OTTAWA, ON, July 17, 1993 - The question of whether members of the Canadian Military who were forced into slave labour by Japan during World War II will receive the compensation due them under the Geneva Convention now rests squarely upon the shoulders of the Canadian Government.

The War Amps of Canada, using its status as a non-governmental organization registered with the United Nations, has now submitted the claim against the Canadian Government, through the Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland.

The War Amps has been pursuing this claim since 1987. The previous submissions were all made directly to the Japanese Government, under the auspices of the Human Rights Agencies in Geneva. The Canadian Government refused to support the claim and it was stonewalled by the Japanese delegation during the most recent deliberations in Geneva.

This left us with no alternative but to submit the claim to the Canadian Government under what is known as the OPTIONAL PROTOCOL. This procedure permits a complainant to go directly to his or her own government if there is evidence that its failure to act represents a violation of human rights.

The claim against the Canadian Government is based on two specific factors.

The first is that, in signing the 1952 Peace Treaty with Japan, the Canadian Government failed to protect the interests of the Far East PoWs in accordance with international laws.

The second factor is that, in refusing to support the claim of Canada's Hong Kong Veterans and other Far East PoWs against Japan in the relevant international tribunal since 1987, the Canadian Government has been derelict in looking after a group of its own citizens.

The circumstances under which Canadians were sent to serve in the British Garrison in Hong Kong in 1941 are also relevant to this issue. Historical research indicates that Canadian soldiers, known as C FORCE were sent on this mission for political rather than military reasons. Prime Minister Mackenzie King agreed to the dispatch of troops to establish a Canadian presence in the Far East, despite military intelligence to the effect that Hong Kong could not be defended. Thus those military personnel sent to Hong Kong were faced with the inevitability of two choices; either be killed or captured.

If the Canadian Government does not wish to pay the claim - which amounts to $18 a day for the 44 months during which most of our troops were in captivity - it has the alternative of supporting the claim against Japan in the United Nations. In fact, the former PoWs have agreed that, should the Canadian Government make payment to them and later obtain agreement from Japan to make restitution, the Canadians would repay any funds from the Canadian Government.

Speaking on behalf of the Canadians involved in the claim, Cliff Chadderton, Chief Executive Officer of The War Amputations of Canada stated: "The survivors of the Japanese prison camps have no desire to place an additional burden upon the Canadian taxpayers. Given the failure of the Canadian Government to support this claim, however, and having regard for the circumstances under which these soldiers were sent to the Far East, their own Government has responsibility either to ensure that Japan pays its just debts under the Geneva Convention or alternatively, the Canadian Government makes the payment."

The total cost of the claim is estimated at approximately 21 million dollars, to be paid either to survivors of the prison camps or their widows.

The matter has previously been forwarded for consideration of Brian Mulroney, particularly since he discussed the claim with Japanese Prime Minister Toshika Kaifu at a meeting in Tokyo in May of 1991. At that time, Mr. Mulroney stated that if Canadians were seeking compensation they should look to their own government.

In further correspondence with the Honourable Barbara McDougall, the then Minister of External Affairs, the Canadian Government failed to live up to the commitment made by Prime Minister Mulroney. In a letter dated November 20, 1992, Ms. McDougall attempted to justify the lack of response and support from the Canadian Government. This left The War Amps with no alternative but to refer the matter officially to Canada under the terms of the various international covenants on human rights.