The memorial commemorating “comfort women”, WWII sex slaves, along the Manila Bay was removed on April 27, 2018. It was taken in the middle of the night without informing the women’s rights advocates, historians, and activists from different sectors who worked together tirelessly to installing the memorial with donations from Chinese Filipino groups and individuals.
On April 28th, a day after the removal of the statue, the Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura tweeted the following:
“The Removal of Comfort Women Memorial Statue. The Comfort Women Memorial Statue which was set up in Manila last year was removed with the backhoe. I want the Comfort Women Memorial Statue in San Francisco to be removed with a backhoe, too. Since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has been given huge amounts of money from the taxpayers in Japan, I want the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to put their efforts to remove the Comfort Women Memorial Statue, which has been set up in one city of the United States with which Japan has an alliance. ”
JOIN US! PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!NO to FOREIGN REVISION of OUR HISTORY! DEFEND FILIPINO DIGNITY!
Justice for the COMFORT WOMEN (LOLAS), Remember OUR HISTORY, Reinstall the STATUE.
Flower-laying Ceremony & Public Awareness Campaign
Date & time: June 12, 9 am-11am
Place: Along Roxas Boulevard corner Quirino Ave, site of the former comfort woman statue (across Aloha Hotel)
https://www.facebook.com/flowers4lolas/
Sign up form: http://bit.ly/2HA6gIq
#Flowers4Lolas Campaign is a coalition of organizations and individuals that include: Lila Pilipina, Gabriela, WomenHealth Philippines, Memorare Manila 1945, Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Bataan Historical Legacy, Center Law, Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, DIGNIDAD Coalition, KALAYAAN, Knights of Rizal, Education for Social Justice Foundation, UP LIKAS (Lipunang Pangkasaysayan) , Knights of Rizal, Education for Social Justice Foundation, UP LIKAS (Lipunang Pangkasaysayan) and student leaders and professors from the various universities.