Japan Press Weekly

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2018 February 14 - 20 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Gunma prefecture’s request for removal of monument to Korean victims of Japan’s forced labor is illegal: Court

The Maebashi District Court on February 14 issued a ruling recognizing that a request for the removal of a monument to Korean victims of Japan’s forced labor during WWII violates the law.

The lawsuit was filed in November 2014 by a civil group responsible for maintaining the monument against the Gunma prefectural government making the removal request.

The civil group in 2004 erected the Korean victims’ memorial in a prefecture-owned park in Takasaki City in the prefecture after obtaining permission from the prefectural government with some conditions such as a ban on political events at the site. Since then, the civil organization held a commemoration event in front of the cenotaph every year.

In July 2014, however, the prefecture rejected the renewal of the permission by citing political remarks made in the group’s annual event, and requested the organization to remove the monument.

The court ruling acknowledged that the prefectural authority abused its power, which constitutes a violation of the law.

Past related article:
> Citizens file lawsuit to protect monument to Korean victims of Japan’s forced labor [November 14, 2014]