Petition # 292: Respect for human rights.

Petition # 292: Respect for human rights.

Petition 293 #: Respect for human rights.

His Excellency Shinzo ABE
Prime Minister of Japan                                                                                              

The Hague, 12 March 2019
Petition: 292
Subject: Respect for human rights.

Excellency,
At the opening of the 40thsession of the Human Rights Council the Secretary General of the United Nations his Excellency António Guterres put it to his audience:

“Respect for human rights is just a game of words if there is no respect for people”

Over the years the government of Japan did not pay much respect to the people victimized by the brutal and unlawful behaviour of the Imperial Army during World War II.

Prime Minister,
In many of our petitions we pointed out that the conduct of the Imperial Army during the occupation of Dutch East Indies was, in accordance with international law, and remains unlawful and in violation of human rights. We are not alone in this opinion. Many distinguished international lawyers and politicians support our view. For political reasons Japan keeps on refusing to acknowledge its responsibility for the misconduct of the Imperial Army and continuously ignores the moral consequences. The Dutch victims were not heard in the politically enforced Yoshida-Stikker protocol!  

Prime Minister,
Human rights is about respect for people as the Secretary General of the United Nations so clearly and directly put it. Show the courage and the political will to pay respect to the Dutch victims of the Imperial Army’s misconduct during World War II and face the responsibility. 

On behalf of the Foundation of Japanese Honorary Debts. 

 J.F. van Wagtendonk
President