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Message to the World on the 59th Hiroshima/Nagasaki Day |
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by Chihaya
Email: kisshoten12 (nospam) hotmail.com (verified) |
06 Aug 2004
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Have you ever heard about "Miracle in Fushun," the Japanese former war criminals telling their stories to achieve true peace? |
Dear Peace Lovers:
It has been 59 years since those dreadful bombs were dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And what have we learned in that period of time?
The country which used these Weapons of Mass Destruction first to "save the estimated vast casualties on both sides and cease fire easily and quickly" justifies its deed and used it as an opportunity to avenge for Pearl Harbor and Bataan Death March . Yet, I personally see a big difference between them. The latter two were targeted upon military warships and personnel(though I never mean to approve those, either), but the a-bombs were to kill and damage a large number of civilians. Besides, I heard a different version of the estimate of the would-be casualties, too. Here, I sense the same concept of "retaliation" that the U.S. showed to Afghanistan followed by another atrocity on 9/11 and that was, of course, much, much worse because Afghanis had nothing to do with that tragedy in NYC and Washington D.C., but simply suffering from drought and ruined by years of domestic conflicts.
And does retaliation ever lead to peace?
Certainly, the Peace Constitution of Japan, conceived by then occupier(who still is our occupier), but has been kept in tact for almost sixty years by Japanese citizens, have probably prevented its nation from turning into another terrorists.
And yet, that Peace Constitution itself is in danger now. The current Japanese Government is ever so publicly eager to get rid of it, so that they can strengthen and send the Self Defence Force to war zones overseas, when those who experienced the extreme misery, distress, trauma, grief, pain, etc of the war are gradually disappearing. Sometimes I feel so pessimistic and think that we have to have bombs falling onto our heads in order to wake up the ignorant and indifferent majority.
Still, there is always a hope no matter how small it could be.
After the World War II, in 1950, 969 former Japanese war criminals were sent to China from Russia. They were the ones who cruelly raped, slaughtered tens of thousands of Chinese, or kidnapped innocent Chinese citizens and conducted numerous experiments on living bodies for chemical and biological weapons.
What did the Chinese do to them in return?
They treated them as human beings. That's what Prime Minister Chou En-lai ordered the Control Center in Fushun in Liaoning Province, where the criminals were detained for six years. He said, "Never let single one of them die. Treat them as humans, despite their crimes. You will know why in twenty years."
The former soldiers say that it was where they realized for the first time what they have done, and that was where they were ”re-born as humans after being devils whose job was to kill." This is called the "Miracle in Fushun." And that is largely due to Chinese incredibly generous treatment and forgiveness starting with offering them better meals than of the workers of the Center, whose families and friends were the victims of their crimes.
It was not easy for those Japanese to admit the responsibility of their own deed, but Chou En-lai's policy made it possible.
One former officer, during his visit to Fushun after 44 years of their release, when a young Chinese journalist said to him, "It was not your fault but the militarism," clearly denied it.
"That is not true. I did it. If I didn't do it, those Chinese wouldn't have died. No matter how many years may pass, I am the one who committed the crime. And I am responsible to what I've done."
Former detainees and workers of the Center built deep trust in each other based on this truth. Based on the genuine confession, regrets, and apologies.
After their return to Japan, they did their best to raise their voices by telling about their crime to achieve genuine peace. However, the authorities have kept denying them. A few of the soldiers had another lengthy battles at court on their own expense, by speaking up or writing a book on their crime. They were accused for lying, and even the Supreme Court was not on their side. In return of the generosity the Chinese showed to the criminals, Japan has offered no official and sincere apology to them nor to other countries and their people mainly in Asia, and I feel deeply ashamed as its citizen.
Yet, a hope continues.
Chukiren: Chugoku Kikan-sha Renraku-kai( http://www.tyuukiren.org ), the group of repentant Japanese soldiers formed in 1957 was getting smaller and eventually disbanded due to members' age. But eight young Japanese in their 20's have started a group called, "Japanese Inherit and Hand Down the Miracle in Fushun" a few years ago. They say that they are willing to inherit the heart of the soldiers who realized their horribly wrong doings, who felt the pain, and their determination not to repeat the same mistakes by rejecting unjust orders so that we will have no war in the future, and hand down the correct story in the past without bending the facts. They have collected stories from more than 100 former soldiers, and have been holding lectures in Japan.
This is the spirit desperately needed in this age all over the world now. The age where those in power keep lying through their teeth, and nobody holds accountable for tremendous massacre of innocent children, women and men.
We have to tell the story of the past atrocities and mistakes to our youth, and we have to prevent the future tragedies on this precious earth.
While those willing to "kill and destroy" have their eyes tightly shut, and have chosen not to see "right or wrong," we have to wake up ordinary citizens by telling the reality in order to stop this nonsense once and for all.
Love, Peace, and in Solidarity,
Chihaya
May Earth be Filled with Peace and Happiness! |
This work is in the public domain |
