Japan Press Weekly

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2022 May 25 - 31 TOP3 [PEACE]

Nagasaki A-bomb survivors form group to work to increase number of TPNW signatories

Atomic-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) in Nagasaki Prefecture on May 28 established a group to work to increase the number of signatories, including Japan, to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

The newly-formed TPNW council in its inauguration meeting adopted an appeal calling for action to encourage the world’s governments to sign and ratify the treaty. The council said that it will translate the appeal into English and Russian and send the translated versions of the appeal to the Japanese government and embassies of nuclear-weapons states in Tokyo.

Co-leaders of the council are one each from four Nagasaki Hibakusha organizations and a second-generation Hibakusha, totaling five.

Tanaka Shigemitsu, representative of the Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors’ Council said, “Many Hibakusha are now concerned about the possible use of nuclear weapons. We’d like to increase public opinion calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the protection of the Japanese Constitution in cooperation with peace activists and concerned citizens.”

Tomonaga Masao who heads a Hibakusha group criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for violating international humanitarian law and the UN Charter.

Yoshida Fumihiko, director of Nagasaki University’s Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, said, “Germany and Norway, both NATO members, will participate as observers in the Conference of State Parties to the TPNW this coming June. Japan should also attend this meeting at least as an observer.”