Rp 52b for 1,300 comfort women

Rp 52b for 1,300 comfort women

DILI, East Timor: The Japanese government has agreed to
provide compensation of Rp 52 billion (US $21.4 million) to the
province's 1,300 former "comfort women" after the general
election on May 29, a local official said recently.

Chief coordinator of the compensation program, Abdul Hakim,
told Antara that the women, who were forced into prostitution
during the Japanese occupation in World War II, would receive the
money in 10 installments.

Abdul said the women were dispersed throughout East Timor's 13
regencies, with 800 in Bobonaro regency and five to 10 women in
the 12 other regencies.

"Each jugun ianfu (comfort woman) will receive two million yen
or Rp 40 million (US$16,500) through the Jakarta-based Yayasan
Melati," he said.

The compensation is being made under a Memorandum of
Understanding signed between Indonesia and Japan on August 9,
1996 in Japan, an event attended by representatives of comfort
women from 13 other countries within the Asia Pacific region.
(01)