ntest

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Japanese Hibakusha angry at U.S.-British nuclear test

The subcritical nuclear test conducted by U.S. and British governments before dawn of February 23 local time has aroused anger among Japanese A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha).

Soon after the news made headlines in Japan, 24 Hibakusha from Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa converged on the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Hibakusha representatives, under the watch of heavy security surrounding the embassy, submitted a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush, calling on the U.S. government to forever abandon subcritical nuclear tests.

In Hiroshima, about 70 Hibakusha carried out a sit-in protest at Hiroshima Peace Park. They demanded that nuclear weapons-possessing countries stop conducting nuclear tests and move forward to remove all nuclear weapons from the world.

The U.S. Department of Energy on February 23 announced that it conducted the 22nd subcritical nuclear test called "Krakatau" in cooperation with Britain at a nuclear test site in western Nevada for the first time in 21 months since 1997. The joint experiment was the second since 2002.

Experts pointed out that data from this test could be used to design new types of nuclear warheads.

With underground nuclear tests suspended since 1992, subcritical nuclear tests are said to maintain the reliability of existing nuclear weapons. Tests are conducted about 300 meters below ground for the purpose of examining the reactions of plutonium in shock waves from a high-powered explosive detonator.
- Akahata, February 25, 2006

* * *

The Japan Council against A and H Bombs on February 23 visited the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to demand that the subcritical nuclear test scheduled for February 24 local time at the U.S. Nevada Nuclear Test Site by the United States and Britain be canceled.

Protesters pointed out that the experiment is aimed at developing a new generation of nuclear weapons and that the U.S. government is seeking to produce nuclear weapons that are as usable as conventional weapons.

Protesters also demanded that the U.S. government take concrete actions to eliminate its nuclear arsenal.
- Akahata, February 24, 2006