Cold comfort for former sex slaves

FIRST PERSON | FUMEIJU, 85

'We ran and ran for at least 25 kilometers'

When I was 16, I was caught by some Japanese troops, who made me help to build roads. One night, after more than 10 hours of back breaking work, I fell asleep at the work site. A Japanese soldier kicked me to my feet and locked me in a small, dirty room. I was terrified when I realized that it was the "comfort station".

Shortly afterward, two soldiers walked into the room. I cried and struggled, but they tore off my clothes and raped me. I felt a terrible pain and lost consciousness.

After that, I was raped by groups of soldiers every day, sometimes by more than 10 soldiers a day. They beat me when I resisted. I was sick and thought I was going to die.

After about 20 days, my father borrowed a large amount of money from the villagers and bribed the head of the comfort station to let me have medical treatment. He said he would bring me back after taking me to see the doctor.

When we got out of the station, we ran into the mountains. We were afraid the Japanese officer would regret his actions and try to recapture me, so we ran and ran for at least 25 kilometers until I fainted.

I have been sick ever since. At the age of 22, I married a man from another village and we had six children. Two of them died soon after birth, and my two girls left home after getting married. My two sons are gone - one died before he was 18 years old, the other died 25 years ago after being electrocuted. His wife was pregnant at the time, but she left after the baby was born. It was a boy, and I raised him. Now my grandson is my only support.