June 7, 2008
The organization of atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Hibakusha), the plaintiffs’ group in the Hibakusha lawsuits, and the lawyers’ group for the Hibakusha on June 6 urged the prime minister to make a political decision to recognize all 305 plaintiffs in the lawsuits as Hibakusha suffering from illnesses caused by atomic bomb radiation exposure and to further revise the recognition criteria.
The Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) together with the plaintiffs and the lawyers issued the statement at a news conference on June 6.
They said they welcome the government decision to accept the Sendai and Osaka high court rulings acknowledging all the plaintiffs as Hibakusha suffering from A-bomb diseases.
Nihon Hidankyo Secretary General Tanaka Terumi said, “Our immediate and main goal is to get the government to certify all 305 plaintiffs. I need to know how the government has decided to forgo an appeal, otherwise I cannot rejoice in the decision.”
Plaintiffs’ group leader Yamamoto Hidenori said, “Based on the Osaka High Court decision and by examining the reality of Hibakusha, the government should make a better recognition system. The government must also make efforts to quickly settle all the other cases that are pending.
Miyahara Tetsuro, secretary general of the lawyers’ group, said, “I hope for a total settlement by recognizing all plaintiffs as Hibakusha with illnesses caused by exposure to atomic bomb radiation. It’s essential to further revise the government’s recognition criteria as the courts clearly pointed out their insufficiency.”
About the government’s equivocal attitude towards other lawsuits pending in other courts, Miyahara said, “If the government talks about the need to relieve aging Hibakusha without delay, it should agree to settle all the Hibakusha lawsuits.” - Akahata, June 7, 2008
The Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) together with the plaintiffs and the lawyers issued the statement at a news conference on June 6.
They said they welcome the government decision to accept the Sendai and Osaka high court rulings acknowledging all the plaintiffs as Hibakusha suffering from A-bomb diseases.
Nihon Hidankyo Secretary General Tanaka Terumi said, “Our immediate and main goal is to get the government to certify all 305 plaintiffs. I need to know how the government has decided to forgo an appeal, otherwise I cannot rejoice in the decision.”
Plaintiffs’ group leader Yamamoto Hidenori said, “Based on the Osaka High Court decision and by examining the reality of Hibakusha, the government should make a better recognition system. The government must also make efforts to quickly settle all the other cases that are pending.
Miyahara Tetsuro, secretary general of the lawyers’ group, said, “I hope for a total settlement by recognizing all plaintiffs as Hibakusha with illnesses caused by exposure to atomic bomb radiation. It’s essential to further revise the government’s recognition criteria as the courts clearly pointed out their insufficiency.”
About the government’s equivocal attitude towards other lawsuits pending in other courts, Miyahara said, “If the government talks about the need to relieve aging Hibakusha without delay, it should agree to settle all the Hibakusha lawsuits.” - Akahata, June 7, 2008
