Port calls by nuclear-capable U.S. warship at A-bombed Nagasaki cannot be permitted

Japan Press Weekly

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

Port calls by nuclear-capable U.S. warship at A-bombed Nagasaki cannot be permitted

On the early morning of February 5, the U.S. Blue Ridge, the nuclear-capable flagship for the Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, entered Nagasaki Port, which was atomic bombed in the Pacific War, and about 140 people joined in protests.

The Blue Ridge has its homeport at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Protesters shouted, "Go home Blue Ridge! Irrespective of how often the U.S. military makes such visits, we will never accept the use of Nagasaki Port as a homeport for any U.S. warships."

The Nagasaki Peace Committee and the Nagasaki Liaison Council against adverse revision of the Constitution were among the rally's co-organizers.

A peace activist stated, "Citizens of Nagasaki, witnesses of the U.S. atomic bombing, reject the port call of the nuclear-capable warship that will use the port as a sortie base for war."

Another stressed, "Nagasaki must enact a municipal code like the Kobe formula, which requires the U.S. to issue a 'non-nuclear' certificate before attempting to make a port call. Let's say 'No' to the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan."

Tanaka Shigemitsu, a 68-year-old atomic bomb victim, stressed, "If the mayor as the manager of the port rejects the port call, the vessel cannot anchor here. I want to stop their port calls by establishing the Kobe formula in this city."

On February 3, the Japanese Communist Party's district committee and JCP members of the Nagasaki City Assembly jointly requested the mayor to refuse to accept any application for entry.

Also, the authorities of Nagasaki City and Nagasaki Prefecture on behalf of Hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, have called on the U.S. consulate and Japan's Foreign Ministry to cancel the port call.

The Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly in September 2008 adopted a unanimous resolution opposing entry of U.S. nuclear-capable vessels to Nagasaki's ports. Nagasaki Prefecture hosts the U.S. Sasebo Naval Base, a homeport for the U.S. 7th Fleet's expeditionary strike group, including assault landing ships.

The Blue Ridge will leave the port on February 9.

- Akahata, February 6, 2009