Japanese lawmaker criticizes WWII war crimes tribunal News
Japanese lawmaker criticizes WWII war crimes tribunal

[JURIST] A member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party [party website] said in a speech Wednesday that the International Military Tribunal for the Far East [Wikipedia profile] established after World War II may have unjustly tried and convicted Japanese war criminals. Lawmaker Masahiro Morioka [official website, in Japanese] previously enraged Japan's neighbours which suffered destruction and Japanese occupation in the conflict when he made a similar statement [Japan Today report] earlier this month, claiming that the Class-A war criminals [China Daily list] tried by the tribunal were not considered criminals in Japan, effectively enraging Japan's neighbors. Morioka's remarks were made at a conference honoring Japan's history and the passage of the country's traditions from one generation to the next. Reuters has more. The Asahi Shimbun has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.