Sex slavery persists

Recently we have been reading a lot about the women forced into sex slavery by invading Japanese forces of the World War II era.

This atrocity has finally been allowed to surface and the Japanese government is apparently facing the consequences of its reluctant admission.

However, as one recent news item has shown, sex slavery of foreign women by the Japanese is not a thing of the past. Last week, the young Thai woman who was rescued by Thai officials was very lucky.

The only part of her story which could be considered an isolated incident is her rescue. I lived in Japan and was aware of this practice by the Japanese mafia.

I was therefore appalled by the average Japanese businessman's tendency to go to these "hostess" bars and support such inhumane activities by their dangerous counterparts. Since the Yakuza are an illegal organization, it is easy enough for the Japanese government to deny responsibility.

However, Japanese citizens with any sense of responsibility should boycott hostess bars, increase awareness of this practice and weaken the hand of this dangerous unlawful body that could very well involve their government in further embarrassing international issues.

ANNE PICKER

Jakarta