News

by Keiichi Nohira, Staff Writer

Confusion surrounding the ceremony held in memory of the A-bomb victims has turned into a criminal case. The Hiroshima Prefectural Police arrested five activists of the Revolutionary Communist League on February 28 on charges of violating the Law for the Punishment of Acts of Violence. For the past several years, some citizens’ groups have been at loggerheads with one another over demonstrations held near the A-bomb Dome in central Hiroshima during the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony. What circumstances are appropriate for the August 6 ceremony? The city government is urged to take measures.

According to sources, the five members marched in a demonstration to oppose Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s participation in the ceremony on August 6 last year. The demonstration was organized by the executive committee of a citizens’ group called the August 6 Hiroshima Grand Action. Several hundred people from different groups, including the Association of Hiroshima Citizens for a Tranquil August 6, a citizens’ group calling for self-restraint in the use of loudspeakers, gathered in front of the A-bomb Dome, resulting in a skirmish between people with different ideas.

As in previous years, the city government and prefectural police were on the lookout in the vicinity of the A-bomb Dome to prevent clashes between groups from happening and to ensure safety. About sixty city employees were stretching ropes for the passage of passersby. The five arrested are suspected of conspiring with each other and slamming themselves against city employees with their arms crossed.

According to the city, several groups hold demonstrations using loudspeakers and drums during the peace memorial ceremony every year, and the city has received complaints from citizens. In 2019, the city government began conducting surveys to confirm whether the noise was heard by those attending the ceremony. The city has held discussions with the executive committee of group on controlling the volume of the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the city’s peace promotion ordinance was implemented in 2021. Proposed by city council members, the ordinance stipulates the ceremony be held in solemnity. Some people are urging the municipal government to take a stronger stance. Petitions demanding the city government take more effective measures were filed by three groups, including the group calling for tranquil ceremony circumstances, and were adopted by the city council on February 27.

The executive committee of the Hiroshima Grand Action held a press conference at City Hall the same day. Ryo Miyahara, 48, executive director of the group, said, “This is an attempt to suppress the antiwar movement.” He expressed his intention to hold a demonstration in front of the A-bomb Dome this summer as in past years.

In response to the incident, the city’s Citizen Activities Promotion Division stated, “We must not allow any harm to our citizens. We are discussing measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in cooperation with the prefectural police,” adding, “We will explore how to protect freedom of expression as well as the place for the repose of the victims’ souls.”

(Originally published on February 29, 2024)