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Auckland Officials Reject Statue Memorializing Japan's WWII Sex Slaves
The board cited public opposition and diplomatic concerns after 57% of submissions opposed the memorial, officials said.
- On Tuesday, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board in Auckland denied permission to install the 'Statue of Peace,' a memorial commemorating 'comfort women' forced into sexual slavery by Japan during World War Two.
- Initially approved in June 2025, the project faced suspension last September after Japanese Ambassador Makoto Osawa warned the installation could 'cause division and conflict' and have a 'significant impact' on diplomatic relations.
- Council data shows 672 public submissions regarding the proposal, with nearly 60 percent of individuals and 15 of the 20 organizations opposed to the installation, according to council documents.
- Board Chair Trish Deans stated, 'This was a difficult decision, and one we did not make lightly,' noting officials carefully considered staff advice and community feedback through the formal consultation process.
- The statue commemorates up to 200,000 women forced into wartime brothels, an issue that continues to strain relations between Tokyo and Seoul despite a 2015 accord to settle the matter 'finally and irreversibly.
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Japan forced up to 200,000 women from Korea, China and South-East Asia into sexual slavery between 1932 and 1945, an issue that still poisons Tokyo's relations with its neighbours.
·Paris, France
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Channel News Asia+22 Reposted by 22 other sources
New Zealand officials reject statue remembering Japan's sex slaves
WELLINGTON: New Zealand officials rejected on Wednesday (Apr 29) an application to install a statue commemorating so-called "comfort women" enslaved by Japan before and during World War II after Tokyo suggested it could harm diplomatic relations.Japan forced up to 200,000 women from Korea, China
·Singapore
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Total News Sources38
Leaning Left4Leaning Right7Center13Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Center
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
54% Center
L 17%
C 54%
R 29%
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