Japan Press Weekly

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2007 July 18 - 24 [HISTORY]

High Court dismisses claim of Chinese victims of chemical weapons left by Japanese military

The Tokyo High Court on July 18 dismissed 13 Chinese plaintiffs’ demand for compensation from the Japanese government for death and injuries caused by an explosion of poison gas weapons that the Japanese military left in China.

The ruling accepted the plaintiff’s claim that the chemical weapons that the Japanese military abandoned in China immediately after Japan’s defeat in WWII caused their suffering.

However, it ruled that the Japanese government cannot be held responsible for illegal acts on the grounds that those abandoned chemical weapons had not been located.

The ruling reversed a Tokyo District court decision that had recognized the possibility of averting such accidents.

Li Chen, a 62-year-old plaintiff, at a press conference said, “On behalf of the victims, I protest against the Japanese government and the court. We will continue to fight against them.” Sun Wendou, 47, said, “By rejecting to apologize or compensate, the Japanese government has lost its credit of the world. We hope that peace-loving people will support us.”
- Akahata, July 19, 2007