Press Release
June 8, 2005
Global Alliance Urges Japan
Demonstrate Leadership and Right Wrongs

In light of the current development as reported by the media that the so-called G-4 nations have abruptly announced the delay of submission of their proposed plan for the U.N. reforms, the Global Alliance is cautiously optimistic about the future of the constructive changes in the formation and direction of the international institution.

At the dawn of a new century and sixty years after the founding of the United Nations, there is no question that the world body desperately needs major reforms to meet the needs and challenges of the new world. One of the most important aspects in the reforms would be the restructuring of the United Nations Security Council that has been the focus of much of the discussions, debates and disputes among nations and

NGO's in recent days.

From the very beginning, the Global Alliance and its worldwide affiliates have made clear that they would welcome and support Japan's bid for a permanent seat in the UNSC to fully utilize its technical and economical know-how's to assist developing countries and offer leadership in other areas as well - as long as Japan would demonstrate its genuine leadership quality by meeting certain conditions as follows:

The Japanese government must do the following to explicitly affirm its contrition to its past misdeeds, its determination to right historical wrongs and bring all pending issues to a final closure, once and for all:

1. The apology must be based on a law duly enacted by the Japanese the Diet, authorizing its Prime Minister and Emperor to make a public apology to all the aggrieved nations.
2. The same law must include an authorization for the government to compensate the victims of Japanese aggression and atrocities and a mechanism for determining the just compensation for the victims;
3. The law must also mandate a faithful collection, documentation, preservation, and distribution of the truths about Japanese aggression in the Pacific War, 1937-1945 (such as Nanjing Massacre, Comfort Women, Chemical Warfare and Biological Warfare);
4. The legislation must mandate the textbooks in Japan to reflect this history in perpetuity without distortion, omission, or deceptive manipulations;
5. The law must prohibit and punish any individual who denies these crimes; and those who are in public services or hold elected offices (including the Diet) shall be prohibited to worship war criminals, assist or finance the construction and building of facilities that glorify and commemorate militarism.
6. The law must stipulate that violation of any of the provisions above shall be prosecuted and punished by jail terms and fines. Those who work for the government or hold political offices or parliamentary position shall be expelled from public services or elected offices and barred from returning for life.

These points were the foundation of the Civil Liberties Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1988, authorizing President Ronald Reagan to apologize for the internment of 110,000 Japanese Americans during World War II and to compensate each living internee with an award of $20,000. Similar law was enacted by the Canadian Parliament to apologize and compensated Canadian Japanese unconstitutionally interned during the War.

The governments of Germany and Austria have made comparable apologies and restitution to the Jewish victims of Nazi atrocities and to the state of Israel. The United States, Canada, The Netherlands, South Korea and many other nations have passed laws to declassify records of WW II and appropriate funds to collect, retain, organize, archive and publish WW II historical records and provide financial assistance to victims of WW II who are in need. Throughout Europe and Asia, countries have funded the construction and erection of memorial monuments and
museums in remembrance of victims of the war. Japan must do no less to honor its victims.

Now, the G-4 nations have created an opportunity and extra time before engaging other nations in the formal reform process, the Global Alliance urges Japanese government to take advantage the window of opportunity to position itself for the expected challenges. It must meet the international expectation and behaves like an authentic leader. Respect (and the UNSC permanent membership) cannot be "bought" and must be earned with diligent and sincere efforts. First, the Japanese politicians must tone down their militant rhetoric's, develop and implement a comprehensive national policy that will convince the rest of the world, in particular the nations victimized by Japan in the past, their true contrition and change of hearts.

The Global Alliance wishes Japan the best of luck and welcomes all positive and constructive changes in its relations with other nations in
a peaceful and prosperous future.

Please contact Ignatius Y. Ding at ignatius@global-alliance.net for further information.