Peace organizations protest against subcritical nuclear test

Japanese peace organizations, including atomic bomb victims' organizations rose in protest against the subcritical nuclear test conducted jointly by the United States and Britain at the Nevada test site on February 14 (local time).

On February 14, at the news that the two countries planned to together hold a subcritical test, members of the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo) visited the U.S. and British embassies in Tokyo to demand that the test be canceled.

At the U.S. Embassy, Takakusagi Hiroshi, Gensuikyo secretary general, said, "Nuclear testing, whether it involves explosion or is a so-called 'sub-critical' test, is an outright threat to the world's peace-loving people."

The Japan Peace Committee also made a similar request to both embassies.

After the test, the Japan Confederation of A and H Bombs Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) sent letters to the U.S. and British leaders. Hidankyo visited the U.S. and British embassies on February 15 to register their indignation.

Hiroshima

On February 15 in front of the Atomic Bomb Monument in Hiroshima's Peace Park, about 80 citizens from Hiroshima Gensuikyo, Hidankyo, and six other organizations staged a sit-in to protest against the nuclear test.

Omori Masanobu, Hiroshima Gensuikyo representative, stated that the subcritical nuclear test was a grave challenge to citizens of the first atom-bombed city, Hiroshima to take action.

Nagasaki

In Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Gensuikyo workers met in front of the Peace Monument to collect signatures to protest against the two countries for conducting the test and to urge the Japanese government to publish a comment denouncing the test.

In a published comment on February 15, Nagasaki Mayor Ito Iccho said that the British participation in the test may induce France and China to do the same, adding that the test will undermine the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and accelerate another nuclear arms race. The U.S. and Britain again undermined the desire of Nagasaki citizens for 'No More Hibakushas,' he said.

Japanese government shows understanding

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro on February 14 told the press that he has no comment to make regarding the nuclear test.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda Yasuo also stated that neither commending nor completely condemning such a test is Japan's position, stressing the 'effectiveness' of nuclear weapons in acting as a deterrence in the event of large scale wars. (end)