역사적인 미하원 위안부결의안 주역인 시민참여센터와 마이크 혼다 연방의원이 '위안부 합의'에 대해 나란히 입장을 밝혔다.
시민참여센터(대표 김동찬)는 29일 성명을 통해 "한·일간 일본군위안부 협상은 생존자 할머니들이 요구해온 사과나 배상에 대한 내용을 담고 있지 않다. 생존자 할머니 그 누구도 이번 협상을 마지막 해결책이라고 받아들이지 않을 것"이라고 비판했다.
시민참여센터는 "2007년 미연방 하원에서 만장일치(滿場一致)로 통과된 하원결의안121은 ▲ 일본군 성노예에 대한 일본 정부의 공식 인정과 사과 ▲ 위안부 범죄에 대해 교육할 것 등을 담고 있지만 일본정부는 불분명하고 모호한 사과를 반복하고 있으며 일본군 위안부 비극에 대한 법적인 책임과 인정을 피하기 위해 간접 보상을 위한 재단을 설립하려 한다"고 지적했다.
이어 "일본정부는 서울의 일본 대사관 앞에 있는 소녀상을 철거할 것을 요구하고 있다. 만일 일본의 사과가 진정한 사과라면 그러한 요구를 하지 않을 것이다. 일본의 사과는 일본 내각이 승인하는 총리의 사과여야 하고, 법적인 인정과 책임아래 피해자들에게 배상해야 한다"고 강조했다.
마이크 혼다 하원의원은 "이번 합의가 완벽과는 거리가 멀지만 역사적 이정표(里程標)이고 옳은 방향으로의 단계"라고 평가하고 "2차대전때 성노예 위안부가 된 20만 소녀와 여성들의 존엄과 명예가 복원되길 희망한다"고 말했다.
혼다 의원은 "2015년에만 아홉분의 할머니들이 이러한 합의의 빛과 희망을 보지 못하고 돌아가셨다. 아시아지역에서 수천명의 피해자들이 정의와 평화의 약속을 받지 못한 채 돌아가셨다"고 안타까워했다.
그는 "생존할머니들의 시간이 많이 남지 않았고 한일국교정상화 50주년의 중요성을 인식하여 두 나라가 더 많은 합의가 필요한 힘겨운 사안에 대한 발표를 했지만 더 이상 역사를 세탁하지 않고 미래 세대에게 교육하겠다는 일본의 약속이 결여돼 크게 실망했다"고 비판했다.
또한 "일본의 이번 사과가 공식 사과가 아니라는 점에도 실망했다. 공식 사과는 일본 국회가 공식 추인하는 것"이라고 강조했다.
혼다 의원은 "미래세대에 대한 교육만이 모든 인간의 권리를 지탱할 수 있고 역사의 나쁜 일들이 되풀이되지 않도록 하는 길이다. 아베 수상과 일본 정부는 이같은 만행(蠻行)이 두 번 다시 되풀이되지 않는다는 교육을 하겠다고 천명할 것"을 촉구했다.
뉴욕=노창현기자 newsroh@gmail.com
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혼다의원 성명 원문
Today's joint agreement by the Republic of Korea and Japan on the issue of the "comfort woman," is far from perfect; but it is indeed, an historic milestone, a step in the right direction, and one which I sincerely hope, will finally restore the dignity and honor of the 200,000 girls and women who were sexually enslaved during World War II.
In 2015 alone, nine Korean "comfort woman" passed away; they passed away without seeing the light and hope of this agreement. Thousands more passed away across the Asia-Pacific region without a promise of closure, justice, or peace.
Recognizing the surviving grandmothers have such a short amount of time on this earth, and recognizing the significance of the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between Korea and Japan, the two countries have addressed a hard fought issue that required a much needed resolution.
I am deeply disappointed this agreement lacks a commitment by Japan to ensure they will no longer whitewash history and educate future generations. Only by educating our future generations, can we commit to upholding the human rights of all, and ensuring the wrongs of history will never repeat. I urge Prime Minister Abe and the Government of Japan to fully commit to this education - and ensure this atrocity never happens, ever again. I am also disappointed this apology is not a formal, and official apology issued by the Japanese Diet.
At the same time, I am hopeful in the promise that Japan will be held accountable to implementing the agreement according to the spirit of its principles- in the eyes of Korea, the global community, and most importantly, the survivors.
The sexual enslavement of girls and women during World War II is the ultimate example of continued violation against women and children during times of conflict and humanitarian crises. Violence against women is a crime – a crime against humanity. Whether against the Yezidi children and women, or the vulnerable population following a natural disaster, such violence must stop.
I have been honored to fight and be a voice for these women, during the past 20 years. I have shed tears and meals with these survivors. While their pain and suffering are unimaginable, their courage and spirit are boundless. I hope with all my heart, these grandmothers will finally find peace.
<시민참여센터 영어 성명서 전문>
On the Agreement on the “Comfort Women Issue” between South Korea and Japan
New York City, NY (December 28, 2015) – The Korean American Civic Empowerment expresses its grave concerns on the agreement on the “Comfort Women” between South Korea and Japan. The agreement does not contain the apology nor the reparation that the comfort women survivors have been asking for. No comfort women survivors will accept the agreement as the final resolution of the issue.
Ever since January 1992, comfort women survivors have been asking sincere and unequivocal apology and official reparations to the Government of Japan. Also in 2007, U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.Res. 121, which is asking the government of Japan should: (1) formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility for its Imperial Armed Force's coercion of young women into sexual slavery (comfort women); (2) have this official and public apology presented by the Prime Minister of Japan; (3) refute any claims that the sexual enslavement and trafficking of the comfort women never occurred; and (4) educate current and future generations about this crime while following the international community's recommendations with respect to the comfort women.
However, through the agreement, the government of Japan is simply repeating another round of ambiguous and equivocal apology and establishing another foundation for indirect reparations to desperately avoid any acknowledgement or legal responsibility on the comfort women atrocity. Also by the agreement, Japan is asking the statute of a girl in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul be removed. If the apology were sincere as claimed, Japan would have not requested the statue be removed.
To be a sincere apology and acknowledgement on Japanese government’s responsibility on the comfort women, the Cabinet of Japan should approve the apology by the Prime Minister and the apology should be unequivocal and unambiguous. Also the reparations should be made directly to the victims as the legal acknowledgement of the responsibility. And the statue should stand where it is as the symbol of peace.
As the leading organization supporting the comfort women survivors in the United States, KACE will continue to educate the next generations about the comfort women issue and to support other organizations that are interested in working for the comfort women survivors.
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