At the behest of A-bomb survivor groups, Mayor Matsui to consider adding language in annual Peace Declaration that calls for Japan to ratify the TPNW
Jul. 12, 2019
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
At a press conference on July 11, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui was asked to comment on the request from A-bomb survivor groups for the inclusion of language in the Peace Declaration that urges the national governments of the world, including the Japanese government, to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In response, Mr. Matsui said that he understands that their request is based on their profound desire to ensure that all the nuclear weapons on earth are abolished during their lifetime. At the same time, Mr. Matsui expressed doubt over whether directly criticizing the government’s policy of not signing the treaty by conveying this message in the Peace Declaration is truly effective. The mayor said that he would examine the language included in the Peace Declaration, taking into account the opinions expressed in the meeting of the consulting committee to be held on July 12. The consulting committee is composed of various experts.
Regarding the A-bomb survivor groups’ request, Mr. Matsui said that it shows that they strongly wish the government of the A-bombed nation of Japan would take the same approach toward the nuclear weapons ban treaty as the A-bomb survivors. On the other hand, he questioned whether it would really be effective to make use of the Peace Declaration to criticize the Japanese government for its lack of action and call on it to change its stance. He said that he has urged the government to sign and ratify the treaty as part of the efforts being made by Mayors for Peace (for which Mr. Matsui serves as president), of which most local governments in Japan are members.
With regard to his customary aim of using the Peace Declaration address to promote the desire of Hiroshima citizens for nuclear abolition as an important value to be shared by people throughout the world, Mr. Matsui stressed that he would continue with this approach, saying, “I’m now considering how to accommodate the request of the A-bomb survivors with my own approach.”
On the same day, the City of Hiroshima announced that a meeting with Tsuboi Sunao, 94, the chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo) will take place in the near future to ask for his comments on the mayor’s views regarding this year’s Peace Declaration. Mr. Tsuboi is also a member of the consulting committee, but he has been unable to attend the meetings this fiscal year due to poor health. Mr. Tsuboi spoke to the Chugoku Shimbun last year after Mr. Matsui delivered his Peace Declaration at the Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6. He said, “Mr. Matsui’s message lacked passion. His declaration now appears to have become politically charged, as if to set the stage for the Japanese government.”
The declarations that the mayor delivered in 2017 and 2018 did not include any language that directly calls on the Japanese government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. So this past July 4, six A-bomb survivor groups submitted a letter of request to the City of Hiroshima, demanding that this year’s Peace Declaration explicitly call on the central government to sign and ratify the nuclear weapons ban treaty.
(Originally published on July 12, 2019)
At a press conference on July 11, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui was asked to comment on the request from A-bomb survivor groups for the inclusion of language in the Peace Declaration that urges the national governments of the world, including the Japanese government, to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In response, Mr. Matsui said that he understands that their request is based on their profound desire to ensure that all the nuclear weapons on earth are abolished during their lifetime. At the same time, Mr. Matsui expressed doubt over whether directly criticizing the government’s policy of not signing the treaty by conveying this message in the Peace Declaration is truly effective. The mayor said that he would examine the language included in the Peace Declaration, taking into account the opinions expressed in the meeting of the consulting committee to be held on July 12. The consulting committee is composed of various experts.
Regarding the A-bomb survivor groups’ request, Mr. Matsui said that it shows that they strongly wish the government of the A-bombed nation of Japan would take the same approach toward the nuclear weapons ban treaty as the A-bomb survivors. On the other hand, he questioned whether it would really be effective to make use of the Peace Declaration to criticize the Japanese government for its lack of action and call on it to change its stance. He said that he has urged the government to sign and ratify the treaty as part of the efforts being made by Mayors for Peace (for which Mr. Matsui serves as president), of which most local governments in Japan are members.
With regard to his customary aim of using the Peace Declaration address to promote the desire of Hiroshima citizens for nuclear abolition as an important value to be shared by people throughout the world, Mr. Matsui stressed that he would continue with this approach, saying, “I’m now considering how to accommodate the request of the A-bomb survivors with my own approach.”
On the same day, the City of Hiroshima announced that a meeting with Tsuboi Sunao, 94, the chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo) will take place in the near future to ask for his comments on the mayor’s views regarding this year’s Peace Declaration. Mr. Tsuboi is also a member of the consulting committee, but he has been unable to attend the meetings this fiscal year due to poor health. Mr. Tsuboi spoke to the Chugoku Shimbun last year after Mr. Matsui delivered his Peace Declaration at the Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6. He said, “Mr. Matsui’s message lacked passion. His declaration now appears to have become politically charged, as if to set the stage for the Japanese government.”
The declarations that the mayor delivered in 2017 and 2018 did not include any language that directly calls on the Japanese government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. So this past July 4, six A-bomb survivor groups submitted a letter of request to the City of Hiroshima, demanding that this year’s Peace Declaration explicitly call on the central government to sign and ratify the nuclear weapons ban treaty.
(Originally published on July 12, 2019)
