Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama speaks during a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, on June 9, 2015. Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on Tuesday held a press conference, sharing their thoughts on current Japanese political situation, amid concerns over incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's historical revisionism and his unconstitutional and brutal efforts in "war legislation." (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

 
Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on Tuesday held a press conference, sharing their thoughts on current Japanese political situation, amid concerns over incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's historical revisionism and his unconstitutional and brutal efforts in "war legislation."

Abe planned to issue a statement in this summer to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, but reiterated that he would not follow the key words of "aggression and colonial rule" and "heartfelt apology" used in the world-recognized 1995 Murayama Statement, prompting concerns from Japan's neighboring countries that were victimized by its wartime aggression.

Meanwhile, the hawkish conservative leader also challenged the 1993 Kono Statement which offers an apology to over 200,000 women who were forcibly recruited as "comfort women," a Japanese euphemism for sex slaves in wartime brothels managed by then Japanese Imperial Army.

Talking about the Murayama Statement, the 91-year-old former prime minister said that Japan's aggression against China and 36- year colonial rule of Korea are undeniable historical facts and there is no other better wording than "mistaken national policy" to accurately summarize the past history.

Murayama issued the statement two decades ago at the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII and clearly said in the statement that Japan, through its "mistaken national policy" toward war, "caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries" and he expressed "feelings of deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology" to the victim countries.

Although Abe said he will follow the Murayama Statement "as a whole," he did not touch the apology during his recent speeches in Indonesia and to the US Congress, only saying in a diluting way that Japan's "actions brought suffering to the peoples in Asian countries." Such perfunctory words triggered strong protests from China and South Korea. "The issue of the Murayama Statement aims at demonstrating to the world that Japan will constantly pursue a path of peaceful development based on the pacifist Constitution," said Murayama, adding that the purpose is not only to offer an apology since he felt at that time that neighboring countries has worried about whether Japan would head a wrong direction again.

On Kono Statement, Kono, also a former president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, said that the statement is based on a comprehensive investigation over the "comfort women" system with indubitable evidence, adding Japan and South Korea enjoyed smooth bilateral ties thereafter featured by the 2002 FIFA World Cup co- hosted by the two countries. "It is regrettable that ties between Japan and South Korea are frayed, and mutual trust between the two peoples are also declining," said Kono, referring to Abe's move to review the statement, his remarks that called the "comfort women" victims of human trafficking without clarifying the perpetrator and his denial of "forcible recruitment." "Generally speaking, the recruitment of 'comfort women' was conducted generally against their will, through coaxing and coercion. These all fall into the category of generalized definition of 'forcible recruitment,' "Kono said.

On Monday, a total of 281 historians, lawyers, writers and journalists issued a statement urging Abe to start his war anniversary statement from "acceptance of the statements on historical matters issued by previous governments like Kono and Murayama Statements," echoing a move that over 450 scholars worldwide expressed their hope that the prime minister would address historical issues.

During the press conference, both Murayama and Kono criticized that Abe is trying to brutally ram the unconstitutional security- related bills by provoking sense of crisis such as overstating the "China threat." "Focusing on national security is not a problem, but it is a problem and incorrect to arbitrarily push forward the bills without sufficient Diet discussion and public understandings," said Kono, saying that the Article 9 of the country's constitution bans Japan from using force overseas and goes contrary against the right to collective self-defense.

Murayama said that Abe's doctrine of "proactive pacifism" that to be included in the so-called "Abe Statement" will revise Japan' s real pacifism nature. The former prime minister expressed his hope that Abe could review his strategy to revise the country's supreme law.

Latest poll conducted by Japan's Kyodo News showed that about 81.4 percent of Japanese people thought the government's explanations about the security-related bills are "not sufficient, " while 14.2 percent feel the opposite.

The telephone nationwide survey released on May 31 showed that about 68.0 percent said the security legislation, if passed, will increase the risk of the Self-Defense Forces getting dragged into war, while 26.1 percent expect "no change." Only 2.6 percent said the laws will lower such a risk.