Hibakusha stage sit-in in Hiroshima, protesting against terrorism and
calling for justice

About 130 atomic-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) on September 25 gathered in
Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park to stage a sit-in to condemn the Sep. 11
terrorist attacks upon the United States, calling for justice to be carried
out against the perpetrators.

The sit-in at the cenotaph, where the names of all A-bomb victims are
stored, was organized by six organizations, including the Hiroshima
Prefectural Council against A and H Bombs (Hiroshima Gensuikyo) and the
Hiroshima Federation of A-Bomb Victims Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo).

Hiroshima Hidankyo Director Kaneko Kazushi in his speech said that
terrorism must not be tolerated, and that the settlement of this incident
must be based on reason and the rule of law.

The Hiroshima Federation of Trade Unions Secretary Imatani Kenji called
on the public to raise their voices in opposition to a war of vengeance and
urge the Japanese government to hold fast to the Constitution's Article 9
which prohibits the use or threat to use force as means of settling
international disputes.

Participants adopted a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush and
Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro, stating that citizens of A-bombed
Hiroshima definitely oppose the use of nuclear weapons in retaliation for
terrorist attacks. (end)