Senate Says U.S. Should Increase Efforts for Justice
for Bataan Death March Victims
November 2, 2000

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate late last night approved legislation sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chair Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) urging the U.S. government to use its best efforts to open a dialogue between the veterans and private Japanese companies that profited from their labor during World War II.

“The Americans who served in Bataan and performed slave labor in Japanese mines, shipyards and factories were subject to brutality and atrocities that no human being should have to endure,” Senator Feinstein said. “Their endurance and courage symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice for our nation -- It is my hope that this legislation will open a dialogue between these heroes and the Japanese companies that profited from their labor.”

Earlier this year, the Senate Judiciary held a hearing on the claims being made by the former American POWs against the private Japanese companies. One issue of concern for the Committee was whether the POWs held in Japan are receiving an appropriate level of advocacy from the U.S. government.

In Holocaust litigation, the U.S. appropriately played a facilitating role in discussions between the German companies and the victims. In the case of Japanese POWs, however, there has been no effort the U.S. government, through the State Department or otherwise, to open a dialogue between the Japanese and the former POWs.

In addition to this resolution, Senator Feinstein recently was successful in gaining Congressional approval for her legislation to set up a commission to declassify Japanese Imperial Government Records held by the U.S. government after appropriate screening for sensitive national security information. The bill is pending the approval of President Clinton.