ID :
209301
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 15:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209301
The shortlink copeid
Child bones may have been mixed with Japanese soldiers' remains
MANILA, Sept. 25 Kyodo -
Bones of women and children who died long after World War II are suspected to have become mixed with the collected remains of purportedly Japanese soldiers who died during the war in the Philippines, according to a draft investigation report on the remains search project and sources close to the Japanese and the Philippines governments.
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare commissioned Japanese nonprofit organization Kuentai, based in Tokyo, in fiscal 2009 to search for the remains in the Philippines, where more than 500,000 Japanese soldiers died.
The ministry discontinued collection in the Philippines in October last year after reports that bones of Filipinos were stolen and sold as those of Japanese.
The ministry has ordered a probe by DNA and bone experts and conducted investigations jointly with the Philippine government. Kyodo News has obtained the draft report of the investigation.
The ministry could come under fire for what appears to be careless implementation of the search project. A Japanese government source said it is unusual that bones other than those of Japanese soldiers are suspected to have been found mixed with remains collected overseas by the search project.
Even those bones already placed at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery, dedicated for the war dead, in Tokyo may also come under scrutiny as some of them were collected by the NPO in question.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino, who is arriving in Japan for a visit on Sunday, has indicated that if any remains of Philippine nationals are found to have been brought over to Japan, he would seek that they be returned.
In the draft report, the ministry said as a conclusion of the investigation, ''The problem lay with the collection method that was solely based on unverified witness accounts of residents.''
The ministry is planning to resume the search project employing experts with scientific knowledge and exchange a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine government shortly.
According to the report and the sources, some bones appear to belong to women and toddlers. Many are not suitable for DNA profiling. They said no evidence showed they were stolen.
According to the ministry, a total of 7,740 sets of remains were found in fiscal 2009, the year Kuentai started its operation, and 6,289 the following year, up sharply from 45 sets back in fiscal 2006.
2011-09-25 21:08:23
Bones of women and children who died long after World War II are suspected to have become mixed with the collected remains of purportedly Japanese soldiers who died during the war in the Philippines, according to a draft investigation report on the remains search project and sources close to the Japanese and the Philippines governments.
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare commissioned Japanese nonprofit organization Kuentai, based in Tokyo, in fiscal 2009 to search for the remains in the Philippines, where more than 500,000 Japanese soldiers died.
The ministry discontinued collection in the Philippines in October last year after reports that bones of Filipinos were stolen and sold as those of Japanese.
The ministry has ordered a probe by DNA and bone experts and conducted investigations jointly with the Philippine government. Kyodo News has obtained the draft report of the investigation.
The ministry could come under fire for what appears to be careless implementation of the search project. A Japanese government source said it is unusual that bones other than those of Japanese soldiers are suspected to have been found mixed with remains collected overseas by the search project.
Even those bones already placed at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery, dedicated for the war dead, in Tokyo may also come under scrutiny as some of them were collected by the NPO in question.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino, who is arriving in Japan for a visit on Sunday, has indicated that if any remains of Philippine nationals are found to have been brought over to Japan, he would seek that they be returned.
In the draft report, the ministry said as a conclusion of the investigation, ''The problem lay with the collection method that was solely based on unverified witness accounts of residents.''
The ministry is planning to resume the search project employing experts with scientific knowledge and exchange a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine government shortly.
According to the report and the sources, some bones appear to belong to women and toddlers. Many are not suitable for DNA profiling. They said no evidence showed they were stolen.
According to the ministry, a total of 7,740 sets of remains were found in fiscal 2009, the year Kuentai started its operation, and 6,289 the following year, up sharply from 45 sets back in fiscal 2006.
2011-09-25 21:08:23
