"The local council declined an application to install the statue after public consultation, with concerns raised about potential diplomatic tensions with Japan. The Japanese ambassador warned that the statue could cause division within New Zealand's multi-ethnic society."
"Many submitters supported the statue as an opportunity to learn and reflect on the history of comfort women, acknowledging the significance of the stories of survivors and the events that occurred during the war."
"Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, primarily from Korea, but also from China and Southeast Asia, were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II, a painful chapter in history that remains contentious."
New Zealand officials declined an application to install a statue commemorating comfort women, citing potential harm to diplomatic relations with Japan. The Korean Garden Trust sought to honor survivors at Barry's Point reserve in Auckland. The local council's decision followed public consultation, including a letter from the Japanese ambassador warning of possible division within New Zealand's multicultural society. While many supported the statue as a means to reflect on history, the council acknowledged the complexities surrounding the issue and the significance of the survivors' stories.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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