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Hiroshima citizens voice anger over Russia’s assumption of preemptive use of nuclear weapons

by Michiko Tanaka and Jumpei Fujimura, Staff Writers

“Never repeat the same mistake!” In response to the revelation on April 1 that the Russian military was conducting large-scale military drills in mid-March under the assumption of preemptively using nuclear weapons, citizens of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima spoke out in anger. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The sense of crisis among A-bomb survivors is rising as Russia, a nuclear superpower, has veered toward a domineering attitude and disregard for humanity, dashing cold water on recent momentum for abolishing nuclear arms.

“This assumption, and the readiness to use nuclear weapons, exposes the entire human race to danger,” said Sunao Tsuboi, 89, the chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo), voicing his anger. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently revealed in an interview held during military drills that he had directed the Russian military to prepare for the possible use of nuclear weapons during the Ukraine crisis. Mr. Tsuboi continued, “Fueled by the Russian leader’s revelations, other nuclear powers and terrorist organizations could move in a similar risky direction. The idea of using nuclear weapons is completely unacceptable, an absolute No.” Kazuo Okoshi, 74, acting chair of another faction of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, shared his frustration by saying, “This is erratic behavior. Nuclear deterrence is obviously a deception. Mr. Putin is exploiting nuclear weapons to demonstrate his country’s might and insist on getting his own way.”

A year has passed since Russia annexed Crimea in southern Ukraine. Conflict with the West over the crisis continues to deepen. Gloomy prospects cloud disarmament talks between the United States and Russia, which, together, hold 90 percent of the 16,000 nuclear warheads on the planet. Russia’s behavior will prompt a much stronger protest from non-nuclear countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that look to move forward on the abolition of nuclear arms based on the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons at the upcoming Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), which will open on April 27 at United Nations headquarters in New York. The conference is held every five years.

Saho Shinjo, 19, a second-year student at Hiroshima City University, who will attend a side conference in New York as a delegate of the Hiroshima Prefectural Chapter of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo), said, “Threatening others with nuclear weapons is a truly despicable act. It’s such a shame that world leaders have learned nothing from the A-bomb experience. I’m strongly determined to convey the terror and cruelty of the atomic bomb to the participants from each country.”

Yasuyoshi Komizo, the chair of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, will take part in the Review Conference as a member of an NGO. He stressed, “It’s shameful for the leader of such a powerful country to consider using these brutal, inhumane weapons. Concerned nations must rally and unite people around the world and promote a discussion where a new concept of security will be envisioned.”

Terumi Tanaka, 82, the secretary general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), pointed toward the stance of the Japanese government, saying that Japan should serve as a bridge between the nuclear haves and have-nots to help realize “a world without nuclear weapons.” Calling on the Japanese government to take the lead in banning and abolishing nuclear weapons, Mr. Tanaka said, “There is no time to lose. If Japan, the A-bombed nation, does not devote itself to the abolition of nuclear weapons, the tragedies of the atomic bombings will be repeated.”

(Originally published on April 2, 2015)

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