Association for Non-Nuclear Government calls for more say on peace

The Association for Non-Nuclear Government on May 31 held an annual general assembly and decided to make further efforts to make suggestions that might help increase the peace movement.

Concerning U.S. nuclear policy and the Japanese government's policy in subservience to this, the general assembly agreed to strengthen research and analysis of the issue of nuclear weapons, and to make more aggressive proposals to help advance the non-nuclear and peace movements.

It also adopted an appeal calling on the Japanese people to take more active part in this movement.

Nakajima Tokunosuke, former professor at Chuo University, denounced the U.S. preemptive attack on Iraq as a violation of international law, and as tantamount to a new colonialism.

He stressed that the international community must not support such lawless action but must act centering on the U.N. under the United Nations Charter.

Fujita Toshihiko, former professor at Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science, criticized the U.S. Bush Administration for its dangerous preemptive attack policy and for developing small nuclear arsenals for use at any time.

Kasai Akira, Japanese Communist Party International Department vice director, emphasized the need for the association to act for an international peace order. Warning about the dangerous nature of the contingency bills, he called for efforts to foil the war bills.

Hyogo Prefecture's representative referred to actions in Kobe City which maintains a Non-nuclear Kobe Port formula, and to a campaign to ask all local governments in the prefecture about their peace policies.

The general assembly exchanged opinions on local grassroots peace actions. (end)