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Chairman of National Parliament of Laos and Lao ambassador to Japan visit Peace Memorial Museum

by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer

On May 27, Thongsing Thammavong, chairman of the National Parliament of Laos and Sithong Chithothinh, Lao ambassador to Japan, along with 13 other members of their delegation, visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and learned about the horrific consequences of the atomic bombing.

Koichiro Maeda, director of the museum, guided the group and provided explanation of the displays, including a model of central Hiroshima annihilated by the bombing and such belongings as charred clothes. Mr. Thammavong said, "My heart aches at the tragedy. This should not have happened."

Mr. Thammavong touched on the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty that Laos has joined, saying, "Laos has pledged not to possess nuclear weapons. Laos will continue to support efforts to reduce nuclear weapons in the world."

The group arrived in Japan on May 24, invited by the House of Councilors of Japan.

(Originally published on May 28, 2010)

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