「児童移民」問題に見る自国の黒歴史への向き合い方

大英帝国黒歴史である「児童移民」問題については以前取り上げました。
1970年まで続いた児童移民の歴史が表面化したのは1986年、イギリス首相が公式に謝罪したのは2010年になってからです。イギリスのソーシャル・ワーカーが始めた児童移民トラストが活動を開始してから四半世紀もの年月が経っています。
1980年代に表面化した従軍慰安婦問題において、日本政府が官房長官談話という形式で謝罪したのは1993年で村山首相が謝罪したのは1994年ですから、表面化してからの最初の謝罪までの期間という意味では、日本の対応は「児童移民」問題に比べれば早かったと言えます。これに貢献したのが吉見教授をはじめとする民間の研究者たちでしたから、この点において、日本人は真摯な歴史研究で人権問題に誠実に向き合ったと言え、誇るべき成果を挙げたと言えます。もっともこの本来誇るべき研究者たちに対して、1990年代後半以降、日本は罵声と侮辱で報いることになるのですが。

さて、本題に戻ります。
イギリス首相が「児童移民」に対して公式に謝罪したのは2010年2月24日です。

イギリス ゴードン・ブラウン首相の謝罪
1960年代の後半まで、イギリス政府は、長期間にわたって児童移民のスキームをサポートし続けていた。すべての元児童移民および彼らの家族の皆さん、我々は真に謝罪する。彼らは苦しんだ。彼らを保護する代わりに、この国が彼らに背信的であったことを謝罪する。彼らの声に耳を傾けなかったこと、助けを求める彼らの叫びに気づかなかったことを謝罪する。そして、正当な完全かつ無条件の謝罪を行うこの重要な日を迎えるまでに、長い時間が費やされたことを我々は謝罪する。

http://d.hatena.ne.jp/scopedog/20130114/1358150083

河野談話村山談話に比べて遥かに明瞭な謝罪です。日本政府の河野談話以降の政権は、基本的に国会で質問されて「踏襲する」と答弁すると答えるだけの対応をとっています。しかし、イギリスが「児童移民」に対してする謝罪は、そのような消極的なものではありません。

2011年2月24日

U.K. Apology to former Child Migrants | 1st Anniversary | 24/02/2011

Date: 24/02/2011
Prime Minister, David Cameron said:
One year on from the British Government’s apology and the tragedy of thousands of lost childhoods is still as sad and shocking as ever. We should remember the hardship and heartache experienced by those children and their families as a result of these misguided child migration schemes. Margaret Humphreys and the Child Migrants Trust worked hard to secure the apology and continue to support those affected today. I'm delighted that the Government-funded £6 million Family Restoration Fund has already reunited so many former child migrants with their relatives.

http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/news/uk-apology-to-former-child-migrants--1st-anniversary--24022011

公式謝罪から1年後、キャメロン首相が「We should remember the hardship and heartache」と改めて謝罪します。

Gordon Brown MP said:
One year ago I was proud to offer an apology for the UK's role in the shameful deportation of thousands of children to former colonies. The deportation of the innocents was cruel, unnecessary and deeply unjust and I am pleased that the Child Migrants Trust continues its excellent work providing support services to those who were so wrongly robbed of their childhood. You have my warm best wishes and my heartfelt thanks.

http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/news/uk-apology-to-former-child-migrants--1st-anniversary--24022011

2010年当時の首相だったブラウン議員も「I was proud to offer an apology」と言及しています。河野談話に対するバッシングを考えると日本では考えられない表現と言えるかもしれません。少なくとも河野洋平氏がこのような表現をすれば、激しい反日呼ばわりのバッシングをされるでしょう。

2012年2月24日

U.K. Apology to Former Child Migrants | 2nd Anniversary | 24/02/2012

Date: 23/02/2012
Prime Minister, David Cameron said:
"We will never forget the tragedy of the thousands of families broken up by the child migration schemes.
As we come to the second anniversary of the British Government's apology, all our thoughts are with those who were affected."

http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/news/uk-apology-to-former-child-migrants--2nd-anniversary--24022012

公式謝罪から2年後、キャメロン首相が「We will never forget」と表現します。「謝罪は済んだ」などとはかけ離れた表現です。

Gordon Brown MP said:
“Two years ago I was proud to offer an apology for the UK's role in the shameful deportation of thousands of children to former colonies. The deportation of the innocents was not only cruel, unnecessary and deeply unjust but demanded the fullest apology to all who suffered and were so wrongly robbed of their childhood. Today the Child Migrants Trust continues its excellent work. Several hundred former child migrants have benefited enormously from the Family Restoration Fund having used this to visit family - often at critical times. It is my hope that the funding for the Trust’s work can continue so that support for the families can be maintained. All our lives we have a continuing duty to those who suffered so much through no fault of their own.”

http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/news/uk-apology-to-former-child-migrants--1st-anniversary--24022011

ブラウン議員も繰り返し「児童移民」の残酷さを強調し、「All our lives we have a continuing duty」と全てのイギリス人の義務であることを強調します。

2013年2月24日

U.K. Apology to Former Child Migrants | 3rd Anniversary | 24/02/2013

Date: 23/02/2013
Prime Minister, David Cameron said:
Three years after the nation apologised to the victims of the child migration schemes it is important that we never forget their suffering. I am pleased that, through the Family Restoration Fund, we have been able to help repair some of the damage that families suffered.

http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/news/uk-apology-to-former-child-migrants--3rd-anniversary--24022013

公式謝罪から3年後も、キャメロン首相が「it is important that we never forget their suffering」と表現します。

Gordon Brown MP said:
The work of the Child Migrants Trust over the last 26 years has been instrumental in helping thousands of innocent children come to terms with their ordeal. They were deported, robbed of their childhoods and deprived of contact with their families. As Prime Minister in 2010 I offered an apology on behalf of the nation for the part the UK played in this shameful practice. Today, it remains as important as ever that we are mindful of the mistakes of the past - and that we continue to do all we can to ensure that former child migrants enjoy the same rights and privileges as we all do. I offer my very best wishes and heartfelt thanks to the Trust which continues to carry out its vital work.

http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/news/uk-apology-to-former-child-migrants--3rd-anniversary--24022013

ブラウン議員も繰り返し「Today, it remains as important as ever that we are mindful of the mistakes of the past」と忘れてはならないことだと強調します。

2014年2月24日

U.K. Apology to Former Child Migrants | 4th Anniversary

Date: 24/02/2014
Prime Minister, David Cameron said:
“The terrible experience of former child migrants will stay with them forever, so it is right that we remember their suffering on the fourth anniversary of the national apology.
Through the Family Restoration Fund, we have been able to help nearly 700 people be reunited with their families and start to heal the wounds created by separation.”

http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/news/uk-apology-to-former-child-migrants--4th-anniversary

公式謝罪から4年後、キャメロン首相が「The terrible experience of former child migrants will stay with them forever, so it is right that we remember their suffering」と児童移民たちの恐ろしい体験は永遠に消えず、イギリス人はこの被害を忘れてはならないと表現します。

Gordon Brown MP said:
“In the four years since I made an apology in Parliament on behalf of the UK for our unacceptable role in the shameful deportation of thousands of children to former colonies, I have received many letters from migrants and the families of migrants. Each one has moved Sarah and myself and is treasured.

A few months ago, I received a visit from one family who came to my Kirkcaldy constituency office to express their thanks for the apology, but also to tell their own story. A story of two young fearful children torn from their homeland, never told what was to happen to them, separated as they arrived in Australia and in one case cruelly treated, beaten and abused. This story brought home to me yet again how deeply unjust the treatment of the child migrants was and how indebted to the Child Migrants Trust we should be for its wonderful, humane work from which hundreds have benefited.

I am pleased to see that many have used the Family Restoration Fund to visit family - often at critical times. I know the funding for the Trust's work needs to and must continue so that support for the families can be maintained. All our lives we have a continuing duty to those who suffered so much through no fault of their own. This is the only way we can honour their lives and build on the apology we have given to all who suffered and were so wrongly robbed of their childhood.”

http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/news/uk-apology-to-former-child-migrants--4th-anniversary

ブラウン議員も繰り返し「This is the only way we can honour their lives and build on the apology we have given to all who suffered and were so wrongly robbed of their childhood.」と被害者の救済の基礎が謝罪であることを強調します。

言葉だけで解決するわけではありませんが

繰り返し謝罪し、謝罪の上に被害者に対する救済と名誉回復の言葉がなされることが、被害者を慰撫することになるのは確かでしょう。

口先だけで謝罪し陰で侮辱する、あるいは誹謗中傷を放置する、あるいは金とともに暴言を浴びせる、そんなことをしても被害者の救済はできません。言われなくとも当たり前のことですが、これがわからない人が多いのですよね。