Harvard Law School Victimized The Korean Sex Slaves
In his recent paper entitled "Contracting for Sex in the
Pacific War" and accompanying editorial “Recovering the
Truth about the Comfort Women”, Professor J. Mark
Ramseyer, the Mitsubishi Professor of Japanese Legal Studies
at Harvard Law School describes the forced sexual slavery
organized by Japan during World War II as a consenting,
contractual process.
Ramseyer’s arguments are factually
inaccurate and misleading. He also ignores expansive
scholarship done by international organizations, such as the
United Nations and Amnesty International, which has
conclusively found that the “comfort women” were
coerced, kidnapped, or forced by the Japanese government.
After its independent inquiry, the Japanese government
itself acknowledged this as part of the Kono Statement that
“the then Japanese military was, directly or indirectly,
involved in the establishment and management of comfort
stations.”
In Hwang Geum Joo et al v. Japan (172 F.
Supp. 2d 67, D.D.C. 2001), the US District Court Judge
Kenney wrote "Not until 1992 did the Japanese government
officially acknowledge some involvement in the operation of
comfort stations. Since that time several officials have
expressed their apologies for Japan's involvement." This
U.S. Judge recognized Japan's involvement in “comfort
stations” in his judgment officially.
Professor
Ramseyer and Harvard Law School maliciously erased the
crimes against humanity and war crimes by Japan against
victims of sexual slavery during the World War II. Up to
200,000 women and girls were forced into sexual slavery by
the Japanese military, from not only Korea, but also China,
Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, the
Netherlands, East Timor, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and
Burma.
I stand in solidarity with these victims who have
yet to receive full reparations and a proper, official
apology from the Japanese government. I strongly condemn all
actions that inflict pain and suffering and insult to these
victims, who bear witness to the atrocities committed by the
Imperial Japanese Army throughout Asia.
I also condemn
Harvard Law School, Professor Ramseyer and the International
Review of Law and Economics. They have become Accessories
After The Fact to the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes
that Japan perpetrated upon "comfort women." By denying the
criminal responsibilities of the Imperial Japanese Army,
they have victimized these Sex Slaves all over
again.
University of Illinois College of Law Professor
Francis A. Boyle is a Magna Cum Laude Graduate of Harvard
Law School and served as Chair of the Harvard Law School
Fund Campaign for Greater Illinois at the request of Harvard
Law
School.