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BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 80 years after the Nanjing (Nanking) Massacre, one of the darkest moments in human history, records of the atrocities have been added on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register on Friday.
This is an important move of the UN scientific and cultural body as it helps to preserve a crucial episode of human memory and refute the lies of Japanese far-rightists.
Noting that the decision represents global recognition of the carnage, Zhu Chengshan, curator of the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, said "from now on, any act in denial (of the massacre) will be futile."
For many years, some Japanese conservatives and nationalists have been denying the atrocities and fabricating ludicrous narratives on the massacre. Even now, the Japanese government still prefers the term "incident" to massacre in reference to the untold crimes of the Japanese army in Nanking, China's capital city at the time.
On Saturday, after the inscription was announced, the Japanese Foreign Ministry accused UNESCO of being unfair and politicized on the matter.
Such accusation is obviously a desperate Hail Mary for the nationalist government of Japan to save face, avoid embarrassment, and is contradictory to all the compelling facts.
UNESCO's decision came after a two-year process where experts rigorously studied the nominations with an unbiased attitude.
Also, the documents filed by China are more than convincing, with detailed interviews with several victims, a film footage from John Magee -- an American priest, and photos taken by the Japanese soldiers depicting their heinous crimes of killing civilians and raping women.
Supporting and confirming each other, the documents presented by China can also be proved by numerous previous evidence and recordings, such as John Rabe's diaries.
The Japanese far-rightists can deny the facts as they want, but now the rest of the world is having a clearer picture on what really happened in Nanking in December 1937.
Moreover, the inscription of the Nanjing Massacre is more than refutation of the absurd allegations of some Japanese nationalists. It also is about preserving a crucial piece of collective memory of mankind.
History consists of memories and important memories have shaping power. The memory of the Nanjing Massacre does not mean that the Chinese people will seek revenge. It is simply because the memory is too important to be lost.
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China welcomes UNESCO listing of Nanjing massacre files
BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday welcomed UNESCO's inscription of documents related to the Nanjing Massacre on its Memory of the World Register.
"China will ensure these valuable documents are protected and circulated, and make them play a positive role in remembering history, cherishing peace, looking into the future and safeguarding human dignity," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said. Full story
China Voice: Why should the world remember Nanjing Massacre forever
BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Friday is an important day for the Chinese, and, to some extent, all honest and peace-loving people across the world.
On Friday local time, UNESCO added the Nanjing Massacre onto its Memory of the World Register despite obstruction from the Japanese right wing, belatedly giving global recognition to the carnage. Full story
Documents of Nanjing Massacre inscribed on Memory of World Register
PARIS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A total of 47 new nominations, including Documents of the Nanjing Massacre from China, are inscribed on the Memory of the World Register by the International Advisory Committee of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme, announced Friday UNESCO in a press release.
The decision was made during a three day meeting of UNESCO from Oct. 4 to 6 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, following a two-year process as part of the 2014-2015 nomination cycle during which 88 submissions from 61 countries were examined. Full story
