His Excellency Shinzo ABE
Prime Minister of Japan
The Hague, 8 September 2015
Petition: 250
Subject: What next?
Excellency,
Your statement on Friday, August 14th 2015 failed to convince us that Japan is preparing for its future by addressing its military and political past. In your statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II you admit “that Japan lost sight of the overall trends in the world.” Japan’s post war population does not know how and why Japan went into war nor that during the war the Imperial forces terrorized POW’s and civilians and violated human rights on a grand scale in the occupied territories. Your promises that Japan “will engrave in our hearts” is insufficient and offensive considering the sufferings of the victims of terror and plunder which took place. Japan started the war and its military terrorized and violated the laws of war. However you are right in stating that “prosperity is the very foundation for peace”, to which one must add accepting responsibility for past wrongdoings. Hence the Foundation of Japanese Honorary Debts continuous demand that Japan recognizes its moral responsibility stemming from Japan’s “wrong course advancing along the road of war.”
Prime Minister,
This is the Foundation’s 250th petition to the Prime Minister of Japan in the last 25 years. The tone and contents of all previous petitions have been to reconcile on the basis that the Dutch victims of Japanese militarism are respected and reasonably redressed. Our message continues to be that Japan must accept moral responsibility for its military and political past during World War II. The Foundation of Japanese Honorary Debts has the will and the means to reconcile on behalf of the Dutch who suffered from Japan’s military occupation of Dutch East Indies during World War II.
Prime Minister
Your statement on the 70th anniversary offers possibilities, if you have the will and genuine commitment to reconcile. Demonstrate your will by starting to acknowledge the receipt of this 250th petition.
On behalf of the Foundation of Japanese Honorary Debts.
J.F. van Wagtendonk
President
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