Not all in Asia happy with Japan war apology<\/p>\n
HONG KONG (Reuter): Asian nations welcomed Prime Minister
\nTomiichi Murayama's apology yesterday for World War II actions,
\nbut some governments, veterans and victims of Japan's aggression
\ndemanded more to ease their painful memories.<\/p>\n
Murayama's apology, issued on the 50th anniversary of the end
\nof World War II, followed a parliamentary resolution in July that
\nexpressed only \"deep reflection\".<\/p>\n
That gesture had disappointed Asian countries, some of which
\nsuffered years of painful Japanese colonial rule or brutal
\naggression by Japan's Imperial Army during the war.<\/p>\n
\"I think this must be hailed by all sides from all over the
\nworld,\" Philippines President Fidel Ramos said of Murayama's
\napology.<\/p>\n
China said that while the apology was positive, some people
\nand politicians in Japan still clung to denials of aggression.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that the Japanese government's gesture is
\npositive...in that they have apologized to people of various
\ncountries in Asia,\" the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\"But at the same time we cannot fail to point out that in
\nJapanese society, and in political circles, there are still some
\npeople who are not able to take a correct attitude toward
\nproblems relating to that part of history,\" it said.<\/p>\n
That feeling was echoed in South Korea, which urged Japan to
\ngo further in accounting for its wartime actions.<\/p>\n
\"We want the Japanese government...to make serious efforts to
\nthoroughly reveal the truth of history and have a proper
\nunderstanding of history,\" the Seoul Foreign Ministry said.<\/p>\n
President Kim Young-sam said Koreans could only put the bitter
\npast behind them when Japan properly recognized and acknowledged
\nits aggression.<\/p>\n
Murayama, who made Japan's first unambiguous apology for its
\naggression in a landmark statement, said this did not mean Tokyo
\nwould meet demands for compensation.<\/p>\n
But for many victims, that remains a key issue.<\/p>\n
Filipinas who said Japanese soldiers used them as sex slaves
\ncalled the apology an empty gesture.<\/p>\n
\"I'm angry. If he wants to ask for forgiveness but refuses to
\ncompensate us, then that's nothing to us,\" said Maria Rosa Luna
\nHenson, spokeswoman for a group of \"comfort women\" who held a
\nprotest outside the Japanese Embassy in Manila.<\/p>\n
Former World War II enemies attending ceremonies in Thailand
\nat the site of the infamous Thai-Myanmar \"Death Railway\" also
\ndismissed the apology as empty unless Japan compensated victims
\nof its aggression.<\/p>\n
\"If he doesn't say anything about compensation it's nothing,
\nit's lip service, I don't believe it,\" said former Japanese
\nsoldier Nagase Takashi, 77.<\/p>\n
Takashi, who served as an interpreter for Japanese forces
\noverseeing the Allied prisoners of war and Asian slave laborers
\nwho built the railway, said all of those who suffered under
\nJapanese rule should be compensated.<\/p>\n
Australian veteran David Barrett, 73, of Tasmania said: \"A
\ngovernmental apology without compensation is only a token.\"
\nHong Kong people welcomed the apology but said action, not only
\nwords, were needed to heal the wounds.<\/p>\n
\"That's a good start. The fact that he said it is good,\" said
\nlegislator Emily Lau. \"I think people will want to pursue
\n(compensation). I certainly hope the Japanese government will
\nkeep an open mind on this and not say that it is out of the
\nquestion.\"<\/p>\n
Murayama said all compensation claims have been settled by the
\nSan Francisco Peace Treaty and by bilateral treaties.<\/p>",
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