Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The Malaya Lolas are given flowers by Students and volunteers as they mark the attack of the Japanese Imperial Army at the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga during World War II  on November 23, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177743529429320241123-bahay-na-pula-bulacan-MT-17.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Malaya Lolas are given flowers by Students and volunteers as they mark the attack of the Japanese Imperial Army at the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga during World War II  on November 23, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand officials rejected on Wednesday an application to install a statue commemorating so-called &quot;comfort women&quot; enslaved by Japan before and during World War II after Tokyo suggested it could harm diplomatic relations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/3/-time-s-running-out-gov-t-urged-to-speed-up-reparations-for-surviving-comfort-women-1359">&#x27;Time&#x27;s running out&#x27;: Gov&#x27;t urged to speed up reparations for surviving &#x27;comfort women&#x27;</a></div><p>Japan forced up to 200,000 women from Korea, China and southeast Asia into sexual slavery from 1932 until 1945 and the issue remains a sore point in Tokyo&#x27;s relations with its neighbors.</p><p>The Korean Garden Trust had sought to install a statue honoring the survivors at Barry&#x27;s Point Reserve in the Auckland suburb of Takapuna.</p><p>But after public consultation the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board declined an application to install the statue.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/01/11/18/palace-tries-to-smooth-over-comfort-woman-statue-row">Palace tries to smooth over &#x27;comfort woman&#x27; statue row</a></div><p>&quot;This was a difficult decision, and one we did not make lightly,&quot; board chair Trish Deans said.</p><p>&quot;We carefully considered staff advice and the feedback received from the community through a formal consultation process.&quot;</p><p>Among the submissions was a letter from Japanese Ambassador Makoto Osawa, which claimed it could &quot;cause division and conflict within New Zealand&#x27;s wonderful multi-ethnic and multicultural society and between Japanese and Korean communities.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/focus/01/23/16/filipino-comfort-women-want-plight-raised-with-japanese-emperor">Filipino &#x27;comfort women&#x27; want plight raised with Japanese emperor</a></div><p>Wellington&#x27;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade also said the Japanese government had made &quot;formal representations&quot; about the proposed statue.</p><p>Deans said many submitters had supported the statue as an opportunity to learn and reflect on what happened during the war.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/18/removal-of-statue-an-insult-to-filipino-comfort-women-analyst">Removal of statue an &#x27;insult&#x27; to Filipino &#x27;comfort women&#x27;: analyst</a></div><p>&quot;We recognize the significance of the history the statue represents, and we acknowledge the survivors whose stories it seeks to honor,&quot; said Deans.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/79WMuoBaQd8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_3p3xryTxvQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d6PYuJefIjY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>New Zealand officials rejected on Wednesday 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.</p>

New Zealand officials rejected on Wednesday 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.

New Zealand officials reject statue remembering 'comfort women'

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New Zealand officials reject statue remembering 'comfort women'

Agence France-Presse

Published April 29, 2026 12:03 PM PHT

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Agence France-Presse

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