Japan Press Weekly

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2022 February 23 - March 1 [WORLD]

Antinuke, peace, legal organizations, and unions protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Many antinuke, peace, legal organizations, and labor unions in Japan issued statements in protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, demanding an immediate halt to military operations in Ukraine. They also demand that Russian troops be withdrawn from Ukraine without delay.

The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) criticized President Putin for reminding Ukraine that Russia is a nuclear superpower which not only tramples on A-bomb survivors' appeal for a nuclear-free world but also endangers human existence. Nihon Hidankyo called for an immediate halt to Russia's offensive in Ukraine.

The Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) firmly protested against the veiled nuclear threats by Russian President Putin against Ukraine and stated that this is a serious challenge against human beings throughout the world. Japan Gensuikyo demanded that Russia totally eliminate its nuclear weapons.

Noting that Putin is using nuclear threats, the New Japan Women's Association (Shinfujin) stressed the need to urgently ban and abolish nuclear weapons in order to establish true peace in the world.

The Democratic Youth League of Japan (DYLJ or Minsei) denounced Russian forces for depriving Ukrainian young people of their lives and for destroying their livelihoods, saying that levels of anger and anxiety are increasing among young people in Japan and the rest of the world.

The Japan Lawyers Association for Freedom (JLAF) criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stating, "It is destroying the framework for peace which the international community has maintained and expanded since WWII."

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) on February 25 held a rally near Ochanomizu Station in Tokyo, protesting against the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Zenroren President Obata Masako pointed out that the Russian act "goes against the UN Charter as well as the Minsk Agreement upon which Russia itself signed. Stating that Russia is making a show of its nuclear weapons and threatening countries critical of nuclear weapons, she stated, "We as a trade union of the only A-bombed nation in the world cannot accept the issuance of nuclear threats."

Seven organizations of A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima on February 25 issued a joint statement in protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The statement reads, "No military intervention and no excuse to launch such intervention is forgivable." The statement criticizes President Putin for mentioning the use of strategic nuclear weapons using intercontinental ballistic missiles and for virtually threatening Ukraine by hinting at the use of nuclear weapons. It states that this is considered as "threat to use nuclear weapons" which the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons prohibits and is a clear violation of international law. The statement concludes, "A-bomb survivors with anger strongly protest Russia's acts."