War victim group seeks to establish a war victim assistance law

War victim group seeks to establish a war victim assistance law

At the Prefectural Government on December 14, members of the Okinawa War Victim Group stated, “We would like the government to sort out issues related to the war properly.”


December 15, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 14 at the prefectural government offices, a war victim group filing a collective lawsuit with the central government for an apology and compensation to civilian casualties in the Battle of Okinawa, made its stance clear on a war victim assistance bill. On December 8, a multi-party group of Diet members announced a war victim special assistance bill for the Battle of Okinawa victims and an assistance bill for victims of air-raids. Commenting that both bills have “revolutionary content,” the war victim group pledged to do its best to see the bills enacted.

With regard to the war victim special assistance bill for victims of the Battle of Okinawa, lead attorney Shigeru Zukeyama of the War Victim Group said, “It would make civilian victims eligible for compensation regardless of whether or not they were engaged in the fighting. To have the bills enacted, we would like to make this a prefecture-wide movement.”

Through the lawsuit, the group is planning to appeal to the public regarding the enactment of the bills, which will be submitted to the ordinary session of the Diet in February 2012. To promulgate the bills in the prefecture, the group is seeking cooperation from the Yaeyama Wartime Malaria Bereaved Families Group and the Wartime Sunken Ships Bereaved Families Group.

Inquiries should be directed to the Zukeyama Law Firm at 098 (833) 7447. On December 15 from 10:00am to 5:00pm a briefing session on the lawsuit will be held at the law firm and a free consultation service is offered at all times.

(English translation by T&CT, Megumi Chibana and Mark Ealey)

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