A-bomb survivors criticize Russia’s suspension of participation in new START as reversal of nuclear abolition efforts
Feb. 23, 2023
by Kana Kobayashi and Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writers
On February 22, in response to a unilateral announcement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin suspending that country’s participation in the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (new START) between the United States and Russia, A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki voiced their anger based on an increasing sense of crisis about stagnation in nuclear disarmament efforts.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, 80, chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo) and co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), was emphatic. “The completely unacceptable announcement is an abrogation of the desire of A-bomb survivors and their appeals to the world that the elimination of nuclear weapons is the only option available,” said Mr. Mimaki.
Mr. Putin announced Russia’s suspension of participation in the new START in his annual state-of-the-nation address to the Russian parliament on February 21. Based on the reality that Ukrainian drones were used to twice attack Russian air bases, and other facilities, at which nuclear-capable, long-distance strategic bombers are deployed in the south of the country, he indicated that Russia would not accept inspections of nuclear facilities, a condition stipulated in the treaty.
Terumi Tanaka, 90, the other co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo who experienced the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, shared his thoughts on the announcement. “It has made me think again that the ultimate conclusion of war is the use of nuclear weapons,” said Mr. Tanaka. He emphasized his idea that the United States and Russia, nuclear superpowers in possession of overwhelming numbers of nuclear weapons, never intended to reduce their numbers in the first place and how surrounding nations must press for the elimination of such weapons.
On the other hand, in his speech, Mr. Putin revealed he had information pointing to the development of new nuclear warheads in the United States. He also expressed his intent to direct Russia’s Ministry of Defence and others agencies to make preparations for the conduct of nuclear testing. Given the need to consider the overall nuclear arsenal maintained by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an organization with an adversarial relationship vis-à-vis Russia, Mr. Putin acknowledged that the participation of the United Kingdom and France, not only the United States, would be indispensable for resuming nuclear disarmament negotiations.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 78, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, criticized the announcement. “Russia’s attitude in service of nuclear weapons became clear.” In addition, Mr. Sakuma requested Japan’s national government, which will host the summit meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven industrialized nations), a gathering that will be attended by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, to serve as a bridge between the United States and Russia and work to develop a structure for facilitating implementation of the new START.
(Originally published on February 23, 2023)
On February 22, in response to a unilateral announcement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin suspending that country’s participation in the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (new START) between the United States and Russia, A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki voiced their anger based on an increasing sense of crisis about stagnation in nuclear disarmament efforts.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, 80, chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo) and co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), was emphatic. “The completely unacceptable announcement is an abrogation of the desire of A-bomb survivors and their appeals to the world that the elimination of nuclear weapons is the only option available,” said Mr. Mimaki.
Mr. Putin announced Russia’s suspension of participation in the new START in his annual state-of-the-nation address to the Russian parliament on February 21. Based on the reality that Ukrainian drones were used to twice attack Russian air bases, and other facilities, at which nuclear-capable, long-distance strategic bombers are deployed in the south of the country, he indicated that Russia would not accept inspections of nuclear facilities, a condition stipulated in the treaty.
Terumi Tanaka, 90, the other co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo who experienced the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, shared his thoughts on the announcement. “It has made me think again that the ultimate conclusion of war is the use of nuclear weapons,” said Mr. Tanaka. He emphasized his idea that the United States and Russia, nuclear superpowers in possession of overwhelming numbers of nuclear weapons, never intended to reduce their numbers in the first place and how surrounding nations must press for the elimination of such weapons.
On the other hand, in his speech, Mr. Putin revealed he had information pointing to the development of new nuclear warheads in the United States. He also expressed his intent to direct Russia’s Ministry of Defence and others agencies to make preparations for the conduct of nuclear testing. Given the need to consider the overall nuclear arsenal maintained by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an organization with an adversarial relationship vis-à-vis Russia, Mr. Putin acknowledged that the participation of the United Kingdom and France, not only the United States, would be indispensable for resuming nuclear disarmament negotiations.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 78, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, criticized the announcement. “Russia’s attitude in service of nuclear weapons became clear.” In addition, Mr. Sakuma requested Japan’s national government, which will host the summit meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven industrialized nations), a gathering that will be attended by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, to serve as a bridge between the United States and Russia and work to develop a structure for facilitating implementation of the new START.
(Originally published on February 23, 2023)
