(May 15, 1998, The Chugoku Shimbun)

Mayor of Hiroshima, Takashi Hiraoka, Governor of Hiroshima Yuzan Fujita and World Conference of Mayor's for Peace through Inter-city Solidarity, consists of 100 countries and regions and 456 cities (President, Hiroshima Mayor, Takashi Hiraoka), sent a letter of protest to Indian Ambassador, Shiddharth Singh on May 14, 1998. The letter was to protest India's resumed underground nuclear testing.

Mayor Hiraoka said "I 'm enraged at the India's nuclear tests, running contrary to the global efforts on nuclear disarmament. It is a violent act." He also commented that "India's test would manipulate Pakistan to compete in the arms race and India has disgraced its honor. India's action seems to raise the danger of nuclear proliferation in the world. What India should do is to listen to the voice of international community seriously. I urge India to join efforts on eliminating nuclear weapons with the citizens of Hiroshima."

Governor Fujita wrote the letter with Chairperson of Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly Toshihiro Hiyama. In the letter, they said that India's action is unforgivable because it is an action that tramples on Hiroshima people's feelings and the efforts of international community toward nuclear disarmament. This was strongly stated. He urged India's cooperation to halt nuclear testing immediately and eliminate nuclear weapons.

The Mayor's conference appeals that "India's act is a challenge against the international opinion. If anyone thinks one can secure the land by possessing nuclear weapons, we can't achieve peace in the world."