Foreign ministry accepts anti-Yasukuni coalition

SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- A group of local activists campaigning against a
controversial Japanese shrine had their request for registration as a civic group
accepted Thursday by the foreign ministry, officials said.
The coalition of civic groups against the Yasukuni Shrine had their previous
application to the ministry rejected in March last year on the grounds that their
activity could damage diplomatic ties. Registration entitles the group to
financial support from the government.
The shrine in central Tokyo is dedicated to some 2.5 million war dead, mainly
those who perished during World War II including more than a dozen Class A war
criminals. It has served as a symbol of Japan's right-wing.
"We accepted the application late last month, however," a ministry official said,
adding the group promised to avoid any campaign that could cause a diplomatic
row.
The coalition said it would confine its campaign to opposing the collective
enshrinement of Koreans without their relatives' consent, he added. About 20,000
Koreans are estimated to have been enshrined there.
The group is also leading damage suits against the Japanese government and the
shrine authorities.
The coalition earlier filed a petition with the Seoul Administrative Court after
the foreign ministry rejected its registration. The court ruled in favor of the
organization in January, saying its activity is closely related with the
ministry's works.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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