Tinian mayor learns true extent of A-bomb damage
May 26, 2010
by Junnji Akechi and Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writers
On May 25, Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz and eight others visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and learned the true extent of the A-bomb damage. Tinian (under U.S. dominion) is the island from which Enola Gay, the U.S. B-29 bomber that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, departed.
Mr. Dela Cruz and his party made a tour of the museum guided by Koichiro Maeda, the museum director. While viewing the museum's displays, including models of central Hiroshima, before and after the city was annihilated by the bomb, they eagerly asked questions about such things as the effects of residual radiation.
The mayor said gravely that he found it very sad to know that such horror was brought to Hiroshima from his island. He added that world leaders should be made aware of this horror.
With regard to Tinian's willingness to host U.S. military facilities that are currently located in Okinawa, Mr. Dela Cruz said that he is not in a position to make remarks on this issue because it is a U.S. government matter.
On the same day, Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Jusuf Anwar also visited Peace Memorial Museum. He looked at the exhibits closely, at times wiping away tears.
(Originally published on May 26, 2010)
On May 25, Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz and eight others visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and learned the true extent of the A-bomb damage. Tinian (under U.S. dominion) is the island from which Enola Gay, the U.S. B-29 bomber that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, departed.
Mr. Dela Cruz and his party made a tour of the museum guided by Koichiro Maeda, the museum director. While viewing the museum's displays, including models of central Hiroshima, before and after the city was annihilated by the bomb, they eagerly asked questions about such things as the effects of residual radiation.
The mayor said gravely that he found it very sad to know that such horror was brought to Hiroshima from his island. He added that world leaders should be made aware of this horror.
With regard to Tinian's willingness to host U.S. military facilities that are currently located in Okinawa, Mr. Dela Cruz said that he is not in a position to make remarks on this issue because it is a U.S. government matter.
On the same day, Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Jusuf Anwar also visited Peace Memorial Museum. He looked at the exhibits closely, at times wiping away tears.
(Originally published on May 26, 2010)
