Path to provide relief still halfway: A-bomb survivors question government stance
Aug. 7, 2020
by Seiji Shitakubo, Masanori Wada, and Mayuko Matsumoto, Staff Writers
On August 6, a “meeting with representatives of A-bomb survivors” organized by the City of Hiroshima was held at a hotel in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in attendance. Representatives from six Hiroshima A-bomb survivors’ groups, including two Hiroshima Prefectural Confederations of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, called on the national government for the expansion of the black rain area covered by the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law as well as the signing and ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In this landmark year commemorating the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings, however, there was no positive response from the government.
Regarding the “black rain,” attention was paid to what Mr. Abe would say in the wake of the July Hiroshima District Court ruling that recognized all 84 plaintiffs in Hiroshima Prefecture, who have argued that their health conditions were exacerbated by the rainfall they experienced outside the area eligible for provision of relief, as hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombing. The A-bomb survivors’ groups urged the Japanese government to expand the black rain area and to admit the abandonment of appeals by Hiroshima prefecture and city governments.
In response to this, it wasn’t Mr. Abe who is responsible for political decision, but Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, who opened his mouth. Regarding the aid to A-bomb survivors, Mr. Kato consistently explained the conventional government policy saying, “Aid has been provided based on the scientific findings concerning radiation and health damage.” No mention was made of the expansion of the black rain area. Regarding the District Court ruling, he just said, “We will take it seriously and respond based on due consultation with officials of the Hiroshima prefectural and municipal governments as well as the relevant central government ministries.”
“Please give us hope.” “Don’t sympathize with the nuclear powers,” the representatives of the A-bomb survivors’ groups said and called on the government for the signing and ratification of the nuclear ban treaty. In his closing remark, Mr. Abe stressed, “Although the government takes a different approach, the goal of abolishing nuclear weapons is shared.” But at the same time, he also said, “The gap between the countries regarding how nuclear arms reduction should proceed is widening,” and didn’t change the government’s negative stance on joining the nuclear ban treaty.
The meeting was held in an extraordinary way in which a transparent panel was placed on the table to separate the participants as measures against the new coronavirus infection. There were various appeals from the participants, including the review of A-bomb disease criteria, support for second-generation A-bomb survivors, aid to A-bomb survivors living abroad, and opposition to the restart of nuclear power plants. However, because both parties were talking with different purposes in mind the discussion closed in about 40 minutes.
Mr. Abe did not mention the lawsuit over the “black rain” either at the meeting or the Peace Memorial Ceremony, for which Toshiyuki Mimaki, 78, vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), said, “It is very regrettable.” Kunihiko Sakuma, 75, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, raised questions by saying, “Is Mr. Abe really willing to abolish nuclear weapons?”
(Originally published on August 7, 2020)
On August 6, a “meeting with representatives of A-bomb survivors” organized by the City of Hiroshima was held at a hotel in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in attendance. Representatives from six Hiroshima A-bomb survivors’ groups, including two Hiroshima Prefectural Confederations of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, called on the national government for the expansion of the black rain area covered by the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law as well as the signing and ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In this landmark year commemorating the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings, however, there was no positive response from the government.
Regarding the “black rain,” attention was paid to what Mr. Abe would say in the wake of the July Hiroshima District Court ruling that recognized all 84 plaintiffs in Hiroshima Prefecture, who have argued that their health conditions were exacerbated by the rainfall they experienced outside the area eligible for provision of relief, as hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombing. The A-bomb survivors’ groups urged the Japanese government to expand the black rain area and to admit the abandonment of appeals by Hiroshima prefecture and city governments.
In response to this, it wasn’t Mr. Abe who is responsible for political decision, but Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, who opened his mouth. Regarding the aid to A-bomb survivors, Mr. Kato consistently explained the conventional government policy saying, “Aid has been provided based on the scientific findings concerning radiation and health damage.” No mention was made of the expansion of the black rain area. Regarding the District Court ruling, he just said, “We will take it seriously and respond based on due consultation with officials of the Hiroshima prefectural and municipal governments as well as the relevant central government ministries.”
“Please give us hope.” “Don’t sympathize with the nuclear powers,” the representatives of the A-bomb survivors’ groups said and called on the government for the signing and ratification of the nuclear ban treaty. In his closing remark, Mr. Abe stressed, “Although the government takes a different approach, the goal of abolishing nuclear weapons is shared.” But at the same time, he also said, “The gap between the countries regarding how nuclear arms reduction should proceed is widening,” and didn’t change the government’s negative stance on joining the nuclear ban treaty.
The meeting was held in an extraordinary way in which a transparent panel was placed on the table to separate the participants as measures against the new coronavirus infection. There were various appeals from the participants, including the review of A-bomb disease criteria, support for second-generation A-bomb survivors, aid to A-bomb survivors living abroad, and opposition to the restart of nuclear power plants. However, because both parties were talking with different purposes in mind the discussion closed in about 40 minutes.
Mr. Abe did not mention the lawsuit over the “black rain” either at the meeting or the Peace Memorial Ceremony, for which Toshiyuki Mimaki, 78, vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), said, “It is very regrettable.” Kunihiko Sakuma, 75, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, raised questions by saying, “Is Mr. Abe really willing to abolish nuclear weapons?”
(Originally published on August 7, 2020)
