Group to mourn for quake victims in lieu of weekly protest

The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan will hold a “gathering of mourning” for victims of Japan`s earthquake Wednesday instead of its regular weekly rally.

The council’s secretary general Yun Mi-hyang said Monday, “We`ve decided to replace the 961st Wednesday gathering set for this Wednesday with a gathering of mourning to pay respects to the victims of the earthquake that hit northeastern Japan.”

“Instead of chanting slogans urging Tokyo for an apology and compensation, we will hold a memorial ceremony for the Japanese who fell victim to the massive earthquake and then disperse.”

The organization will resume regular Wednesday gatherings from next week.

Since January 1992, the council has held rallies urging Tokyo to apologize and compensate for the victims of sexual slavery of Asian women during World War II in front of the Japanese Embassy in central Seoul at noon every Wednesday. The gathering has been held every week except once in 1995, when a mourning session for the victims of the Kobe earthquake was held.

The gathering will mark its 1,000th edition on Dec. 8.

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