Japan to dissolve fund to compensate 'comfort women' in 2007

Japan to dissolve fund to compensate 'comfort women' in 2007

TOKYO — A Japanese fund established to compensate women in Asian countries who were forced to provide sex for Japanese soldiers during World War II will be dissolved in March 2007, an official of the fund operator announced Monday.

The Asian Women's Fund was established in 1995 in accordance with a decision by the Japanese government "to convey Japanese people's gesture of atonement" to "comfort women." The fund's president is former Prime Minister Tomiichiro Murayama. The fund collected about 565 million yen in donations since its establishment and paid 2 million yen each to about 280 women. (Kyodo News)