Nihon Hidankyo holds general meeting

   The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) on June 5-6 held its 52nd general meeting in Tokyo.

   Drawing attention to the current Japanese situation in which a move to revise the war-renouncing Article 9 is increasing and even high-ranking officials of the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have openly come to speak of a nuclear-armed Japan, Nihon Hidankyo Chairperson Tsuboi Sunao called for renewed efforts for the abolition of nuclear weapons based on Hidankyo’s original goal of “No More Hibakusha (sufferers).”

   Citing a statement calling for nuclear weapons abolition issued by four former U.S. government officials, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Hidankyo Secretary General Tanaka Terumi in his proposal for an action program stressed that a good prospect for their movement is emerging and called for further efforts to strengthen the nuclear abolition movements in and out of Japan.

   Tanaka also proposed that Nihon Hidankyo make representations to Dietmembers and political parties as well as local governments, calling for a drastic improvement in the government system to recognize Hibakusha’s diseases as caused by the atomic bombings.

   Miyahara Tetsuro, secretary general of the national liaison council of lawyers of Hibakusha’s concerted lawsuits, emphasized that the government must establish a new set of criteria to recognize the disease in compliance with court rulings on the issue.

   Hidankyo Assistant General Secretary Konishi Satoru proposed a plan that Hibakusha visit about 180 foreign embassies in Tokyo and talk to ambassadors about their experiences as atomic bomb survivors. Konishi called on Hibakusha to let the world know about the realities of the atomic bombings by talking to ambassadors about their experiences.

   Yamamoto Hidenori, a Hidankyo assistant general secretary, reported on activities to increase worldwide public awareness last year, including participation in the World Peace Forum held in Canada and a speaking tour to the United States.

   Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo sent a message expressing his determination to work together with Nihon Hidankyo for a nuclear-free world.

- Akahata, June 6 & 7, 2007