Cold comfort for former sex slaves

FIRST PERSON | LIMEIJIN, 85

Worker during the day, victimat night

When the Japanese came to our village, many people ran and hid in the mountains. I ran as well, but it was too late. A fat Japanese officer caught me and threw me on a haystack. I was raped by him at the age of 16. I was just a child!

From then on, I was forced to help build an airstrip during the day and raped at night. I had to work on my knees. I couldn't stand up because of the pain.

One night, I heard a woman scream and saw her naked body being carried away. I knew I would wind up dead if I stayed in the camp, so I started to look for a way to escape during the day. One night, after I had been raped by two soldiers, I sneaked out of the room and ran into the woods. I didn't care which direction I was headed, I just ran away from the room. I was fearful long after I escaped, because I knew they would beat me to death if they caught me. I was so lucky.

At the age of 20, I married and had six children, three boys and three girls. My husband was paralyzed in 2004 and passed away soon after. People of my generation are dying, so I have fewer and fewer friends I can talk to.