A Call for Preservation of "Ari," the Statue of Peace, in Berlin
-Neither the German government, the Japanese government, nor any external entity should seek to suppress the remembrance of historical atrocities.
On September 28, 2020, the "Ari" Statue of Peace ("Friedensstatue" in German) was unveiled in Berlin, Germany, with the official approval of the Mitte District Office. The installation, which honors women subjected to sexual violence during wartime and confronts the painful history of war crimes, marked a significant step toward acknowledging the suffering caused by conflict. Given Germany's history in World War II, this statue stands as a powerful symbol of recognition and responsibility for past wrongs.
The Statue of Peace holds profound significance as a symbol of peace and hope for survivors of wartime sexual slavery. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing global struggle against sexual violence, particularly in conflict zones. Its relevance extends far beyond historical reflection, confronting an issue that remains tragically widespread.
Since its installation, however, this Statue of Peace has faced continuous threats in Berlin. The Japanese government, through diplomatic channels, has repeatedly requested its removal, initially directing appeals to the Mitte District Office. When these efforts proved unsuccessful, pressure was exerted on both Berlin city officials and the German federal government to have the statue taken down.
During German Chancellor Olaf Scholz(SPD)'s visit to Japan in late April 2022, then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida(LDP) raised the issue of the statue's removal. In May 2024, during the 30th anniversary of the Berlin-Tokyo sister city relationship, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner(CDU) met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa to discuss the statue's future. However, decisions regarding public monuments within Berlin are the rightful purview of local authorities and should not be subject to undue external influence.
Crucially, the Mitte District Council, representing the local community, has voiced strong support for the permanent preservation of the statue at its current location on Bremer Strasse 41. On September 19, 2024, the Council passed a resolution (27 in favor, 15 against, 7 abstentions) submitted by members of the Green Party, the Left Party, and the Social Democratic Party, calling for negotiations with Berlin authorities to secure the statue's permanent placement. Additionally, a petition with over 3,000 signatures from Mitte residents, demanding the permanent preservation of the statue, further underscores local backing.
Mitte District Mayor Stefanie Remlinger(Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), who holds the authority to make the final decision regarding the statue’s removal, has expressed concerns that, while the statue's permit was extended once in 2022, it may no longer meet the criteria required for permanent preservation as a public artwork. Her proposal to relocate the statue to private land within the district is seen as a compromise. However, such a decision, driven by external diplomatic pressures, would conflict with the values espoused as a Green mayor, including anti-war, peace, women's rights, and international solidarity. She should not ignore the decisions of a grassroots local council and the voices of residents.
Korea Verband, the civic organization behind the Statue of Peace project in Berlin, together with other local civil society groups, emphasizes the public significance of the statue. They argue that it must remain accessible in a public space as a symbol of resistance against sexual violence worldwide. The nearby "Comfort Women Museum" (“Museum der Trostfrauen” in German) collaborates with local women’s organizations, migrant and human rights groups, and schools to offer historical education programs, essential for fostering understanding in a society still confronting the legacies of Eurocentrism, Holocaust denial, and racism.
A decision by Germany to remove or relocate the Statue of Peace due to anti-historical lobbying, especially by a government reluctant to fully acknowledge its colonial imperialism and war crimes, would represent a setback in the effort to reckon with historical atrocities. The Statue of Peace serves not only to honor the past victims but also to raise awareness of the ongoing scourge of sexual violence in conflict. To preserve historical truth and prevent future atrocities, the statue must remain. Neither the German government, the Japanese government, nor anyone else has the right to suppress the memory of war crimes.
The following demands reflect the stance of Green Party Korea:
1. Mayor Stefanie Remlinger must respect the democratic decision of the Mitte District Council and the voices of local residents, ensuring that the Statue of Peace remains in its current location. As a member of the Green Party, Mayor Remlinger should uphold the principles of peace, women's rights, grassroots democracy, and international solidarity enshrined in the Global Greens Charter, which is shared by Green parties worldwide.
2. The Japanese government must immediately cease its anti-historical lobbying efforts to influence the removal of the Berlin Statue of Peace and adopt a responsible approach to addressing the war crimes committed during World War II.
3. The German government and Berlin city authorities must firmly reject the external pressure from the Japanese government regarding the statue’s removal and uphold the autonomy of local governance within the Mitte District.
The preservation of the Statue of Peace is not merely an act of historical remembrance but a vital step toward justice and the promotion of human rights worldwide.
October 9, 2024
Green Party Korea and International Committee of Green Party Korea
A Call for Preservation of "Ari," the Statue of Peace, in Berlin
-Neither the German government, the Japanese government, nor any external entity should seek to suppress the remembrance of historical atrocities.
On September 28, 2020, the "Ari" Statue of Peace ("Friedensstatue" in German) was unveiled in Berlin, Germany, with the official approval of the Mitte District Office. The installation, which honors women subjected to sexual violence during wartime and confronts the painful history of war crimes, marked a significant step toward acknowledging the suffering caused by conflict. Given Germany's history in World War II, this statue stands as a powerful symbol of recognition and responsibility for past wrongs.
The Statue of Peace holds profound significance as a symbol of peace and hope for survivors of wartime sexual slavery. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing global struggle against sexual violence, particularly in conflict zones. Its relevance extends far beyond historical reflection, confronting an issue that remains tragically widespread.
Since its installation, however, this Statue of Peace has faced continuous threats in Berlin. The Japanese government, through diplomatic channels, has repeatedly requested its removal, initially directing appeals to the Mitte District Office. When these efforts proved unsuccessful, pressure was exerted on both Berlin city officials and the German federal government to have the statue taken down.
During German Chancellor Olaf Scholz(SPD)'s visit to Japan in late April 2022, then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida(LDP) raised the issue of the statue's removal. In May 2024, during the 30th anniversary of the Berlin-Tokyo sister city relationship, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner(CDU) met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa to discuss the statue's future. However, decisions regarding public monuments within Berlin are the rightful purview of local authorities and should not be subject to undue external influence.
Crucially, the Mitte District Council, representing the local community, has voiced strong support for the permanent preservation of the statue at its current location on Bremer Strasse 41. On September 19, 2024, the Council passed a resolution (27 in favor, 15 against, 7 abstentions) submitted by members of the Green Party, the Left Party, and the Social Democratic Party, calling for negotiations with Berlin authorities to secure the statue's permanent placement. Additionally, a petition with over 3,000 signatures from Mitte residents, demanding the permanent preservation of the statue, further underscores local backing.
Mitte District Mayor Stefanie Remlinger(Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), who holds the authority to make the final decision regarding the statue’s removal, has expressed concerns that, while the statue's permit was extended once in 2022, it may no longer meet the criteria required for permanent preservation as a public artwork. Her proposal to relocate the statue to private land within the district is seen as a compromise. However, such a decision, driven by external diplomatic pressures, would conflict with the values espoused as a Green mayor, including anti-war, peace, women's rights, and international solidarity. She should not ignore the decisions of a grassroots local council and the voices of residents.
Korea Verband, the civic organization behind the Statue of Peace project in Berlin, together with other local civil society groups, emphasizes the public significance of the statue. They argue that it must remain accessible in a public space as a symbol of resistance against sexual violence worldwide. The nearby "Comfort Women Museum" (“Museum der Trostfrauen” in German) collaborates with local women’s organizations, migrant and human rights groups, and schools to offer historical education programs, essential for fostering understanding in a society still confronting the legacies of Eurocentrism, Holocaust denial, and racism.
A decision by Germany to remove or relocate the Statue of Peace due to anti-historical lobbying, especially by a government reluctant to fully acknowledge its colonial imperialism and war crimes, would represent a setback in the effort to reckon with historical atrocities. The Statue of Peace serves not only to honor the past victims but also to raise awareness of the ongoing scourge of sexual violence in conflict. To preserve historical truth and prevent future atrocities, the statue must remain. Neither the German government, the Japanese government, nor anyone else has the right to suppress the memory of war crimes.
The following demands reflect the stance of Green Party Korea:
1. Mayor Stefanie Remlinger must respect the democratic decision of the Mitte District Council and the voices of local residents, ensuring that the Statue of Peace remains in its current location. As a member of the Green Party, Mayor Remlinger should uphold the principles of peace, women's rights, grassroots democracy, and international solidarity enshrined in the Global Greens Charter, which is shared by Green parties worldwide.
2. The Japanese government must immediately cease its anti-historical lobbying efforts to influence the removal of the Berlin Statue of Peace and adopt a responsible approach to addressing the war crimes committed during World War II.
3. The German government and Berlin city authorities must firmly reject the external pressure from the Japanese government regarding the statue’s removal and uphold the autonomy of local governance within the Mitte District.
The preservation of the Statue of Peace is not merely an act of historical remembrance but a vital step toward justice and the promotion of human rights worldwide.
October 9, 2024
Green Party Korea and International Committee of Green Party Korea