GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, February 2, 1988 - The claim of Canada's Hong Kong veterans, against the Japanese government, will be heard by the United Nations Human Rights Commission the week of February 22nd. This announcement was contained in a statement released from Geneva today by Cliff Chadderton, Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps.

The PoWs want compensation for the brutality and forced labour they endured while interned in Japanese war camps from December 1941 to September 1945.

The prisoners originally received $1.00 per day for the 44 months of internment. This was the amount agreed to when Japan and Canada signed the Treaty of Peace in 1952. The War Amps feels the PoWs should now be given an additional payment in recognition of the tremendous physical and emotional disabilities they suffer.

The Commission sits at this time every year to consider cases involving human rights. At the beginning of each session it decides which cases merit a hearing.

"Indications for successful results from the Human Rights Commission are surprisingly strong," stated Chadderton.

The Hong Kong PoWs' claim was submitted in the form of a 600-page brief prepared by Chadderton and War Amps solicitor Brian Forbes. The brief was supported by a two-year medical study from Dr. Gustave Gingras, a Canadian physician who is internationally renowned for his work in rehabilitative medicine.

Dr. Gingras' report concludes that the health and mental well-being of the Hong Kong veterans who survived has been severely impaired by the torture and inhuman living conditions endured in the Japanese prison camps. The men were forced to work long hours outside without adequate clothing, food or rest. They often had to walk miles to the work site and were made to work even when sick.

The Association's submissions to the UN were initially reviewed by a Subcommittee last August. At that time the Japanese government issued a response, stating that all claims for reparations against the Japanese government had been settled by the peace treaty.

"What has surprised us most of all," Chadderton said when speaking of their claim, "is the support we have received from other agencies whose officials are in constant contact with the Human Rights Commission."

"It is the uniqueness of the claim that is resulting in the exceptional interest it has aroused in Geneva," Chadderton explained.

"Firstly, this is not just a claim for violation of human rights. The Japanese were in contravention of the League of Nations' provisions for the treatment of prisoners of war. Admittedly, the Japanese did not sign the Geneva Convention. But according to the opinion of Professor John Humphrey of McGill University, former director with the UN Division of Human Rights, Japan was bound by the conventions whether they signed the actual document or not," stated Chadderton.

Some of the groups who have indicated support for the veterans' claim include Amnesty International, International Red Cross and the International Commission of Jurists.

The World Veterans Federation, with headquarters in Paris, France, has also been strongly supportive. In fact, the interest of this group in human rights goes back many years. In the last year, it established WVF International Socio-Medical Information Centre (WISMIC) whose main purpose is to prepare data in regard to the later effects of imprisonment and brutality during war time. Dr. Gustave Gingras is a member of WISMIC. The group meets regularly in Oslo, Sweden.

"The War Amps went to the United Nations with the claim at a very opportune time," stated Chadderton.

"Human rights is a very hot issue these days and special attention is being paid to any group that can prove that there was a violation during war time, for which adequate redress and compensation has not been given.

"Many of the claims deal with death and injury arising from the German concentration camps, but it seems that the human rights community is anxious to ensure that any violations committed by other countries, including Japan, are now examined. They see this as a deterrent in the event of further wars," explained Chadderton.

The War Amps head also indicated there was, what he called, the Canadian factor in this issue.

"We'll also be interested in how the Commission will word its findings. It's possible that the Canadian government may also have to bear some responsibility," Chadderton said further.

Underlining this fact is documentation submitted by The War Amps indicating the government of the day sent the veterans to Hong Kong knowing full well that no effort would be made to support or relieve the troops in the event of an attack by Japan. It seems that the government's decision to send these men, feels the veterans group, was a political one, rather than a military one.

The Canadian government sent these men to Hong Kong at a time when it was known that the garrison couldn't be defended and that the troops would probably face either death or prison. Plus, the Canadian government signed the treaty without consulting the Hong Kong veterans, the only large group of Canadians to have suffered at the hands of the Japanese.