Hibakusha feel proud of playing key role at NPT conference

Japan Press Weekly

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

Hibakusha feel proud of playing key role at NPT conference

The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) on June 15-16 held its 55th general meeting in Tokyo and confirmed that they had played a leading role in helping produce a positive outcome in the NPT Review Conference.

Fifty-two members of the Nihon Hidankyo, mostly Hibakusha, took part in various events associated with the NPT Review Conference held in NYC in May. They related their tragic stories to children at local schools and facilities as well as to government representatives at the U.N. Assembly Hall, held the A-bomb exhibition in the lobby of the U.N. headquarters, and made representations to the world's government permanent missions to the United Nations.

Nihon Hidankyo Secretary General Tanaka Terumi said, "Our activities in NYC contributed to bringing about favorable results in the Final Document of the conference. Our mission is to help change the attitude of nuclear-weapons states and the Japanese government from believing in the power of a nuclear umbrella and nuclear deterrence. We must continue to graphically convey the extent of the cruelty of nuclear weapons to the people of Japan and the rest of the world by giving testimony about our experiences."

Nihon Hidankyo members, in cooperation with Hibakusha, resolved to continue increasing international awareness of the horrors associated with the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo sent a message of solidarity to the Nihon Hidankyo in which he said that he admires the active role of Hibakusha in the NPT Review Conference and added that their activities were very encouraging to all the people striving to create a world free from nuclear weapons.

Shii in his message pointed out that Japan clings to the nuclear deterrence under the U.S. nuclear umbrella although it is the only A-bombed nation in the world and criticized the government for turning its back on Hibakusha's aspiration for peace.

He also expressed his determination to demand that the new government under Kan abandon the idea of nuclear deterrence, start to work to eliminate nuclear weapons, drastically improve the system of Hibakusha aid measures, and provide state compensation to Hibakusha.

- Akahata, June 17, 2010