“Only 70 years ago, Japan launched invasions and built colonies, inflicting tremendous damage and suffering on many countries, specifically on many parts of Asia.”

These words are from a campaign announced in the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper on Aug. 15 titled “Messages from Japanese citizens who have different views from their government in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.”

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A campaign by a Japanese civic group, announced in the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper, calls on the Tokyo government to offer sincere remorse for colonialism over many parts of Asia, to withdraw proposed legislation. The proposed legislation could allow Japan to expand the overseas role of its self-defense forces.

The Tokyo-based civic group is made up of 30 citizens. It launched its campaign by saying, “Many eyes are on the Abe Statement as we mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Ⅱ. At the same moment, we would like to send a message from us to Korea through this campaign.”

A total of 12,791 citizens sponsored the campaign’s ad in the newspaper.

Through the campaign, the civic group urges the Japanese government to offer a sincere apology for its responsibility in the war and to resolve territorial and maritime disputes with its neighbors through people-to-people exchanges. They also stated their firm and strong opposition to the government’s efforts to push through new proposed legislation that could allow Japan’s self-defense forces to have a role overseas. They denounce the proposed legislation as, “contravening Article Nine of Japan’s post-war ‘peace constitution.’”

By Wi Tack-whan, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writers
whan23@korea.kr