 JCP representative calls for anti-nuclear action in Asia Pacific Roundtable On June 3, Japanese Communist Party International Bureau Vice-Director Kasai Akira called for the movement for the abolition of nuclear weapons to be strengthened, speaking at the Asia Pacific Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kasai, who is a second-generation Hibakusha (A-bombed survivor), spoke at a workshop on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, referring his visit to the U.N. with about 800 delegates of the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Gensuikyo) on the occasion of the NPT Review Conference and their participation in the "Abolition Now" action in New York. The JCP representative said, "Regardless of the result of the NPT Review Conference, the world calls for the abolition of nuclear weapons." He stressed that the government of Japan, the only A-bombed country, has an important role to play in creating a nuclear-free world because of its being the only A-bombed country and because of its peace Constitution. Kasai stressed that nuclear weapons states must fulfill their promise to eliminate their nuclear weapons and called on all governments to begin to work for an international treaty totally banning and eliminating such weapons. Desra Percaya, minister counselors of the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the U.N. and a panelist of the workshop, agreed with Kasai and said that it is important to recognize all agreements reached in past NPT review conferences as binding, including the one in 2000, and to urge member states to comply with them. - Akahata, June 4, 2005 |