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World's Hibakusha makes joint action against nuclear weapons

Hibakusha of the world, including survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and victims of nuclear weapons tests worldwide, have issued a joint statement in opposition to a possible U.S. war on Iraq and the use of nuclear weapons.

The appeal released on January 31 by the Japan Confederation of A and H Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Japan Hidankyo) was entitled "A joint statement from all the Victims of Nuclear Weapons Worldwide." It was signed by the representatives of Hibakusha organizations in six countries.

The Hibakusha stated, "As the world's first victims of nuclear war and the victims of nuclear weapons throughout the world, we jointly request that all the countries with nuclear weapons, and other world leaders eager to maintain world peace do the following: Do not use nuclear weapons anywhere in the world! Create no more Hibakusha! Abolish nuclear weapons!"

The statement has been proposed by Hidankyo's representatives, Tsuboi Sunao, Yamaguchi Senji, and Tohei Nori, and supported by 8 people so far. They are Tomozawa Mitsuo (director, Committee of Atomic Bomb Survivors in USA), Lee Kwong Sun (director, Atomic Bomb Casualty Association in Korea), Morita Takashi (director, Atomic Bomb Survivors Association in Brazil), Natalia Mironova (president, Movement for Nuclear Safety, Russia), Milia Kabironva (president, charity foundation for support nuclear victims "Aygul," Russia), Andrey Taleven (vice-president, lawyers organization "Pravosoznanie," Russia), Gosman Kabirov (environmental organization "Techa," Russia), and Dennis Nelson (director, Support and Education for Radiation Victims, USA).

Hidankyo will send this statement to the leaders of major countries, including nuclear states, and the United Nations. (end)