Alarming resurgence of militarism in Asia-Pacific

Two months ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, we at Lila Pilipina call public attention to the resurgence of militarism in the Asia-Pacific, this time with Allied and Axis powers uniting.

Seventy years after the end of World War II, the United States and Japan are now on the same side, conspiring with the naïve President Aquino to use the Philippines as a launching pad for the resurgence of militarism in the Asia Pacific.

In the recent visit of President Aquino to Japan, where he had a talk with Emperor Akihito, he did not mention the plight of comfort women. The emperor had already provided an opening for Mr. Aquino to mention the demands of comfort women; the emperor had expressed “remorse” over Japanese action during the war.

But Mr. Aquino ignored the opportunity. This, despite the fact that he is aware of the “lolas’ plight; even when he was still a senator, we were already lobbying for the government to make representations with Japan regarding the recognition of the comfort women and the compensation due them.

For us, such resurgence of militarism in the region is alarming; it can produce another generation of comfort women, especially with Japan not acknowledging the war abuse. Aside from the United States and China, we should also be alarmed by Japan’s renewed military interest despite its citizens’ opposition, and especially since talks of a Japan version of the Visiting Forces Agreement is in the works.

However, despite the dwindling number of living comfort women, Lila Pilipina, together with the families and friends of these comfort women, will continue its advocacy against militarism and military aggression. We will continue to fight against another generation of comfort women which will be spawned by the VFAs with the United States and Japan. We will never again allow Filipino women to suffer from war-driven sexual violence and abuse like the lolas did.

—RECHILDA EXTREMADURA, executive director, Lila Pilipina, lila.pilipina92@gmail.com