Gensuikyo carries out actions for abolition of nuclear weapons

   The Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Gensuikyo) on October 17 and 18 carried out actions aiming to abolish nuclear weapons. Gensuikyo representatives made representations to government ministries in pursuit of the swift abolition of nuclear weapons and adoption of the declaration of a nuclear-free Japan.

   Referring to recent United Nations General Assembly First Committee debates, Japan Gensuikyo Secretary General Taka Hiroshi in a rally pointed out that the New Agenda Coalition and the Non-Aligned Movement nations are demanding that nuclear weapons possessing nations comprehensively implement measures aimed at the abolition of nuclear weapons as agreed in the 2000 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

   Taka called on the rally participants to push the Japanese government to take actions appropriate for a government of the atomic-bombed country.

   They submitted to the Diet 445,475 signatures in demand for the swift abolition of nuclear weapons.

   In a meeting with a Foreign Ministry official, they demanded that the Japanese government (i) in the current 62nd U.N. General Assembly urge nuclear weapons possessing nations to carry out the “unequivocal undertaking,” the commitment they made in the 2000 NPT Review Conference, and propose to initiate consultations aimed at concluding a treaty banning nuclear weapons, (ii) in the U.N. General Assembly declare Japan as a nuclear-free nation promoting the elimination of nuclear weapons and abiding by the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and request other countries to respect such a position, and (iii) request the United States to cancel the planned deployment of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Yokosuka.

   The Foreign Ministry official in reply said that the Japanese government submitted a draft resolution on nuclear disarmament to the U.N. General Assembly First Committee and that the Three Non-Nuclear Principles have been observed.

   Criticizing the Japanese government draft resolution as inadequate, the participants demanded that the government call on nuclear weapons possessing nations to fully take measures for the abolition of nuclear weapons. They also demanded the government declare Japan as a nuclear-free nation, pointing out that there should be no problem for the government since it claims that the Three Non-Nuclear Principles are observed.

   To the Health Ministry, they made representations requesting drastic improvement in the administration dealing with Hibakusha (A-bomb survivors), including the system to certify A-bomb related diseases.

   In a meeting with a Defense Ministry official, they demanded that Japan pull out of the U.S. “nuclear umbrella” policy and formulate security policies based on the Constitution and the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

   In Tokyo, Gensuikyo representatives also visited the embassies of Brazil, Ecuador, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden, Venezuela, Britain, the United States, and Russia.

   Embassies of the New Agenda Coalition member countries and NAM counties welcomed the Japan Gensuikyo proposals and agreed to cooperate.

- Akahata, October 18 & 19, 2007