Former `comfort women' seek state aid

JAKARTA (JP): The Yogyakarta office of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) yesterday formally applied for state aid on behalf of some 17,000 people who suffered at the hands of the occupying Japanese forces during World War II.

LBH Yogyakarta Chairman Nur Ismanto met with officials of the Ministry of Social Services to discuss the possibility of obtaining assistance for these people, including a number of "comfort women," women forced into prostitution, and forced laborers.

The LBH two years ago offered to act in their behalf and petition the Japanese government for compensation, but the effort waned after Tokyo stressed that all settlements had been made in 1958.

The campaign in Indonesia began amidst signs that Japan was succumbing to pressure from South Korea to compensate for the comfort women.

Besides Yogyakarta, thousands of people who claim to be victims of Japanese brutality also turned up in North Sumatra.

"The experience of South Koreans is apparently not the same. They were paid compensation because their government never received war reparations like the Indonesian government did," Nur Ismanto said recalling his talks with Japanese embassy officials.

Nur Ismanto is now looking for possible assistance from the government, including housing.

He said most of these people have not been able to lead a normal life after their brutal and traumatic experiences. (09)