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Hiroshima voices anger and disappointment over approval of U.S.-India nuclear pact

by Osamu Kido, Staff Writer

Following the approval of the U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement by the Nuclear Supplies Group (NSG), which includes Japan, A-bomb survivors and peace organizations in Hiroshima voiced anger and disappointment on September 7. Pointing out that the agreement will allow the provision of nuclear fuel and nuclear-related technology to India, which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), these organizations harshly criticized the NSG and the Japanese government, arguing this move will “strip the NPT regime of all substance,” and “Japan, as a country that experienced the atomic bombings, should have opposed the agreement.”

Kota Kiya, secretary general of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi, said, “The Japanese government should be more aware of its responsibility as that of an A-bombed nation and should have tried to prevent the NPT regime from possible collapse.” Kazushi Kaneko, chairman of another faction of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, expressed his displeasure by remarking, “As the only A-bombed nation, Japan should be expected to play a leading role in advancing the abolition of nuclear weapons. I’m so saddened by this turn of events.”

Haruko Moritaki, co-chair of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, remarked, “Even if India announces a moratorium on nuclear testing as a result of mounting concerns among countries over nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, there is no guarantee that it will refrain from testing in the future. We must appeal to the U.S. public to view this move with greater alarm.”

Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba commented, “The fact that the nations of the NSG, which should bear responsibility for the future of humanity, unanimously gave their approval to this agreement is an enormous disappointment.” Hiroshima Governor Yuzan Fujita stressed, “This outcome is extremely regrettable. The central government should be held accountable to the public as to how this decision was made.”

The NSG is composed of 45 nations including Japan. Its guidelines require countries to accept the application of comprehensive safeguards and the IAEA’s right to conduct inspections. As India has not agreed to inspections, the biggest hurdle for the agreement to take effect was believed to be NSG approval.

(Originally published on September 8, 2008)


Protests in Hiroshima over U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement

by Osamu Kido and Shunsaku Iwanari, Staff Writers

Protests against the NSG’s approval of the U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement took place in Hiroshima on September 8.

In front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims in Peace Memorial Park, about 60 people staged a sit-in organized by the Hiroshima Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations. They offered a silent prayer in the early afternoon and sat for about 30 minutes with a banner displaying their message of protest.

In a speech, Kazushi Kaneko, Chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, expressed his sense of crisis over the decision that will allow the provision of nuclear fuel and nuclear-related technology to India, a non-signatory to the NPT. “The NPT regime will become irrelevant,” he declared. Then, highlighting the fact that Japan itself is a member of the NSG, he added forcefully, “We cannot accept the current circumstance in which our A-bombed nation is a party to nuclear proliferation.”

The two organizations which conducted the sit-in sent letters of protest by fax to the Prime Minister’s residence and the U.S. and Indian embassies in Japan.

The Hiroshima Congress Against A- and H-Bombs and the Hiroshima Peace Action Center also faxed letters of protest to the Prime Minister’s residence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the letters, they called for the Japanese government to exert leadership within the international community to further the aim of nuclear abolition, stating, “This agreement will lead to the collapse of the NPT regime. The Japanese government bears grave responsibility for this decision.”

In addition, 13 organizations involving peace proponents and A-bomb survivors, including the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations and the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, composed a joint declaration which urges the Japanese government to explain its decision. They will submit the declaration to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on September 9.

(Originally published on September 9, 2008)

Related articles
Japanese parliamentarians make emergency appeal regarding U.S.-India nuclear pact (Sept. 8, 2008)
Approval of U.S.-India agreement represents setback for non-proliferation (Aug. 25, 2008)
Strong calls for Japan to oppose U.S.-India nuclear deal (Aug. 22, 2008)

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