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Veterans to protest Japan's refusal to apologize; revisionist textbooks deny war crimes...
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans ^ | 5/5/2005 | Eric Lachica

Posted on 05/05/2005 6:59:27 PM PDT by MagnusMaximus1

American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.
MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Eric Lachica or Ms. Maurese Owens
CELL: 202 246-1998 or 703 606-8796

May 6 Noon Protest: Japan Ambassador's No Apology

WASHINGTON, DC - Elderly Filipino American WWII veterans and family survivors will hold a news conference on Friday May 6 at NOON 12:15 PM outside the Japanese Embassy to protest the recent controversial Japanese government approval of junior high school textbooks "whitewashing" the atrocities committed by their military during WWII.

The Japanese Embassy is located at 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW ( 5 blocks north of DUPONT METRO)

The veteran' group's goal is to get written clarification and a sincere apology from the Japan Ambassador for what happened in the Philippines in 1942-45. The Embassy has declined to issue a written reply to their request.

Most Americans and Filipinos are not aware or realize the magnitude of the Manila massacre in February 1945 - exactly 60 years ago when more than 100,000 Filipino civilians were used as human shields by Japanese soldiers during the month-long battle - that is more than 3,000 CIVILIANS were killed per day.

As a comparison, the US atomic bomb attack of August 9, 1945 on the City of Nagasaki killed a total of 70,000 Japanese.

Speakers are:

1) Peter BLANCO II, son a Filipino WWII soldier who died as result of the Bataan Death March in 1942. His mother MAMERTA, six months pregnant, was tortured as a prisoner-of-war and left for dead. She later gave birth to Peter II, who later served during the Vietnam war. He now lives in McLean VA. (See his prepared remarks below)

2) Maj. VALENTIN ILDEFONSO, U.S. Airforce (ret.), 78, a retired medical doctor from Philadelphia and a WWII veteran of the Philippine Scouts. He witnessed and lost several relatives in the Manila Massacre of February 1945.

3) Mrs. JOSEFA MANRIQUEZ, 82, widow of a WWII veteran. She and her 3-month old daughter were held hostage for 14 months in Japanese Camp in an attempt to force the surrender of her husband who leading the Filipino guerrillas in Mountain Province. She was threatened by beheading by Japanese captors.

4) Representative from the Washington Center on Comfort Women and the Truth in World War II Council.

For media details and logistics, call ACFV at CELL: 202 246-1998 or 703 606 8796.
---------------------------------

PETER BLANCO II

Son of a WWII Soldier in the Bataan Death March

Good afternoon. My name is Peter Blanco. My biological father, Pedro Blanco was a journalist and magazine editor in Manila (1941). He died as a result of the infamous Bataan Death March.

My mother, Mamerta de los Reyes Blanco, became a member of the Philippine guerrilla Army under Commander Barrion as a 1st Lieutenant.

In her sixth month of pregnancy she was imprisoned by the Japanese for being pro-American.

She was beaten and tortured in Fort Santiago Prison in Manila for 3- 1/2 months. When she was declared dead, her body was thrown out into the street to be buried in mass grave. Fortunately, the funeral driver thought she showed signs of life and she was rushed to the Belgian nunnery and had a caesarian operation.

This is how I was born. I was born as a Miracle Baby.

I NEVER saw my father. The only picture of him the Japanese Army left after the war was in a torn copy in his magazine, and now in my mother's book: "The Price of Freedom."

My mother's life and my birth were miraculous acts of God. Somehow, by God's grace, we survived until the Americans returned.

My mother married a US Navy officer. We later came to Washington DC where my mother lobbied the U.S. Congress for recognition and help for 500,000 Philippine orphans and Army widows.

Later, when she was the director of the International House on Nineteenth Street in Washington DC, she MET the VERY SAME Japanese Chief Warden of Fort Santiago who TORTURED HER until he declared her dead.

In a face-to-face meeting, he APOLOGIZED for his evil deeds. My mother FORGAVE him. They became friendly.

That is what we need TODAY: recognition of bad actions, forgiveness and reconciliation.

"Ye shall know the truth and truth shall set you free," according to the Master.

This is a true story written in detail in mother's book that I have in my hand.

As a baby, I knew nothing. But later my mother told me about it.

I have no personal hatred. I forgive them all. Someday, I will see the face of my biological father in heaven.

( NOTE: Mrs. Mamerta de los Reyes Blanco Block, 98, died in March 2005. She was buried in the Quantico National Veterans Cemetery in Virginia).

Thank you and God bless you. - Peter Blanco II

---------------------------------------

ERIC LACHICA
Executive Director
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.
841 South Glebe Road - Arlington, VA 22204
Phone: 202 246-1998 Tel/FAX: 301 963-6250


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: 2; abuse; apology; appeasement; atrocities; camp; child; comfort; crimes; death; filipino; genocide; history; imperialism; japan; killing; mass; murder; northeastasia; philippines; prison; rape; torture; us; veterans; war; women; world; wwii
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(Above was posted on behalf of several political supporters of President Bush).

Even former Nazis and the German Government apologized for the Holocaust and other war crimes they committed during WWII. However, to this day, Japan has never even acknowledged that their military had committed atrocities and other war crimes against our allies in WWII.

FReeper turnout needed in support of our veterans and others at Friday's protest in front of the Japanese Embassy, Washington, D.C. Hope to see you down there!

1 posted on 05/05/2005 6:59:36 PM PDT by MagnusMaximus1
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To: MagnusMaximus1

bttt


2 posted on 05/05/2005 7:01:24 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55 (DON'T FIRE UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THE CURTAINS THEY ARE WEARING ON THEIR HEADS !)
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To: MagnusMaximus1

Guess sooner or later they are going to have to come to grip with the issue. We have given them so much since WWII. We reached out a hand of peace and did not enslave them, for what they did. They started a war that lead us in having to sacrifice so many of our military to defeat them. In short we have befriended them more so then any of their Asiatic neighbors. At least they could do is come clean. And the damn Chicoms should acknowledge that if it was not for us they would have been enslaved. And the Koreans should do tha same thing. World full of ingrates.


3 posted on 05/05/2005 7:09:03 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
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To: MagnusMaximus1

Has anyone (other than the recently deceased Iris Chang) done anything to find the mass graves and forced labor camps? That might be a start to force Japan to acknowledge their actions.


4 posted on 05/05/2005 7:10:55 PM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: MagnusMaximus1


A US pilot beheaded by Japanese AFTER the Japanese emperor announced surrender.

The American public largely ignored the war crimes trials in Tokyo and throughout Asia in 1946-1948. Unlike the charismatic Nazi leadership, who were infamous throughout Europe, the Japanese leadership was not well known. That was due in part to the Allied propaganda, which did not want to criminalize the Emperor. If the Allied public saw him as a criminal, they would demand his removal, which would have prolonged the war.

Hirohito's role in the conflict is not clear. He is generally seen as ineffectual, although there was some evidence offered in the 1990's that showed he was an active participant in the war planning. However, to maintain order in Japan, the Emperor was not indicted.

The Men put on trial in 1947 and 1948 were the first of 20,000 civilian and military former leaders who had either killed prisoners or had participated in the vague crime of instigating the war. While many would endure prison sentences of varying lengths, 900 were executed in trials around Asia.

Those executed included Hideki Tojo, General Masaharu Homma, Tomoyuki Yamashita, and five others who were blamed for atrocities during the war. The Japanese argued that they were subject to war crimes trials simply because of the heinous crimes of their German allies, essentially claiming the Allies were finding them guilty by association.

What was never examined at the War Crimes Trials in Tokyo were the actions of Unit 731 in China. Using biological, chemical and thermal tests on Chinese and Allied prisoners, they dropped bubonic plague on Chinese cities, froze naked Soviet prisoners in refrigerators, and experimented with anthrax, mustard and phosgene gas on POWs. Very little about unit 731 was known until the 1970's. The Tribunal does investigate the forced sexual slavery of hundreds of thousands of Korean, Chinese, Dutch and Filipino women. No compensation, or even a statement of apology, is given.

What was never recounted in either the European or Asian war crimes trials were the Allies' war crimes. Systematic atrocities on the scale of Manila or Nanjing were never committed, but there had never been an apology or understanding of the horrors of firebombing of civilians and the use of atomic weapons.

Most of the 20,000 men were released when the Americans ended their occupation in 1952. Many right-wing Japanese deny there were war crimes at all.

http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/warcrimes.htm

Never Forget!

Semper Fi,
Kelly
5 posted on 05/05/2005 7:16:52 PM PDT by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: Marine_Uncle

Perhaps we should remind them of their precarious position.


6 posted on 05/05/2005 7:19:57 PM PDT by ANGGAPO
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To: kellynla

Thanks for your detailed and eloquent post!


7 posted on 05/05/2005 7:26:52 PM PDT by MagnusMaximus1 (Molon Labe!)
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To: kellynla

Something has always bothered me about applying group blame for the acts of individuals. I don't expect to get credit for my parents good deeds nor blame for their misdeeds, and neither should today's generation of Japanese.

Most of the WWII generation is gone and those alive had nothing to do with the war.

You're right that it should be remembered. Not so that we can blame the Japanese as a group, but so we can learn the lessons of history and that people can behave like real SOB's if they lose the restraint of civilization.


8 posted on 05/05/2005 7:27:39 PM PDT by seowulf
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To: ANGGAPO

"Perhaps we should remind them of their precarious position."
I'm sure they need little prompting in that department. They are truly on a collision course with the Chicoms. And lets face it, NK's propaganda machine never lets the people forget as how badly Koreans where handed under the Imperial Japanese Empire.


9 posted on 05/05/2005 7:33:17 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
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To: seowulf

And that is why people like me and others are here.

To remind those who have forgotten and to educate those who never learned.
Because those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Never Forget!

Semper Fi,
Kelly


10 posted on 05/05/2005 7:40:23 PM PDT by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: Marine_Uncle

"Guess sooner or later they are going to have to come to grip with the issue. We have given them so much since WWII. We reached out a hand of peace and did not enslave them, for what they did. They started a war that lead us in having to sacrifice so many of our military to defeat them. In short we have befriended them more so then any of their Asiatic neighbors. At least they could do is come clean. And the damn Chicoms should acknowledge that if it was not for us they would have been enslaved. And the Koreans should do tha same thing. World full of ingrates."

I basically agree with you (above). However, don't forget that several other Asian countries, at least their governments, are very pro-American, especially the Philippines, also, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, etc. We may even eventually get the current Vietnam government on "our side" vis-a-vis the ChiComs, despite what happened over there in the last century.


11 posted on 05/05/2005 7:42:01 PM PDT by MagnusMaximus1 (Molon Labe!)
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To: seowulf

"Most of the WWII generation is gone and those alive had nothing to do with the war."

Though that is basically true, it does remain a fact that, comparatively speaking, a much larger number and percentage of Nazi leaders were held accountable for WWII atrocities. Many of those who escaped prosecution and/or punishment by the War Crimes Tribunals were hunted down and "justice" was eventually served. However, that was - still is - not the case with the Japanese imperialists. Those who were not tried, imprisoned or executed, went on to become rich, powerful political leaders and/or industrialists in post-war Japan.


12 posted on 05/05/2005 7:50:15 PM PDT by MagnusMaximus1 (Molon Labe!)
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To: Marine_Uncle
Kind of mixed on this one. I think ANYTHING that aggravates the ChiComs is inherently good. Japan would be an ally in any war against China and Japan is the only country that really scares the bejeesus out of the Chinese.

If we were to put a few nukes on the Japanese islands, that would shut the ChiComs up quickly.

13 posted on 05/05/2005 8:08:47 PM PDT by nonliberal (Graduate: Curtis E. LeMay School of International Relations)
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To: kellynla
they dropped bubonic plague on Chinese cities, froze naked Soviet prisoners in refrigerators,

Where's the problem?

14 posted on 05/05/2005 8:10:23 PM PDT by nonliberal (Graduate: Curtis E. LeMay School of International Relations)
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To: nonliberal

"Where's the problem?"

Look in the mirror


15 posted on 05/05/2005 8:26:13 PM PDT by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: seowulf
Japanese war crimes were planned, fostered and directed as a national policy. Today's revisionism is also a national tactic. The denial is multi-generational and, in fact, the ongoing racist attitude of the Japanese as a superior Asian race is still present in the highest levels of their society as article on FR have documented several times. The accountability of the Japanese for Japanese barbarism has never been acknowledged.
16 posted on 05/05/2005 8:31:48 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Get back into your closets, you pinkos! We're setting the way-back machine for the fabulous fifties!)
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To: kellynla

They were knocking off communists in wartime. Same thing with the Eastern Front in WW2. We had Nazis and Communists killing each other off and we had to go and open another front.


17 posted on 05/05/2005 8:36:16 PM PDT by nonliberal (Graduate: Curtis E. LeMay School of International Relations)
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To: MagnusMaximus1

...."Philippines, also, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore.."

Yes but do remember, the Philippinos have told us to leave, get out, they don't want an American presence in their country. Taiwan and SK, need us to keep the Chicoms and NK from attacking them. American business have invesetd literally billions of dollars in Taiwan and Singapore on wafer processing facilities (Integrated Circuits) etc. So yes they have a good reason to want us to stay in their hemisphere to make them richer, and help keep them safe. Phillipino's have turned their backs on us.


18 posted on 05/05/2005 8:46:34 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
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To: nonliberal

" If we were to put a few nukes on the Japanese islands, that would shut the ChiComs up quickly."

I was under the impression that we store nukes for Trident Subs etc., on Okinawa, could be dead wrong on this one.
But I would strongly tend to agree with you that the Chicoms look at Japan as a enemy in many ways. But let us remember the Japanese have to relie on us to defend them in the nuclear department if it had to come to that. They don't have the bomb.


19 posted on 05/05/2005 9:00:41 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
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To: Marine_Uncle

To say the least, you are wrong regarding the Philippines. Just because continuation of the U.S. Bases Treaty lost by just one vote in the Philippine Senate did not change the over one hundred years of basically friendly relations between the American and Filipino peoples. Only a few sore losers from the military-industrial complex and war-mongering profiteers were upset at the loss of our bases over there back then. Especially since 9/11, the Philippines has supported America's efforts worldwide, despite the strong opposition to the Iraq war that her people, and most of the civilized world did too.

Also, based on recent worldwide public opinion polls, the Filipinos are one of the few peoples of the world who favorably rate President Bush and support the so-called "War on Terror." Which is a lot more than I can say for Western Europe, the British, the Middle East, and other non-Asiatic areas of the world.


20 posted on 05/06/2005 11:48:26 AM PDT by MagnusMaximus1 (Molon Labe!)
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