War bomb victims sue Japan in Chinese court
By Zha Minjie |
September 4, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FIFTEEN people who survived devastating bombing attacks against Chongqing during the Chinese War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945) will sue the Japanese government in a domestic court for compensation.
It's the first time the group has filed a lawsuit in a Chinese court - four previous lawsuits were filed in Japan in the past six years and are still ongoing.
The group of 15, all from Chongqing, with the oldest 91, said they will present their case to Chongqing Higher People's Court on September 10.
The group insisted filing the suit though their lawyers warned them that pursuing such cases is difficult based on earlier efforts.
Some aged survivors, who joined previous trials, have passed away.
More than 32,000 civilians were killed or injured in the bombing in Chongqing during the war, according to historical records.
"The victims and we think the war crimes should not be ruled invalid because of the amount of time that has passed," said Lin Gang, chief lawyer for the victims' group.
Lin said the bomb victims began the legal journey in March 2006 in Japan.
The plaintiff group at first had 188 members. As the years passed, some died and some gave up.
Lawyers and experts said in a recent meeting on the issue that "filing a lawsuit in a Chinese court may be the only effective way to seek compensations and subsidies."
Ma Jianqun said his father always wanted to see the day when they won the lawsuits.
His father, Ma Songrong, was the victim of the bombing and died in 2010 at the age of 88.
It's the first time the group has filed a lawsuit in a Chinese court - four previous lawsuits were filed in Japan in the past six years and are still ongoing.
The group of 15, all from Chongqing, with the oldest 91, said they will present their case to Chongqing Higher People's Court on September 10.
The group insisted filing the suit though their lawyers warned them that pursuing such cases is difficult based on earlier efforts.
Some aged survivors, who joined previous trials, have passed away.
More than 32,000 civilians were killed or injured in the bombing in Chongqing during the war, according to historical records.
"The victims and we think the war crimes should not be ruled invalid because of the amount of time that has passed," said Lin Gang, chief lawyer for the victims' group.
Lin said the bomb victims began the legal journey in March 2006 in Japan.
The plaintiff group at first had 188 members. As the years passed, some died and some gave up.
Lawyers and experts said in a recent meeting on the issue that "filing a lawsuit in a Chinese court may be the only effective way to seek compensations and subsidies."
Ma Jianqun said his father always wanted to see the day when they won the lawsuits.
His father, Ma Songrong, was the victim of the bombing and died in 2010 at the age of 88.
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