TOKYO, March 1 (Xinhua) -- A joint bill to be submitted to the Diet and come into effect in April was finalized between Japan's ruling and opposition parties Friday and will seek to compensate victims of forced sterilization under Japan's past eugenics law.
The bill mandates that reparations starting at 3 million yen (27,000 U.S. dollars) will be paid to each of the victims and an apology offered for the government's highly-controversial, forcible sterilization of thousands of people between 1948-1996 under the now-defunct eugenics protection law.
The bill begins with an introduction that states: "We sincerely reflect on and deeply apologize for the great physical and mental suffering that was inflicted."
But the statement has been criticized by plaintiffs, victims and legal entities representing them as there is no incontrovertible mention of the state and its culpability.
Numerous lawsuits have been filed against the government seeking compensation for claims they were forcibly sterilized or forced to have abortions under the nation's former eugenics protection law.
