Berlin WWII sexual abuse memorial leads to international row

euronews (in English)

A Korean NGO says it will sue the German capital's district, which ordered the removal of a statue memorialising sexual abuse victims during World War II after calls from Japan.

Transcript

00:00This statue on a quiet residential street in Berlin is at the center of an international row.

00:10It memorializes women, mostly from Korea, who were forced to have sex with Japanese soldiers

00:17during World War II, known as comfort women.

00:21Japan has called for the statue to be brought down.

00:24Some politicians in Berlin are siding with Tokyo.

00:28The local Korean NGO behind the memorial, known as the Statue of Peace,

00:33says it will sue the local district of Mitte to keep it in place.

00:38The group says it's not just about defending the rights of Korean women.

00:44In history, I think every woman can imagine what can happen in the wartime

00:51if you are not protected and the soldiers are coming and raping you.

00:57So every woman can identify with the Statue of Peace.

01:04The memorial was put up four years ago.

01:07Japan has been raising the issue with the German government as well as local officials.

01:12The local district said that the statue needs to be taken down by the end of this month,

01:18setting time limits for temporary art in public places.

01:22The district told Euronews that Japanese and Korean officials have visited its office,

01:28threatening to worsen relations with Germany.

01:31The district says that there was a questioning of aid to Ukraine

01:35as well as a possible termination of the sister city relationship between Tokyo and Berlin.

01:42Japan says that it never suggested ending the relationship.

01:47In a press release in May, the mayor of Berlin called the statue a one-sided portrayal

01:53after a meeting in Tokyo with the Japanese foreign minister.

01:57Berlin's local government told Euronews that it is talking to the district and federal government

02:03to replace the statue with a more general memorial for women who face sexual violence during conflicts.

02:10It also stated that it will be expanding its relationship with Tokyo.

02:15An expert on German-Japanese relations said the government is prioritizing

02:20its economic and security ties with Japan over South Korea.

02:25Both partners should be treated quite equally.

02:29And so far, this case of the Comfort Women statue in Berlin lacks a bit of that cautious and balanced approach.

02:41A source with the foreign office told Euronews that freedom of opinion and of the arts

02:46are fundamental to Germany's constitution.

02:49However, they said that what happens with the statue is up to the district

02:53and the foreign office cannot provide instructions on the subject.

02:58Japan's embassy told Euronews that the statue serves as a symbol to denounce its country

03:04and that the memorial has caused unrest in Berlin.

03:08Like the mayor of Berlin, the embassy also called the statue one-sided.

03:14A petition arguing to keep the statue up has garnered 3,000 signatures.

03:20It's not only our wish.

03:25Many people who are living in this area, they want to keep the Statue of Peace.

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