognize anyone and remains unconscious. Even if one calls her from right beside, she does not recognize it. We all hope she gets better.


2. Supporting the victims of the sexual slavery of Japanese army :
Korean government is supporting the victims who suffered from the sexual slavery of Japanese army according to the laws. The laws were established in 1993 and supported the victims with so little money that one could hardly buy a dose of medicine with it, but nowadays the victims are receiving $1200 a month at least. Other than that, the victims receive $940 of health expense a month. Health management expenses are used when the victims buy herb remedies or a nutrient shot. If the victims are hospitalized or recuperated at home, the government supports them with about $3000 a year. The new ministry was trying to cut down the expenses on the victims, however from this June, the conditions are getting better. Even if we are poor, the NGO is happy to know that the victims are living a better life.

3. Making the logo of the Council :
The Korean Council has finally made its own logo, and prepared for the candle demonstration commemorating the 21th year since the 6.10 demonstration. The logo has a butterfly on the purple background and has 'The Korean Council for the Women Drafted For Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.' It's pretty unique. The Women's Organization held a meeting for the re-negotiation of the beef trade with the US.


4. Packing the momentoes of the deceased :
The Council is spending the whole day in Education Hall, packing the momentoes and keepsakes the victims who died. It's really sad. "Mz Yoon, is this one from Mz Kang?" "Yes it is." and then "Mz Yoon, do you know who owned this?" Mz Song has been managing the stuffs. From this experience, we recall the events that had been forgotten.


5. Mz Guil testifies in the citizen meeting at Tokyo :
Today is the day Mz Guil and another Chinese victim testifies their experiences infront of the Japanese lawmakers. Mz Guil told them that at the age of 13, she was took by Japanese soldiers as a comfort girl for the Japanese military and was abused and raped by the Japanese soldiers. When she suffered from a venereal disease 'Yokone', the Japanese made an operation on the oviduct and made her infertile. She could not go to her hometown because of the shame, and lived all alone for tens of years. She also told them that she is attending every Wednesday demonstration although it even makes her suffer. The important thing is that Japanese government change its attitude. She asked the lawmakers to make the Japanese government apologize for this.




WEDNESDAY June 11th

1. 817th Wednesday Demonstration held by the Korean Council office :
There were no groups signed up for hosting today's Wednesday Demonstration, so it was hosted by the Korean Council office. Unlike other days, the Korean Council flag was hung in front of the Japanese Embassy. And as always there were two police buses in front of the Embassy wall, and police officers were guarding the front door, all lined up.
Halmunies - Kang Il Chul, Park Ok Sun, Lee Ok Sun, Bae Chun Hee, Lee Sun Duk and her friend, sat on the front line. There were nuns, people from Tokyo, Japan, young people volunteering in The House of Sharing and the Korean Council, college students including a female student who's majoring in history, members of the troupe Nabi holding Nabi pickets. The Korean Council's chair of the executive commitee, Lee Kyeong Hee, who is the chief of Cultural Information Commitee, has been participating in the demonstration for months, with her child.
Unlike other demonstrations, the chief secretary Kang Joo Hye played the role of a director, and Yoon Mi Hyang made the report about progress. There were speeches by College students and Japanese people, and we altogether read the declaration. Lastly, we promised to meet in the 818th Wednesday Demonstration.

2. The Last Lunch at Chungnyuguan :
There's going to be a new building at the site of present Chungnyuguan. So we had the last lunch there. The president offered us free beverages, and after the meal, we took a picture in front of Chungnyuguan which is going to fade from history. Where are we going to have lunch together? That's the problem.




THURSDAY June 12th

1. Wrong judgement :
The court decided that NHK has no charge regarding the Bownet-Japan's claim for damage.
In 2000, there was a special TV program about lanfu; the program was later modified because of political pressure. Today, there was a supreme court decision related to the company produced the program and NHK. The supreme court(judgement : Kajuko) recalled the decision of the high court which was NHK and the producers each should compensate for 0.2million yen. In the high court, NHK acknowledged the guilt; on the contrary, supremecort revocated the judgement and only Bownet-Japan should compensate. It is worrisom that this case might be the result of policitical pressure.

2. Visiting Ms. Han in Incheon :
Ms. kyeong oek Kim, the activist of Incheon region, visited Ms.Han with other members. She was in poor health condition last time; today however, she looked as fine as she could be.
When Ms. Kim introduced other members accompanying her, Ms.Han named each members 'Myeong ki' or 'Eunkyeong' reminding her own grand son and daughter. Her NEW grand sons and daugters took her to a garden in the sixth floor and they all enjoyed the beatiful scenery there : white acacias all over the mountain.
That acacias implied that Ms. Han was spending her third summer now. When Ms. Kim asked her whether she realized how fast time flows, Ms. Han answered that she became 91 years old. Ms.Han was very pleased maybe because of her new grand kids that she sang 'Arirang' and 'Doraji balad.' Then, she decided to go back to the ward.
It is my only hope that Ms.Han can have a happy day like today for the rest of her life.

3. Sending documents to the UN mission :
Professor Jo made out reports on lanfu from the Women And War's point of view. We sent out the reports to Japan and UN mission.

4. UN Human Rights Council adopt a report for Japanese lanfu :
On 12th June(Switzerland time), UN Human Rights Council adopt a report urging a quick solution about lanfu to the Japanese government. In this 8th UN Human Rights Council meeting Japan remained its position of denying its responsibility referring the Asia fundraising. North Korea, once again pointed out the history distortion of Japanese government and argued Japan to make effort on lanfu. Furthermore, at the NGO proposal, many NGO including IMADR, OMCT, AJWRC and WAM insisted that Japan follow the suggestion of International human rights organization.
This report adoption and Japan's repeated irresponsible action brought up one question : Do Japan really have a right to be a member of the UN Security Council?

5. Reports :
Seonmi Ahn kept her eyes on the UN Human Rights Council and as soon as the she confirmed that council adopted a lanfu resolution, she made a report and send the report to the media. The reports were printed on Yeonhapnew, Seoulnews, Newsis and CNBnews.
Thanks to Seonmi Ahn and other staffs who are trying their best to deliever what Women and War is doing.




FRIDAY June 13th

1. Cleaning the office :
We tried our new vacumm cleaner for the first time.Even though we can not get rid of fungus we still put in efforts to elmininate dirts in the office. But how long this cleaned atmosphere will last?

2. Preparation of August Austrailia campaign :
Mz. Song is contacting Austrailian friends through the phone and internet. I guess we would have to pay considerable amount of phonebill. From 13th of August to 16th, we will hold a campaign at Melburn, Austrailia in order to pass the resolution at the congress. Nakahara Michico from Women.War.Human right Association, Mr. Cho from War and Womenright Center, Mz. Gil, Mz. Yoon and Mz. Song from Korean Council will participate in this campaign. Meeting and Robying congressmen, performance with high school students,performance with Melburn Law School students, performance from Monesh University, Meeting association related to school text books, events with Korean residents in Sydney will be the concrete plan of the campaign. To prepare for this tight-scheduled campaign Japanese womens, Amnesty members, Korean residents in Austrailia, Moheeta Roman and the lawyer Mz. Park are working hard. Especially, Mz. Song Ae Na is puting a lot of efforts. Also, we are planning tomeet Austrailian soldiers who participated in the Korean war. After the campaign, Mz. Song Han na will stay in Austrailia collecting information at Kenvara War Memorial and National Library.

3. Publcation of 'Making History' :
Paradise Planet, a publishing company in America, proposed the publication of a war-testimony book 'Making History'. Mr. Park, representative of Paradise Planet, has volutarily interpreting english documents. After thoroughly checking this proposal, the Korean Council decided to accept the offer. The Korean Council has tried to publish war-testimony books, however those attemtps were frustrated due to the monetary problems and frictions with pulbishing companies. By the way, thanks to the Mr. Park's offer, a club that has volutarily interpreted books will be able to work with Paradise Planet reducing the time consumption.

4. Ten thousand dollar donation :
Mr. Lee, co-captain of construction of War and Womanrihgt Museum, assembled ten thousand dollar donations from various companies. Recently, he is busy writing letters to thank and compliment their donations. Construction of the museum is not just an imagination anymore.

1) Thousand dollars from Hyundai Industry Development
2) Three thousand and two hundred dollars from Sea Construction Association
3) Thousand dollars from Top C&D City Construcion Company
4) Two thousand dollars from Group New City Constructions
5) One thousand and two hundred dollars from TOP
6) Five hundred dollars from Lakyung Constructions
7) Thousand dollars from K Construction Engineerings
8) Thousand dollars from Kagnam Constructions
9) Thousand dollars from Dr.Cho So Yeon
10) Thousand dollars from Professor. Lee of MyungGi University.¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡




SATURDAY June 23th

Ju-Hye Kang, director of administration supervisor of The Korean Council, visited the ex-sexual slaves in Chung-Nam province.

1. Su-Im Ha from Seo-San :
"Have you swollen up? or have you just gone fatter?" Ms. Ha's face was quite swollen up. "I don't know...swollen up or gained some weight...", she answers with a smile. Her room looked cramped up with training equipments, but she cleaned up this time. She cleaned those up because they made her fall over and bump. When carefully asked by the Korean Council about whether she prepared her portion of land for burial, she replies, "I want to be cremated and my remains to be sprayed over a river. Nobody's going to come, so cemetary won't be of a great use...". Pursuaded by us, she agreed to be buried in The Hill of Nostalgia, located in Cheon-Ahn.

2. Hui-Nam Yu from Dang-Jin :
Ms. Yu loves outdoors. So we called her beforehand so we may meet her inside her home when we get there. That afternoon, she called us and asked, "Are you there yet?"
Last time we saw her, she made us anxious by her sick and troubled looks, but today, she dressed up beautifully, with a full make-up. Ms. Yu, whose interest lies on social affairs, brings up a talk concerning the current social issues. "What on earth is the new President doing right now? Is it really true that he announced he would not question Japan about our issue any longer? Japan always claim Dok-do is their land because we play weak on them."
Ms. Yu's right eyes are almost unusable. It cannot be cured from Medical surgeries. She often have aches on her head, which restrains her from active outdoor activities. Not a long time ago, she was discovered by the watchman when she went outside to throw off garbage cans and fainted. This news troubled us greatly. However, Ms. Yu have several acquaintance throughout the Chung-Nam province, and keeps a good contact with them often.

3. Ki-Jung Lee from Dang-Jin :
We always get mixed up on the roads when we try to visit Ms. Lee. It was not an exception this time. When we arrived, Ms. Lee was setting up a small chair on the road and sitting there. She must've waited for us because we were lost, and late. Ms. Lee looked exhausted. She was constantly sick these days and had to stay in hospital for a long time. She got out of the hospital a little earlier because of feeling locked up, even though the doctors insisted on staying more. So she felt tired and was not really happy. Even when she tried on the clothes we brought as a present, she merely said "Thank you". When we gave her some medicine for her headache, she seemed to feel more relaxed had happier. Her brothers who happen to live near her often visits her and take her to hospitals for medical care.

4. Yun-Hong Jung from Ah-San :
We arrived at her home about six p.m. and saw a lady walking towards her. It was Ms. Jung Yun-Hong.
"Where are you going right now?", we approached her and asked. "I planted some sweet potatoes over there but most of them are now dead because the weather was too dry. So I have to plant them all over again.", she replied. We followed her to her garden, helping her carrying a kettle full of water. The garden was made by a couple who often helped her. We worried that Ms. Jung would fall over on the rugged garden, but she excitedly planted her sweet potatoes without falling down.
"This is why I can't go to Seoul. I don't get these kind of things in Seoul", she says. Skillfully, she plants the sweet potatoes. Following her while she roots out the dead ones and plants new ones, we could strike up a friendly conversation with Ms. Jung. "Are you going to ask me for a pay after helping me out?", she jokes, laughing.
Her son who lived with her in Ah-San left to Incheon, leaving Ms. Jung alone in here. When we asked her to move to Seoul, she said, "Go to Seoul and leave all this? Come here in fall to grab some sweet potatoes and hot peppers." The garden in front of her house had peppers, cabbages, leeks, pumpkins, mallows, sweet potatoes, and corns. She didn't forget to pack some vegetables for the ex-sexual slaves living in Seoul.