A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a memorial statue in Strathfield commemorating the `comfort women’ of World War II has been rejected. This week Strathfield councillors voted unanimously to “take no further action” concerning the Comfort Women Memorial, saying it did not meet the criteria of the council’s memorial policy.
The proposed Three Girls statue became a long drawn-out issue after the Korean Committee of United Austral Korean-Chinese Alliance approached the council in March 2014 wanting to erect the statue in Strathfield Square or a nearby public location.
But it was quickly criticised as misguided by the Japanese embassy in Australia and emotions ran high. Opposing sides packed the council’s chambers last April and submitted petitions containing thousands of signatures. At one stage the council even sought Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s advice on the matter.
“Strathfield prides itself in being a multicultural community bringing people from around the world together in peace and harmony. Through mutual respect and understanding, it is Strathfield’s hope that this potentially divisive issue can be turned into an opportunity to engage with each other in a positive way moving forward. If a jointly agreed-upon proposal for a statue is put forward in the future, Strathfield Council will consider the application at that time.”
Strathfield Council knocks back plan to build a Comfort Women statue proposed by Korean community
A Korean-Chinese group tried to build a memorial statue in Strathfield Square in Sydney but the plan was rejected by the city council because the issue is so divisive that it would further worsen race relations in Australia. The Asian community now makes up 30% of Strathfield's population (20% Chinese, 10% Korean) and they are increasingly vocal about this particular historical problem. It's a landmark decision which would become a precedent in Australia and the pressure group may have to give up on its plan to erect more statues in Sydney or other Australian cities. I have never been to this part of Sydney but Strathfield councillors made the right call.
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