China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Groups rally for recognition of Nanjing atrocity
The purpose of a peaceful rally by more than 1,200 Ontarians of Asian descent was twofold: support a bill commemorating the Nanjing Massacre and make younger generations aware of the horrors of the World War II era.
On Monday, a group gathered in Queen’s Park, where the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (LAO) is located, carrying signs with statements such as “I support Bill 79”, “Lest We Forget”, “Make Peace, Not War” and “I Love Canada”.
MPP Raymond Cho
The rally was to push for passage of Bill 79, the Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day Act.
The event was co-organized by the 5.29 Rally Preparation Committee, the Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations (CTCCO) and more than 100 local organizations serving the province’s Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino-Canadian communities.
“The fact that we have many young people in our schools who are not aware of the atrocities of the Second World War in Asia is not acceptable,” said Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Soo Wong, who introduced the bill in the Ontario Legislature as a private member’s bill.
“We cannot ignore, forget or deny that this atrocity took place,” Wong said. “We have a responsibility as Canadians to speak out when there’s injustice and when there’s human rights violations.”
Bill 79 passed a second reading with tripartisan support on Dec 8, 2016. It proposes to make Dec 13 each year Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day in Ontario in recognition of the 300,000 Chinese nationals massacred and sexually assaulted in Nanjing by the Japanese Imperial Army in 1937 and 1938.
So far, more than 100, 000 petition signatures calling for the Ontario Legislature to pass Bill 79 have been collected and tabled.
Several supporters of the bill emphasized that its intent was not to focus on Japan’s role, but to stress the measure’s focus on peace and humanity.
MPP present at the rally included Michael Chan, Han Dong, Gilles Bisson and Monte McNaughton.
“The message to the world is for peace,” Chan said. “We want to live in a peaceful society. Canada is well known in the whole world that people coming here can live in harmony and peace, and we want to keep that.”
“On behalf of the NDP (National Democratic Party) House, we sign (the petition) with you to support the bill,” said Bisson, House leader of the NDP.
“The Nanjing Massacre also was known as the Rape of Nanjing, which was a mass murder killing of Nanjing civilians, unarmed soldiers that happened in late 1937 to early 1938. And this fact unfortunately hasn’t been told to the young generation; it’s very dangerous,” said MPP Raymond Cho, the first Korean-Canadian elected to the Ontario Legislature, who said World War II affected himself personally as a child.
“It’s our duty to teach our future generations the actual facts of this important history,” Cho said. “We all need to work very hard so that there is never again another Holocaust and Massacre on this planet.”
The Toronto City Council and Peel Regional Council have voted to support Bill 79.
“We have learned what happened to indigenous people in Canadian history. We have to do exactly the same thing for those who survived the Nanjing Massacre and who are still with us,” said Toronto City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. “We have to honour those who passed away to make sure their deaths are not in vain, their sufferings are not in vain.
“I cannot imagine what it would have been like to see 300,000 people perish for no reason within a six-week period. We have to deliver that (the bill) before Dec 13, 2017, when we can remember the 80 years of the Massacre.”
Joseph Wong, founder of Toronto ALPHA, initiator of Bill 79, said that it’s time to let the representatives in Queen’s Park know that the bill is now supported by so many people, and it should be passed.
“The bill is not to divide the Chinese community and Japanese community; it is to bring people and communities together for the core values of humanity, peace and reconciliation,” Wong said.
“Although the private bill is very challenged to get through the house, this is the way for the community to engage in democracy, to help the Legislature know the community’s voices,” said Craig Brockwell, partner at Solstice Public Affairs.
Lisa Jai Yamanaka, a Japanese-Canadian actress, joined the rally and was co-master of ceremonies.
“My family is blended with generations of Japanese, Chinese and Canadian heritages. We were all affected by World War II. My family members all acknowledge the history. That’s why I come here to support Bill 79,” said Yamanaka.
Some prominent Japanese Canadians such as Joy Kogawa, a poet and novelist, have spoken in support of Bill 79.
It’s our duty to teach our future generations the actual facts of this important history.”