Philippine women once forced to work as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers on Monday said they were saddened at Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to a shrine that honored war criminals.
"Prime Minister Koizumi may perceive those who are buried at the Yasukuni Shrine as heroes, but to us, comfort women, they remain war criminals," said Lila Pilipina, an organization representing former sex slaves or "comfort women" during the Japanese occupation.
"He remembers his heroes and yet does nothing to address the issue of comfort women," it said.
The organization also backed protests by groups in China and South Korea, saying they had forced Koizumi to bring forward his visit to Monday instead of August 15, the anniversary of Japans surrender to allied forces.
"Our voices, our protests were loud and clear and this moved PM Koizumi to adjust his plans," Lila Pilipina said.
Lila Pilipina represents about 173 eldery Filipinas in a lawsuit against the Japanese government, from which it is also demanding an official apology for atrocities during the war -- MANILA (AFP)
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