August 12, 2020

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on August 11 at a press conference in the Diet building urged the Abe government to give up on appealing against the latest court ruling in favor of atomic bomb “black rain” victims.

The Hiroshima District Court on July 29 issued the ruling ordering that all 84 plaintiffs be certified as atomic-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) in support of their claim that although they were exposed to radioactive “black rain” that fell soon after the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, their applications for the state Hibakusha certificate were unfairly rejected and consequently they were excluded from the state support program.

Koike said that as five years have passed since the black rain victims started their court battle, 16 of the aging plaintiffs died before hearing the ruling. He stressed that the government should accept the court decision and provide relief to the plaintiffs.

Koike said, “The ruling is in line with the spirit of the A-bomb Victims Relief Law which is meant to implement measures widely for the benefit of Hibakusha. The government should not challenge the district court decision and instead should immediately provide all the plaintiffs with the Hibakusha certificate as well as review the current standards for certification and offer relief measures to all black rain victims.”

On the same day in Hiroshima City, Hibakusha and antinuke activists took to the streets to urge the Abe government not to lodge an appeal. Makino Kazumi, who co-heads a civil group supporting the black rain lawsuit plaintiffs, said that given that black rain victims are 75 years and older, it is morally unacceptable for the government to prolong the court battle. Hiroshima Association of A-bomb Sufferers head Sakuma Kunihiko stressed, “It is a significant ruling. I want the government to not file an appeal.” Representing the Hiroshima Prefectural Council against A & H Bombs, Kanbe Yasushi said, “Let us work together to increase public pressure to push the government to accept the ruling.”

On August 11, the Abe government announced its decision to bring the case to the Hiroshima High Court.

Past related articles:
> 84 radioactive ‘black rain’ victims in court recognized as atomic bomb sufferers [July 30, 2020]
> Hibakusha exposed to ‘black rain’ file lawsuit seeking official certificate [November 5, 2015]