Japan PM: No More WWII Brothel ApologiesBy CHISAKI WATANABE
The Associated Press
Sunday, March 4, 2007; 10:46 PM
TOKYO -- Japan will not apologize again for its World War II military brothels,
even if the U.S. Congress passes a resolution demanding it, Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe told parliament Monday.
Abe, elaborating on his denial last week that women from across Asia were forced
into sexual slavery in the 1930s and 1940s, said none of the testimony in hearings
last month by the U.S. House of Representatives offered any solid proof of abuse.
"I must say we will not apologize even if there's a resolution," Abe told lawmakers
in a lengthy debate, during which he also said he stood by Japan's landmark 1993
apology on the brothels.
-snip-The U.S. House is considering a nonbinding resolution that would demand a formal
acknowledgment and apology from the Japanese government for the brothels.
A House committee heard testimony last month from women who described being
taking captive by Japanese authorities and repeatedly raped as so-called
"comfort women."
-snip-