A number of Filipino women who were forced into Japanese military brothels during World War II have challenged Philippine President Benigno Aquino to present their plight before Emperor Akihito during his visit to the country this week.
The aging women, who are part of the Lila Pilipina (League of Filipino Women) organization, which originally comprised 174 "comfort women," Japan's euphemism for the sex slaves, said Friday in a news forum in the Manila suburb Quezon City that the Emperor's visit and meeting with Aquino is a good opportunity to remind Japan of the unresolved issue regarding the Filipino victims.
"My message for our president is that the abuses against us must be addressed," an emotional Narcisa Claveria, 85, said. "We have yet to receive real justice. We were so young, but a lot was already taken from us. We lost our dignity. We weren't able to go to school. We suffered under the Japanese soldiers."