Japanese extreme rightists have created a controversy by requesting that a public

Japanese extreme rightists have created a controversy by requesting that a public school in the U.S. not offer a class about “comfort women” [the Korean women who were forced to offer sexual favors to the Japanese army], adding to their previous requests that monuments honoring the comfort women be torn down.

Their request was reported at a press conference held by officials of Palisades Park, N.J. on Dec. 17, when it was revealed that a petition was delivered by two Japanese men the day before.

The petition, entitled “Do not permit classes of the history mostly fabricated in the public school,” was presented to the mayor, a councilman, and a member of the board of education of Palisades Park.

The petitions carried signatures of 2,570 people provided both online and offline. Most of the online signatures were from mainland Japan and most of the offline signatures were from California.

In particular, the petition stated: “The plan of Palisades Park to hold a history class about comfort women has been heard. We are strongly opposed to the launch of the education program.” The petition targeted the government of Palisades Park.

Two Japanese well-known extreme right organizations, Nadesiko Action and Rompa Project, made the petition.

Mayor of Palisades Park, James Rotundo, said, “The issue of comfort women is a universal human rights issue, which should not be repeated again… In addition to asking that monuments honoring comfort women be demolished, the petition interfered with the education policy of Palisades Park with wrong information. It is not worth being dealt with.”

A deputy mayor, Jason Kim, also said, “Japanese extreme right forces have turned their attention from memorials for comfort women to education. We wonder why they submitted the petition to Palisades Park because in order for a public school to run extra classes besides regular class, permission from a state education authority is needed… It is interference for sure.”

Jong Chul Lee, a councilman of Palisades Park, said, “A document named ‘the truth about comfort women’ submitted with the petition, contains reckless remarks that comfort women were no more or less than prostitutes… The Japanese government should stop distorting the story right away, apologize and make compensation for people damaged.”

Source: The Korea Times Translated by Yehyun Kim from Korean via www.voicesofny.org