US subcritical nuclear test protested

Japan Press Weekly

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US subcritical nuclear test protested

A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) and mayors of the A-bombed cities on October 13 expressed their protest against the latest U.S. subcritical nuclear test.

The Hiroshima Prefectural Council against A and H Bombs (Hiroshima Gensuikyo) and the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H- Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo) held a sit-in at the Peace Park in Hiroshima City, with about 50 participants. Their message of protest to U.S. President Obama reads, “The most recent nuclear test has been a great disappointment to peoples throughout the world and a deviation from the spirit of the NPT Review Conference.” It urges the U.S. president to prohibit subcritical nuclear tests and take the initiative toward eliminating nuclear weapons.

Hiroshima Mayor Akiba Tadatoshi sent written protests to the U.S. president and the U.S. ambassador to Japan, saying “With indignation, I severely protest on behalf of the A-bombed City of Hiroshima.” The letter states that the test has diminished the world people’s hopes centered on the U.S. president’s repeated calls for a world without nuclear weapons. The Hiroshima governor also protested to the U.S. president.

Nagasaki Mayor Taue Tomihisa criticized the nuclear test as proof of backpedalling on the international momentum working toward a world without nuclear weapons. Nagasaki Governor Nakamura Hodo said, “We expected leadership from President Obama in abolishing nuclear weapons from the world. The news of the test is a major setback.”

The Association for a Non-Nuclear Government on the same day also sent a written protest, indicating disappointment and indignation, to the U.S. president against his first subcritical nuclear test. It said that the nuclear test is an inducement to other countries to develop nuclear weapons, and that such weapons should be immediately dismantled and abolished for their lack of reliability and stability as weapons.

-Akahata, October 14, 2010