His Excellency Shinzo ABE
Prime Minister of Japan
The Hague, 12 February 2019
Petition: 291
Subject: And now forward.
Excellency,
We had hoped to meet you during your recent visit to the Netherlands. Unfortunately your short stay in the Netherlands dealt with strengthening the Dutch-Japanese commercial relationship in accordance with the EU-Japan Trade Agreement. It did not cover Japan’s war time past. However, according to the summary issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan of the Japan-Netherlands Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Rutte, you made clear you consider the Netherlands as a strategic partner in sharing universal values. One of those values is to acknowledge Japan’s war time past in occupied Dutch East Indies during World War II.
Prime Minister,
In our previous petition we quoted from your New Year’s speech that ”you are overcome by a sobering sense in reassessing Japan’s post war diplomacy”. The powers in the world are concentrating on the future of our children and grandchildren. How can you explain to them that Japan denies responsibility for Japan’s Imperial Army’s conduct and why Japan needs to reassess its post war diplomacy? Are you afraid of the undeniable truth or is it that Japan in the future world will lose out commercially? As mentioned in our previous petition “The ageing communities both in Japan as well as in the Netherlands have not forgotten their sufferings and lack of respect and decency by respective Japanese governments including yours”. Time is of the essence and now more than ever a political discussion with you as Prime Minister of Japan is necessary.
Prime Minister,
The opportunity was not seized to have an open discussion during your visit. We regret that, as we believe that a personal contact is always better then communicating by petition.
On behalf of the Foundation of Japanese Honorary Debts.
J.F. van Wagtendonk
President