U.S. Sides with Japan on Federal Lawsuit by `Comfort Women`s`

The Washington Post (WP) reported Monday that the U.S. government was seeking the dismissal of a class-action lawsuit filed against Japan on behalf of Asian `comfort women`. According to WP, the U.S. government lawyers maintained that Japan was entitled to sovereign immunity, and its wartime activities were dealt with decades ago through treaties.

According to WP, although the U.S. officials said they had deep sympathy for the women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army during World War II, they maintained they had to side with Japan’s position in this case.

If the U.S. court ruled against Japan, the U.S. could find itself subject to lawsuits in other countries for its horrendous acts, WP reported.

One U.S. government official said, `The U.S. government believes that the U.S. court does not have jurisdiction.`

11 former `comfort women` from South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Philippines filed the federal lawsuit against Japanese government in Washington D.C., U.S. The women said they were kidnapped and were coerced into serving as sex slaves for the Japanese military during World War II. The U.S. federal law gives foreigners the right to file federal lawsuits for crimes committed in violation of international law.

The lawyer representing these women, Michael Hausfeld, condemned the U.S. government saying `This is one of the most outrageous positions I have ever seen the U.S. take on issues involving fundamental human rights.`

Shin Chi-Young higgledy@donga.com