Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: More phony baloney is being sliced up in Washington

Friday, Dec. 7, 2001 | 4:20 a.m.

Remember Pearl Harbor has been an American call to arms for 60 years. During recent years, and even today, we have members of Congress and State and Justice departments that don't want us to remember too much about Pearl Harbor and World War II. They will rally around the flag and pretend to pay respect to the memories of those who fought and suffered during that war, but much of it is just thinly sliced baloney.

The George Bush State and Justice departments, Bill Clinton State and Justice departments and now the George W. Bush State and Justice departments have opposed American POWs in their search for justice. Americans, who were forced into slave labor for wealthy Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi, have been denied going to federal court to make claims without facing the power of State and Justice blocking them.

Congress and the White House want us to remember Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11, 2001, but fail to recognize the debt owed by Japanese companies to the American slaves they worked to the bone and mistreated. Oh, that was all taken care of in an agreement with Japan 50 years ago they tell us. So $1 a day for rations is adequate pay for slaving in profit-making mines and factories? Don't peddle that slice of sausage to me.

Several experts tell us that no matter what our government has done, it cannot forfeit the rights of its citizens where violations of human rights are involved. I can't think of a greater human rights abuse than being forced to work as a slave in a Mitsubishi copper mine for three years. Both Nevada representatives in Congress, Shelley Berkley and Jim Gibbons, support rectifying this injustice.

Like so many other injustices overlooked for political and/or diplomatic reasons, the rights of the injured suffer. There are only 5,000 to 6,000 of these men still alive, with about 1,000 of them living next door in California. Just wait a few more years and they will all be dead and we can forget about them and their suffering. In the meantime, we will be kept in the dark while the legitimate claims of more Americans could be traded away for profit and diplomatic gains as we fight other wars.

An amendment to the Commerce, Justice and State budget bills would keep State and Justice from blocking the POW-filed lawsuits. H.R. 1198 introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacker, R-Calif., would make it possible for former POWs to get more compensation for slave labor. President Bush and Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., both see these attempts for justice as damaging our relationship with our ally Japan, which says it will help us fight terrorism. Great, but what about the actions of Japan 60 years ago that triggered the use of POW slave labor? Remember Pearl Harbor?

In October state Judge William F. McDonald of the California Superior Court in Orange County ruled that in three slave labor lawsuits, one against Mitsui and two against Mitsubishi, the former POWs have the right to be heard in court and that there are good reasons and issues for their cases to be heard. Because a gutless Congress and a White House playing diplomatic politics have failed to help the former POWs, they can now count on federal courts attempting to block Judge McDonald's ruling. The big boys, with short and convenient memories, will continue to kiss it up with Japan and allow those who served our country to die unrewarded. Do you buy products made by Mitsubishi, Toyota, Hitachi, Sony, Honda, Nissan, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Mitsui or Nintendo? If you do, then contact them with this column. Tell them that Germany has faced up to crimes against huma nity and ask them why hasn't Japan done the same?

This is the week to Remember Pearl Harbor but don't remember too much. It could embarrass our government and might even make Japan blush a bit. It's about time there is some embarrassment and blushing, but don't count on it.

Remember Pearl Harbor is a worthy slogan, but if it's coming from Washington I'll take mine thinly sliced.