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2007 July 11 - 17 TOP3 [ANTI-N-ARMS]

2007 World Conference against A & H Bombs: Let us create new wave for nuclear weapons abolition

Akahata editorial

The 2007 World Conference against A & H Bombs is coming up. Representatives of governments taking part in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) or the New Agenda Coalition (NAC) that are working for the elimination of nuclear weapons as well as anti-nuclear grassroots movements from throughout the world are expected to attend the World Conference to be held under the theme “A Nuclear Weapon-Free, Peaceful and Just World.”

U.S. administration deepening its isolation

Faced with strong criticism over the continuation of the Iraq war, the Bush administration is further deepening its isolation in and out of the U.S. As the danger and deception of the U.S. nuclear strategy come to light, the international community is strengthening its determination to pave the way for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

In the 2005 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, the implementation of the “unequivocal undertaking” to eliminate nuclear weapons as agreed upon in the 2000 NPT Review Conference by member states, including nuclear weapon states, was demanded. The conference, however, failed to reach any agreement due to U.S. obstruction.

In the first session of the preparatory committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference held from late April to early May, NAM and NAC governments again strongly urged nuclear weapon states to make a decision to abolish nuclear weapons and start negotiations to achieve this end. Being concerned over the proliferation of nuclear weapons, they made the assertion that the behavior of nuclear weapon states is increasing the danger and that the abolition of nuclear weapons is the only sure way to prevent such weapons from proliferating.

While pushing preemptive attack strategy and the policy of using nuclear weapons under the pretext of danger from terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. made efforts to concentrate the discussion on the proliferation issue.

Even talking as if the dangerous U.S. nuclear policies such as blurring boundaries between conventional and nuclear weapons and modernizing nuclear warheads are measures for nuclear disarmament, the U.S. adopted an attitude of denying the “unequivocal undertaking” and other international agreements for nuclear disarmament.

At the same time, a change in its arrogant attitude drew attention. The U.S. insisted until recently that there is no task to be discussed regarding nuclear disarmament. In the conference, however, the U.S. spoke as if it wished for the elimination of nuclear weapons and even enumerated tasks necessary to this end. Although the U.S. argument was one of evading its own responsibility and blaming non-nuclear weapon states for being reluctant to make non-proliferation efforts, this change in its attitude shows that the U.S. can no longer ignore the criticism against it.

Peoples’ struggles in this field are also developing as seen in the movement against the Iraq war in the U.S., the British struggle against the renewal of nuclear weapons, the movement in Europe in opposition to the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system to East Europe, and the South Korean peace movement that held an anti-nuclear international conference for the first time in response to North Korea’s nuclear test.

The days are gone when military power dictated the world. In this year’s World Conference against A & H Bombs, participants are called on to hold in-depth discussions overcoming the differences between government representatives and NGOs in order to help lead those efforts to the creation of a nuclear-free world.

Role of Japan’s movement

In Japan, strong criticism by Hibakusha and the public recently forced Kyuma Fumio to resign as the defense minister over his remark that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki “couldn’t be helped.”

However, the Abe Cabinet is maintaining its position in support of U.S. policies of nuclear deterrence and using nuclear weapons. In the U.N., it has shelved the task to abolish nuclear weapons and continues to abstain from voting on a resolution banning the use of nuclear weapons. Moves towards the revision of Article 9 and the realignment and strengthening functions of U.S. bases in Japan are increasing the danger of Japan being fully integrated into the U.S. strategies of preemptive attack and the use of nuclear weapons.

It is in this situation that support is rising for the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo)-led movement for the “Declaration of a Nuclear Weapons-Free Japan” as well as movements for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the defense of Article 9.

Let us support those movements and achieve great success in the World Conference in order to contribute to peace in Japan and in the world.
- Akahata, July 9, 2007