Japan court rejects germ warfare case

[Maciamo]

From BBC News :
Japan court rejects germ warfare case (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2218266.stm)




A Japanese court has rejected claims for compensation brought by 180 Chinese people who claim they were victims of Japan's biological warfare unit in China in the 1940s.


But the three judges did acknowledge the facts of the case, the first time a Japanese court has admitted Japan conducted biological warfare during World War II.

They can deny so blatant facts forever. At least there is a move towards acception of war crimes. The victims (those still alive) will be dead before they will be able to get any compensation though.

[moyashi]

Maybe that is the plan these days. Wait a few years and then you don't have to compensate anybody.

Although, I really wonder what the all this denial is really all about.

[thomas]

Even if the claims for compensation have been rejected, it's a big step forward, as the atrocities of Unit 731 were officially acknowledged at last. Receiving compensation is another issue. Unlike victims of the holocaust as well as forced labourers during the Nazi regime who got finally compensated by German companies, such procedure won't be possible in the case of the 731 victims.

It is truely shameful that no one in Japan feels responsible.

[moyashi]

They really don't feel responsible because most of the people just don't know.

[thomas]

Well, I guess that's a shame as well...
:o

[thomas]

Here's another article on the recent Tokyo verdict by the Far Eastern Economic Review:

Memories of Horror

A Japanese court rules against Chinese plaintiffs who say they or their families were victims of Japanese biological terror in World War II

=> http://www.feer.com/articles/2002/0209_05/p020region.html

Chinese group appeals rejection of germ warfare compensation

=> http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=228838