Comfort women continue to suffer<\/p>\n
The Japanese occupation of Indonesia during World War II
\nlasted only three years. But for some, the pain lasts forever. R.
\nFadjri and Lucia Idayanie, contributors to The Jakarta Post,
\nwrite the following two articles on the issue of comfort women
\nand the long struggle for their rights.<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Fifty-two years have passed but the
\nsufferings of former jugun ianfu (women forced into serving the
\nsexual needs of Japanese troops during World War II between 1942
\nand 1945 -- also referred to as \"comfort women\") have yet to come
\nto a close.<\/p>\n
Japan has agreed to hand over compensation money about Rp 9
\nbillion (US$3.7 million) to Indonesia. But the money will not go
\nto the comfort women. It has been diverted to the Ministry of
\nSocial Affairs, which it says will be used to build homes for the
\nelderly.<\/p>\n
In the then Japanese-occupied Asia-Pacific region, including
\nIndonesia, there were around 200,000 women who served as jugun
\nianfu. In Yogyakarta and Central Java, the number was around 200.<\/p>\n
Those \"comfort women\" were forced to cater to the sexual needs
\nof the Japanese troops at the time. They have now reached old age
\nand do not care anymore about their fate. Some of them are still
\nhealthy but they carry the stigma of being former sex workers.<\/p>\n
One of the former jugun ianfu is Mardiyem, 68, who can only
\nlament her fate in solitude. She is one of the few women willing,
\nin cooperation with the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), to demand
\ntheir rights, which officially are not recognized by the Japanese
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Mardiyem lives by herself, occupying a room with the
\nSuyotarunan family at Patuk, Yogyakarta. Her room measures three
\nby 10 meters. The Yogyakarta-born woman has only one wish, i.e.
\nto devote herself entirely to God and to fellow human beings. \"I
\nwant to redeem myself by doing as much good as possible,\" said
\nMardiyem, whose Japanese name was Momeye.<\/p>\n
It is her past as a sex worker that has haunted her until now.
\nThe Ministry of Social Affairs announced in April 1993 that a
\nsearch was being launched for Indonesian women who were victims
\nof Japanese troops. With the help of the LBH, data on former
\njugun ianfu were collected. The LBH along with the women finally
\ndemanded an official apology from the Japanese government, and
\ncompensation for their sufferings during three years. Against her
\nwill, Mardiyem reopened the old wounds she had buried long ago.
\nShe was compelled to recount her sufferings as a sex worker in a
\ncamp at Telawang, South Kalimantan. How she and other women were
\neach forced to serve 20 Japanese soldiers every day. How she had
\nto suffer extreme pain when she was compelled to undergo
\nabortion. How she was tortured to the utmost when she was caught
\ntrying to escape. Her left foot has since shrunk and her eyes
\nhave been damaged.<\/p>\n
Now, the community knows her dark past. What the community
\nunderstands is only that such women were former sex workers.
\nMardiyem was forced to close down her small business selling food
\nand making cookies. \"I do not understand why since then no one
\nhas placed orders with me anymore. They may feel disgusted with
\nme or there may be another reason unknown to me,\" she said after
\ndeeply inhaling her cigarette.<\/p>\n
Fortitude<\/p>\n
Mardiyem's mental suffering weighs even heavier. People deride
\nher, insult her and tell her she is shameless because she has
\nrevealed her own disgrace. There was someone who spat in front of
\nher. Fortunately Mardiyem shows fortitude. Whatever people say
\nabout her, it never slackens her spirit to demand her rights.<\/p>\n
\"The experience in Telawang has given me strength. We are not
\nwhat people imagine. We were forced. We were victims of the war.\"
\nshe said emphatically.<\/p>\n
But Mardiyem considers herself relatively lucky. Her fate is
\nfar better than that of many former jugun ianfu. Many of her
\nfriends, now still alive, experienced more intense sufferings due
\nto coercion by Japanese soldiers. They became blind or paralyzed
\nand some of them suffered from cancer of the womb.<\/p>\n
Her story is believable because when the women became sex
\nslaves of the Japanese army, they were very young. When Mardiyem
\nwas forced for the first time to serve a Japanese soldier, she
\nhad not had her first period. Rough treatment, both physically
\nand mentally, left many of the jugun ianfu with impaired health
\nwhen they returned home.<\/p>\n
\"It would have been some consolation if they had treated us
\nwell. But they were coarse. We were often beaten black and blue,\"
\nsaid the woman, who likes to cultivate orchids.<\/p>\n
It is the suffering of the women sharing the same fate which
\nhas pushed her to fight for them and to demand their rights.<\/p>\n
In her present condition, it is clear that Mardiyem cannot
\npossibly do much. Now she only relies on the retirement pay of
\nher late husband, Ahmad Mingun, a retired soldier of the
\nIndonesian Army.<\/p>\n
If she succeeds in her struggle, Mardiyem will give part of
\nthe Rp 43 million (the amount of compensation for each former
\njugun ianfu) to her only child who now lives in Jakarta. Another
\npart will be given to orphans and a mosque. She will save some of
\nthe money for herself. \"I do not want to trouble other people. I
\nhave no other wishes,\" Mardiyem said softly. She only wishes to
\nlead a quiet life and to rediscover her dignity.<\/p>\n
Although the matter is complex, Mardiyem still feels strong
\nenough to struggle.<\/p>\n
\"I will continue to fight as long as my strength holds up.
\nThis struggle is not only a matter of money but also of dignity,\"
\nsaid Mardiyem emotionally.<\/p>",
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