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Anger and disappointment expressed over U.S. nuclear testing

by Aya Kano, Kei Kinugawa, and Kana Kobayashi, Staff Writers

It was learned on September 19 that the United States has conducted a new type of nuclear test, the fifth such test and the first since November 2011. Three and a half years have passed since U.S. President Barack Obama called for the realization of a world without nuclear weapons in an address made in Prague, the Czech Republic. Voices of anger and disappointment are being raised in Hiroshima over these repeated nuclear tests. Letters of protest, including from the City of Hiroshima and Hiroshima Prefecture, have been sent to Mr. Obama.

Speaking in strong tones, Sunao Tsuboi, chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, said, “This is unforgivable. No nation should be allowed to develop nuclear weapons or conduct nuclear tests.” Kazuo Okoshi, secretary general of the other faction of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, chaired by Kazushi Kaneko, expressed his feelings of indignation, saying, “The U.S. stance of sticking to the idea of nuclear deterrence by maintaining the performance of their nuclear weapons makes me furious.”

In April 2009, Mr. Obama clearly stated his desire to pursue “a world without nuclear weapons” while speaking in Prague. Since that time, however, the United States has conducted a total of eight nuclear tests: three subcritical experiments and five new-type tests, including the latest one.

Koji Fujimoto, secretary general of the Hiroshima chapter of the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs (Gensuikin), commented, “The Japanese government should urge the U.S. to stop performing nuclear tests.” Fumikazu Furuta, secretary general of the Hiroshima chapter of the Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo), said, “We must try to shape public opinion toward the early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention.”

The governments of Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City, Kure City, as well as the secretariat of Mayors for Peace, for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president, have all sent letters of protest to both President Obama and U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos.

“It is very disappointing that Hiroshima’s desire for peace has not been conveyed,” said Mr. Matsui. Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki voiced criticism, saying, “The testing is inconsistent with the Obama administration’s stated goal, to realize a world without nuclear weapons.” Kazutoshi Komura, mayor of Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, appealed for efforts to be made “so that a world without nuclear weapons will be achieved as soon as possible.”

(Originally published on September 20, 2012)

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