Japan Press Weekly

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2020 August 5 - 11 [POLITICS]

Shii in Nagasaki expresses his determination to create a gov’t willing to join antinuke UN treaty

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on August 9, the day commemorating the 75th anniversary of the U.S. atomic attack on Nagasaki, at a press conference in the city criticized Prime Minister Abe for ignoring the antinuke UN treaty in his address delivered in the A-bombed cities’ memorial ceremonies, and expressed his determination to establish a government that will join the UN treaty.

Shii also demanded that the Abe government give up on appealing the “black rain” court ruling in an appeals court and instead provide relief to all Hibakusha without delay.

Shii pointed out that how to create a nuclear weapons-free world has become a major focus this year marking the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He said that as of August 9, the number of countries that ratified the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons stood at 43, 7 short of the required 50 for the treaty to enter into force. He stressed that under this situation, the Japanese government’s attitude toward the treaty is called into question.

Shii referred to the fact that PM Abe again used the wording “act as a bridge” in his address at this year’s memorial ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Pointing out that a main point in discussions regarding nuclear weapons in the global political arena is whether to abolish nuclear arms, Shii said that Japan’s stance to act as a bridge between pro- and anti-nuclear weapons forces is unrealistic. He criticized the Abe administration’s position as deceptive.

Shii said that the need now is the unified effort of civil society and governments worldwide to exert pressure on the forces sticking to nuclear weapons and force them to change their views. He stressed that the government of Japan, the only A-bombed nation, should take a lead in efforts to seek a world without nuclear weapons. Pointing out that the Abe government has no intent to do this, he expressed his determination to work hard to replace this government with one that is willing to join the UN treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons through cooperation between opposition parties and concerned citizens.

Earlier on the day, Shii attended the Nagasaki-city hosted Peace Memorial Ceremony along with representatives of political parties and domestic and foreign governments.

In the annual event held at Nagasaki Peace Park, Mayor Taue Tomihisa made the Peace Declaration which urges the Japanese government and Dietmembers to sign and ratify the antinuke UN treaty without delay.

Representing Nagasaki A-bomb survivors, Fukahori Shigemi delivered the “Pledge for Peace”. UN Undersecretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi read out the UN Secretary General’s message in which he wrote he is looking forward to seeing the entry into force of the antinuke treaty.

Meanwhile, PM Abe in his address said nothing about the treaty.

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After the ceremony, PM Abe attended an annual meeting with representatives of five Hibakusha organizations in Nagasaki. In the meeting, however, like the annual meeting held in Hiroshima with Hibakusha representatives on August 6, PM Abe turned his back on Hibakusha’s demand for Japan’s ratification of the UN treaty.

Past related articles:
> 84 radioactive ‘black rain’ victims in court recognized as atomic bomb sufferers [July 30, 2020]
> Abe shuts his ear to Hibakusha’s call for Japan’s ratification of UN N-ban treaty [August 7, 2019]