Former Japanese prime ministers and others release statement on world without nuclear weapons prior to OB Summit
Apr. 19, 2010
by Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writer
In the run-up to the 28th Annual Plenary Meeting of the InterAction Council ("OB Summit") to open April 18 in Hiroshima, former Japanese prime ministers Tomiichi Murayama and Yasuo Fukuda, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, and other political figures released a statement on April 17 calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The statement, while welcoming the signing of the new nuclear disarmament treaty between the United States and Russia and other recent developments regarding nuclear weapons, expresses concern for nuclear proliferation and terrorism, stating: "The Japanese, who experienced the huge destructive power and endured the lingering suffering caused by radioactive injuries, are worried about this development more than any others."
Furthermore, the statement calls on the United Nations to "establish the use of nuclear weapons as a crime against humanity" and concludes with an appeal, which reads: "We share the apprehension of the global leaders that the future of mankind is facing the greatest crisis in history through the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and we appeal to governments and peoples of the world to take action before it is too late."
The statement entitled "Japanese Wish for a World without Nuclear Weapons" was signed by five people, including Yohei Kono, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Isamu Miyazaki, former State Minister of Economic Planning Agency.
(Originally published on April 18, 2010)
We, the Japanese -- who experienced the first nuclear attack in the world on Hiroshima and who have been determined to make Nagasaki the final place of a nuclear attack -- have very special emotions and fears to nuclear weapons. A majority of the Japanese have pleaded for the abolition of nuclear weapons and world peace consistently since the end of World War II. We therefore full-heartedly welcome the recent rising momentum among global statesmen towards a world without nuclear weapons.
We would like to highly applaud, in particular, that the United States and Russia, which together possess 90% of existing nuclear weapons in the world, just signed a new nuclear disarmament treaty to cut significantly nuclear warheads. This is an important first step towards abolishing nuclear warheads. The Japanese appreciated and were deeply moved when President Barack Obama expressed in April last year his firm determination in Prague towards a world without nuclear weapons for the first time as the president of the only nation that used nuclear weapons. We place great hope and expression that he will continue to exert strong leadership toward abolishing nuclear weapons.
Amidst the welcome move towards nuclear disarmament, the number of nuclear countries is increasing, and the possibility of nuclear terrorism is gaining realism. The Japanese, who experienced the huge destructive power and endured the lingering suffering caused by radioactive injuries, are worried about this development more than any others. We applaud highly the agreement reached by 47 countries in the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D. C., this month to place nuclear materials under international control. We urge further strengthening of measures to cope with the dire problem of nuclear proliferation. Even though nuclear warheads have been reduced in the two nuclear powers, nuclear arsenals -- having the destructive capacity said to be scores of thousands of times the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki -- still remain. We must remind the world of this frightening situation.
In order to protect the globe and mankind from the catastrophe of nuclear weapons, the world's statesmen have stood up: following the four American statesmen, those in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Australia, Sweden and Canada have been pleading for a world without nuclear weapons. We express our heartfelt respect and agreement, and would like to commit ourselves to help accelerating this tide towards nuclear zero.
We believe there could be no better tribute to the several hundred thousands of victims of the nuclear attack of 65 years ago. We are also convinced that the victims would wish that the UN establish the use of nuclear weapons as a crime against humanity and that the international community would unite to progress towards the eradication of this crime.
We share the apprehension of the global leaders that the future of mankind is facing the greatest crisis in history through the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and we appeal to governments and peoples of the world to take action before it is too late.
Tomiichi Murayama, former Prime Minister of Japan
Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan
Yohei Kono, former Speaker of the House of Representatives
Isamu Miyazaki, former State Minister of Economic Planning Agency
Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima
In the run-up to the 28th Annual Plenary Meeting of the InterAction Council ("OB Summit") to open April 18 in Hiroshima, former Japanese prime ministers Tomiichi Murayama and Yasuo Fukuda, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, and other political figures released a statement on April 17 calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The statement, while welcoming the signing of the new nuclear disarmament treaty between the United States and Russia and other recent developments regarding nuclear weapons, expresses concern for nuclear proliferation and terrorism, stating: "The Japanese, who experienced the huge destructive power and endured the lingering suffering caused by radioactive injuries, are worried about this development more than any others."
Furthermore, the statement calls on the United Nations to "establish the use of nuclear weapons as a crime against humanity" and concludes with an appeal, which reads: "We share the apprehension of the global leaders that the future of mankind is facing the greatest crisis in history through the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and we appeal to governments and peoples of the world to take action before it is too late."
The statement entitled "Japanese Wish for a World without Nuclear Weapons" was signed by five people, including Yohei Kono, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Isamu Miyazaki, former State Minister of Economic Planning Agency.
(Originally published on April 18, 2010)
Japanese Wish for a World without Nuclear Weapons
We, the Japanese -- who experienced the first nuclear attack in the world on Hiroshima and who have been determined to make Nagasaki the final place of a nuclear attack -- have very special emotions and fears to nuclear weapons. A majority of the Japanese have pleaded for the abolition of nuclear weapons and world peace consistently since the end of World War II. We therefore full-heartedly welcome the recent rising momentum among global statesmen towards a world without nuclear weapons.
We would like to highly applaud, in particular, that the United States and Russia, which together possess 90% of existing nuclear weapons in the world, just signed a new nuclear disarmament treaty to cut significantly nuclear warheads. This is an important first step towards abolishing nuclear warheads. The Japanese appreciated and were deeply moved when President Barack Obama expressed in April last year his firm determination in Prague towards a world without nuclear weapons for the first time as the president of the only nation that used nuclear weapons. We place great hope and expression that he will continue to exert strong leadership toward abolishing nuclear weapons.
Amidst the welcome move towards nuclear disarmament, the number of nuclear countries is increasing, and the possibility of nuclear terrorism is gaining realism. The Japanese, who experienced the huge destructive power and endured the lingering suffering caused by radioactive injuries, are worried about this development more than any others. We applaud highly the agreement reached by 47 countries in the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D. C., this month to place nuclear materials under international control. We urge further strengthening of measures to cope with the dire problem of nuclear proliferation. Even though nuclear warheads have been reduced in the two nuclear powers, nuclear arsenals -- having the destructive capacity said to be scores of thousands of times the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki -- still remain. We must remind the world of this frightening situation.
In order to protect the globe and mankind from the catastrophe of nuclear weapons, the world's statesmen have stood up: following the four American statesmen, those in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Australia, Sweden and Canada have been pleading for a world without nuclear weapons. We express our heartfelt respect and agreement, and would like to commit ourselves to help accelerating this tide towards nuclear zero.
We believe there could be no better tribute to the several hundred thousands of victims of the nuclear attack of 65 years ago. We are also convinced that the victims would wish that the UN establish the use of nuclear weapons as a crime against humanity and that the international community would unite to progress towards the eradication of this crime.
We share the apprehension of the global leaders that the future of mankind is facing the greatest crisis in history through the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and we appeal to governments and peoples of the world to take action before it is too late.
Tomiichi Murayama, former Prime Minister of Japan
Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan
Yohei Kono, former Speaker of the House of Representatives
Isamu Miyazaki, former State Minister of Economic Planning Agency
Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima
