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In Timor-Leste, a small island near Indonesia, many supporters are working to amplify the voices of the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” victims, who have been marginalized amid government indifference and social stigma. Meanwhile, a professor in the United States across the Pacific is teaching university courses on the history of “Comfort Women,” a subject rarely mentioned in textbooks, and emphasizes that society can stop violence against women by facing the dark sides of the past. Furthermore, some argue that making the history of “Comfort Women” an international official record is crucial to prevent the repetition of such an unfortunate history.
Bringing the invisible victims back to the center of attention and recognizing the “Comfort Women” issue as a universal human rights issue for everyone living in the present, rather than a past issue of a few, is the starting point of the “Comfort Women” discourse. In commemoration of the 2024 International Memorial Day for Japanese Military “Comfort Women,” the webzine Kyeol introduces various movements made at home and abroad to bring the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” issue, which has lingered on the periphery of history, to the forefront as a core agenda of women’s rights.
The scars of war often run deep, leaving behind a legacy of pain and suffering that can persist for generations. Among the countless atrocities committed during World War II, the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery remains a haunting chapter in history. Recently, for documentation purposes, Timor-Leste with Japanese Coalition have done a survey and shed light on this painful history, revealing the plight of women who were forced into sexual servitude by the Japanese military between the years of 1942 and 1945. In 2005, this harrowing chapter of history was officially recognized by Timor-Leste, in acknowledgement of the experiences of 20 women who endured unimaginable horrors during this dark period.
What makes Timor-Leste a target? To give some historical context, Timor-Leste is a small island nation located in Southeast Asia, one that was not immune to the ravages of World War II. Japanese involvement in World War II started on December 7, 1941, when Japan’s forces attacked the United States military base at Pearl Harbor. At that time, it was predicted among United States' allies that Japan would invade Timor-Leste as a strategic base in order to attack Australia. Based on this prediction, Allied forces, including United States, Australian, and Dutch forces, were deployed to Timor-Leste on December 17, 1941. At that time, Timor-Leste was under Portuguese rule with Governor Manuel Abreu Ferreira de Carvalho, whose administration rejected the presence of the A llied Forces. This made it a strategic target for Japanese forces who were seeking to expand their influence in the Pacific. They stated that East Timor had violated its neutrality, claiming Timor-Leste's support for the allies to justify their invasion of Timor-Leste on February 20, 1942. Subsequently, Japanese troops occupied Timor-Leste from 1942 to 1945, during which time they subjected the local population to various forms of brutality, including the systematic coercion of women into sexual slavery.
![The cover of “LUTA BA LIA LOOS NO JUSTISA” (Fight for the Truth and Justice), a book published by HAK, which documents the plight of the victims of Japanese Military “Comfort Women” in Timor-Leste @ Feliciano da Costa Araujo](https://kyeol.kr/sites/default/files/photo_1.png)
What has been done in Timor-Leste in regard to this dark experiences? From 2005 to 2010, HAK(Association for Law, Human Rights and Justice) and Japanese Coalition has conducted a survey and interviews of 62 persons consisting of 20 victims and 42 witnesses in 12 municipalities in Timor-Leste[1]. Through this survey we have produced a book call “LUTA BA LIA LOOS NO JUSTISA” (Fight for the Truth and Justice). The revelation of the existence of Japanese military sexual slavery, known in Japanese as “Jugun lanfu” or “comfort women”, in Timor-Leste has brought to light the untold suffering endured by the victims. These women, from as young as 12 years old to teenagers and adults, often poor and vulnerable, were forcibly taken from their homes and subjected to unspeakable acts of violence and abuse[1]. Stripped of dignity and humanity, they were treated as merely objects of pleasure by their captors, enduring years of physical and psychological trauma.
The scars of this traumatic experience have continued to linger long after the war has ended. Many of the survivors have silently carried the burden and stigma of their past with shame. Since the official recognition of their suffering, HAK and its strategic partners have commemorated the day of the Japanese Military invasion of Timor-Leste (February 20, 1942-45) through exhibitions and seminars for university students, national NGOs, and national media in order to reflect on the suffering of the victims.
An event called "La’o Ain hodi Sunu Lilin no Kari - Aifunan iha Monumentu Segunda Guerra Mundiál Largo Lecidere" (Walking to Light Candles and Offerings at the World War II Monument in Largo Lecidere) has been organized for this year’s commemoration. Its purpose is to educate the public, especially young people, about the history of the liberation struggle, not only against Portuguese colonialism and the illegal occupation of the Soeharto military regime, but also the Japanese military invasion during World War II, which also brought with it suffering to the people of Timor-Leste. This marks a crucial step towards the acknowledgement of their pain and the validation of their experiences.
As of now, one victim of these atrocities remains alive in Timor-Leste. While the passage of time may have dimmed the memories of these atrocities, the quest for justice and accountability remains as relevant as ever. It is imperative that the perpetrators of these crimes be held accountable for their actions, and that measures be taken to ensure that such horrors are never repeated. Additionally, efforts must be made to provide support and assistance to the survivors, helping them to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of such trauma.
![Movement for the Victims of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery in Timor-Leste@ Feliciano da Costa Araujo](https://kyeol.kr/sites/default/files/photo_2.png)
As the Executive Director of the organization HAK, my role includes continuing to use my voice to speak for the victims whose stories have yet to be heard in both the Timor-Leste and Japanese governments. One mission is to continue to bring to light the ongoing hidden history of these victims and to seek ways to work together with all parties to integrate World War II history into the education curriculum.
To date, the government has failed to guarantee justice and truth for its citizens, especially the victims of sexual slavery and their suffering during World War II. This situation emphasizes the need to extend strategic advocacy efforts with the purpose of the pursuit of justice and truth for the victims and their families, as well as to optimize programs for transmitting history to future generations.
Another effort that HAK has been making is to the consistent organization of workshops in municipalities throughout Timor-Leste, particularly in Liquiça, RAEOA, and Manatuto, to share the results of historical research with those community leaders because it is the teachers who play a crucial role in transmitting and disseminating history to our younger generation, especially students, in order to instill the struggle for truth and justice to and to bring dignity to the victims. Many of the younger generation are aware of the history of the Indonesian occupation but lack knowledge concerning the history of World War II, which brought immense suffering to the Timorese people.
At the international level, HAK together with the Asian Solidarity Conference , have been particularly advocating for the victims’ voices to be recognized at UNESCO in South Korea by organizing the International Committee for Joint Nomination of Documents on the Japanese Military ‘Comfort Women’ to UNESCO Memory of the World Register(ICJN). With this, there are certain demands that both Governments, such as Japan and Timor-Leste, need to take into consideration, such as:
* Requesting the Japanese Government to issue a “formal apology” to the sexual abuse victims in Timor-Leste, as well as to provide compensation and reparations to the victims before they leave this world;
* Urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cooperate diplomatically with Japan so that the Japanese government can address the issue of Comfort Women in Timor-Leste as well as Japanese involvement in other nations’ World War II conflicts;
* Requesting the Ministry of Education to consider incorporating the history of World War II into the National Curriculum.
To conclude; the revelation of Japanese military sexual slavery in Timor-Leste serves as a stark reminder of the enduring legacy of war and the profound impact it has had on individuals and communities. As we bear witness to the stories of these survivors, we are called upon to confront the dark chapters of history and strive for a future free from violence and oppression. Only through acknowledgment, remembrance, and justice we can hope to honor the resilience of those who have suffered and to build a more just and compassionate world for generations to come.
![“Japanese Military Occupation of Timor-Leste and ‘Comfort Women’ System,” authored by Matsuno Akihisa and published by the Research Institute on Japanese Military Sexual Slavery @Research Institute on Japanese Military Sexual Slavery](https://kyeol.kr/sites/default/files/photo_3.jpg)
* The above book is accessible at the Research Institute on Japanese Military Sexual Slavery and Archive 814.
Link : https://www.archive814.or.kr/
Footnotes
- Writer Feliciano da Costa Araujo
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As Director of HAK, Feliciano da Costa Araujo (Jhano) is advocating for the issue of Comfort Women or known as Jugun Iunfu (Japan Langue) since the World War Ⅱ from 1942 to 1945 in Timor-Leste.
He has been working with HAK since 2023. His previous work includes involvement in various organizations such as: ONG Belun focused on conflict resolution in 2009, the Haburas Foundation focusing on land rights, the founding of an organization that focuses on LGBTI issues in Timor-Leste CODIVA (Coalition for Diversity and Action), CARE international in Timor-Leste, Oxfam in Timor-Leste and now also serves as a member of council to FONGTIL (ONG Forum in Timor-Leste).