February 25, 2022

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Russian government on February 24 began a military operation in Ukraine. While a growing number of the world's governments have joined the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons which came into effect last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin boasts that Russia is a nuclear superpower.

In fact, Russia on February 19 carried out a military exercise using nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles. The use of nuclear weapons will bring about inhumane and catastrophic consequences. Not only the use of nuclear weapons but also the threat to use such weapons are totally unacceptable.

The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in its preamble pays attention to the unacceptable degree of hardships and damage that Hibakusha and victims of nuclear tests have suffered. Nuclear-weapons states should take seriously the threat of nuclear weapons and stop maintaining their nuclear deterrence policy. Every country should diplomatically search for ways to settle disputes based on the UN Charter and international law.

Although Japan is the only atomic-bombed nation in the world, its government led by Prime Minster Kishida Fumio continues its reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella by using the perceived Chinese and North Korean threat as a pretext.

Sixty-eight years ago, the U.S. administration repeatedly conducted nuclear tests around the Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. To remember this tragedy, the annual Bikini Day events will take place online on February 28 and March 1 in Japan.

The Bikini tragedy, along with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima/Nagasaki, revealed to the world the horror of nuclear weapons. Due to the radioactive fallout from the test explosions, many local islanders still cannot go back to their hometowns. They have been going through many hardships, including the frequent occurrence of cancers. It is necessary to make this year's Bikini Day events an occasion to raise our voices against Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the same time to raise our voices for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Past related articles:
> Shii issues statement on the Ukrainian problem [February 13, 2022]
> Diplomatic resolution, not military response, is needed to settle situation in Ukraine [January 28, 2022]
> Russia’s incorporation of Crimea threatens world peace [March 19, 2014]
> Japanese CP sees Crimean referendum as invalid [March 17, 2014]
> Annul Russia’s Annexation of Crimea - Hegemonic overturning of world peace order impermissible: Shii [March 19, 2014]
> Russia should refrain from military intervention in Ukraine: Shii [March 4, 2014]