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

Association for a Non-Nuclear Government calls for more efforts for nuclear weapons ban

The Association for a Non-Nuclear Government on June 24 held its annual general meeting in Tokyo, marking its 20th anniversary.

Since its founding, the association has been calling for the prevention of nuclear wars, elimination of nuclear weapons, the strict observance of Japan's Three Non-nuclear Principles to not produce, possess, or allow nuclear weapons to be brought into Japan, and the enactment of a law for supporting atomic bomb survivors.

Masuda Reiko, a journalist and the association's board member, gave the opening speech. Nakajima Tokunosuke, former professor at Chuo University, Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives lawmaker Kasai Akira, and others made reports on different subjects, including the world situation with regard to the nuclear weapons issue, and an action program for next year.

When the association was founded in 1986, the U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms race was at its peak and there were about 70,000 nuclear weapons stockpiled in the world. Today, the world still has 27,000 nuclear warheads, and the U.S. adheres to a policy of preemptive nuclear attack, with Japan, the only atomic-bombed country, giving full approval.

Participants in the general assembly confirmed the association's goal to achieve a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons, increase international solidarity, establish more non-nuclear municipalities, increase solidarity with hibakusha, and improve the administrative setup for the relief of Hibakusha.

The general meeting received messages from the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as from many other municipalities, organizations, and individuals.
- Akahata, June 25, 2006