On the 29th, the prefecture began removing the memorial monument for Korean workers in Gunma no Mori, a prefectural park in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, using administrative agents. The prefecture has completely closed off the 26.2-hectare park for safety and security reasons, and work is scheduled to continue until February 11. The prefecture also did not allow the “Memorial Monument Protection Association,” a civic group that manages the monument, to be present. The estimated amount of execution on behalf of the company is approximately 30 million yen.
Gunma prefecture officials read out a declaration to begin the demolition of the monument to commemorate Korean workers at Gunma Forest in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture (provided by the prefecture)
The official name of the monument is “Memorial Monument of Memory, Reflection, and Friendship.” It was erected in 2004 on public land for the first time in the nation as a monument to commemorate the Koreans who lost their lives in a foreign land during World War II.
◆“Protest actions” behind the cancellation of installation permit
Afterwards, the prefectural government took issue with comments about the “forcible removal” at a ceremony held in front of the monument. In 2014, the company refused to renew its installation permit, citing it as a “political event.” It is said that there were protests in the background.
Masaki Fujii, an associate professor of constitutional law at Gunma University, said, “It is inappropriate to carry out enforcement actions by administrative agency on memorial monuments that do not have an impact on the lives of citizens, which is only permitted in cases that are extremely contrary to the public interest.” The prefecture is proceeding with the intention of removing them. “If there is a disturbance over the monument, it will set a precedent that will lead to its removal.” (Kazutaka Hamono)
2024-01-29 09:42:55
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