MPPs unanimously pass motion to commemorate victims of Nanjing massacre
A move in the Ontario Legislature to condemn the 1937 Rape of Nanking by Japanese invaders is making waves across the Pacific.
A move in the Ontario Legislature to condemn the 1937 “Rape of Nanking” by Japanese invaders is making waves across the Pacific.
MPPs have unanimously passed Liberal Soo Wong’s motion recognizing Dec. 13 as Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day in Ontario.
It remembers the more than 200,000 victims in the city of Nanjing, which was known as Nanking when Japan invaded China 80 years ago.
“The Nanjing Massacre is about the tens of thousands of women, young and old, who were sexually assaulted in the capture of the city,” Wong (Scarborough-Agincourt) told the Legislature on Thursday.
“It is about women and girls being used as weapons of war. Those who were non-compliant were beaten and killed,” she said.
Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton) said the carnage was so horrificthat she “can’t believe it has taken us 80 years to commemorate it.”
“During the six weeks that the Imperial Japanese Army decided to rape and pillage and murder the city of Nanking, it was called by westerners ‘hell on Earth.’ Close to 20,000 to 80,000 were raped,” she said.
But Japanese interests quietly lobbied MPPs from all three parties against supporting Wong’s motion.
A move in the Ontario Legislature to condemn the 1937 “Rape of Nanking” by Japanese invaders is making waves across the Pacific.
MPPs have unanimously passed Liberal Soo Wong’s motion recognizing Dec. 13 as Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day in Ontario.
It remembers the more than 200,000 victims in the city of Nanjing, which was known as Nanking when Japan invaded China 80 years ago.
“The Nanjing Massacre is about the tens of thousands of women, young and old, who were sexually assaulted in the capture of the city,” Wong (Scarborough-Agincourt) told the Legislature on Thursday.
“It is about women and girls being used as weapons of war. Those who were non-compliant were beaten and killed,” she said.
Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton) said the carnage was so horrific that she “can’t believe it has taken us 80 years to commemorate it.”
“During the six weeks that the Imperial Japanese Army decided to rape and pillage and murder the city of Nanking, it was called by westerners ‘hell on Earth.’ Close to 20,000 to 80,000 were raped,” she said.
But Japanese interests quietly lobbied MPPs from all three parties against supporting Wong’s motion.
The reality of these historic events must be recognized in this Legislature and elsewhere. This government, with the consent of all Parties, can move this motion forward before another Dec. 13th goes by.
Ending the denial – Recognizing the Nanjing Massacre Far too uncommon agreement by three parties in the Ontario Legislature.