'Comfort woman' tells on trauma

Amonita Balajadia was raped and abused daily by Japanese soldiers during Japan's occupation of the Philippines during World War II, she says. Now, she travels throughout the United States telling her story, trying to convince the Japanese government to give her and hundreds of other Korean and Filipino "comfort women" financial compensation. Last night, she repeated that message to a crowded room of University students and employees in Stiteler Hall. Balajadia said she was 14 years old in 1942. While washing her family's clothing, seven Japanese officers abducted her and took her to a "comfort station." There, she was assigned to one officer, who proceeded to continuously rape and abuse her. Balajadia was lucky. After eight days, she escaped underneath a barbed wire fence, and ran home to her family. Other women "served" for up to three years. She and the other women who underwent this torture were dubbed "comfort women." Nelia Sancho, a founder of the first Filipino women's coalition – Gabriela – and a human rights advocate, interpreted as Balajadia told her story. Sancho also explained that the Japanese government first acknowledged its role in the use of "comfort women" in 1992. Japanese officials, she said, ordered the abductions because they wanted to keep their soldiers happy. The officials will not provide any compensation for the victims and their families, Sancho said. "The comfort women system was part of the plan to sustain the war in Asian countries," Sancho explained. The comfort women have only come out to tell their stories within the last two years, Sancho said. Now over 40 Korean and Filipino women have lawsuits pending against the Japanese government, demanding restitution, she said. Through Sancho, Balajadia said, "I decided to come here to speak because we need the support. ? We hope that the people here will be able to help to get restitution for us." Sancho, in coordination with the Task Force of Filipino Comfort Women, has worked to petition the United Nations, along with individual governments, to appeal to the Japanese government for individual apologies and complete retribution. Sancho also discussed a larger issue – the violation of human rights in periods of war. "It's happening right now," she said. "In Bosnia, women are violated too." Students participated in a discussion after the women spoke. Many students focused on the 50 years of silence that occurred after the war. "I wonder why it took 50 years to get the issue out," College senior Chia Chen said. Sancho said "violence against women is always silenced." "By being present here tonight you can help ensure that her story isn't silenced any longer," said Alvin Alvarez, staff psychologist at University Counseling. After the program, students stayed to sign petitions which will be sent to the Japanese government. "We have to remember the courage of the women who spoke to us," said College senior Jun Bang, chairperson of the United Minorities Council, which cosponsored the event. "It's important that we, as Asian Americans, know about these issues."

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