Japan Press Weekly

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2007 February 21 - 27 [PEACE]

Hidankyo discusses with JCP ways to improve government policy of A-bomb related illness recognition

The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) on February 20 had a meeting with the Japanese Communist Party to discuss the effort to find ways to drastically improve the government criteria for recognition of Hibakusha’s diseases as caused by the atomic bombings.

Fifteen Hibakusha and supporters from Tokyo and Chiba prefectures met in the Diet with six JCP Dietmembers, including JCP Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira.

Nihon Hidankyo Assistant General Secretary Yamamoto Hidenori stressed that the Hibakusha’s struggles in their lawsuits, concertedly filed around the country, seeking official recognition as having A-bomb related illnesses will reach a turning point on March 22 when the Tokyo District Court hands down its ruling.

Yamamoto spoke about a Hidankyo campaign to request local assemblies across the country to adopt, before the court ruling, statements calling for drastic improvement in the system of certifying Hibakusha as suffering from A-bomb related diseases. He also said that more than 160 Dietmembers have expressed their support to the demands of Hibakusha.

Koike promised that the JCP will make all-out efforts in the Diet and in local assemblies to further raise public awareness of this issue.