Sit-ins held around region to protest nuclear test by North Korea
Feb. 19, 2013
On February 13, the day after North Korea pushed ahead with its third nuclear test, members of the two factions of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo) carried out sit-in protests, adjacent to one another, at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. In Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures, a number of sit-ins were staged to condemn the test, criticizing it as a reckless move which runs counter to the desire to abolish nuclear weapons.
Just after noon, members of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi, along with such organizations as the Hiroshima Chapter of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo Hiroshima), and the Hiroshima chapter of the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs (Hiroshima Gensuikin), began their sit-in. About 80 people joined the demonstration, sitting for about 30 minutes and hoisting a banner of protest. Haruko Katayama, 82, an A-bomb survivor and the chairperson of Hiroshima Gensuikin, appealed, “It’s our responsibility to leave behind a peaceful world for our children’s and grandchildren’s generations.”
The other faction of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, chaired by Kazushi Kaneko, conducted a sit-in with the Hiroshima chapter of the Japan Council Against A- and H-bombs (Hiroshima Gensuikyo). About 60 people joined the protest and adopted a resolution urging North Korea to renounce its nuclear development program, and calling for the nuclear weapon states and the Japanese government to make efforts to realize a nuclear weapons convention.
Thirteen members of a citizens’ peace group in the Mirasaka district of Miyoshi City, located in northern Hiroshima Prefecture, conducted a ten-minute sit-in at a local park, called Mirasaka Peace Park, to express their opposition to the nuclear test.
In the cities of Iwakuni, Kudamatsu, and Yamaguchi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, three sit-ins were held. In Iwakuni, Satoshi Matoba, the chairman of the Iwakuni District Peace Movement Forum, comprised of labor unions, criticized the test, saying, “The action taken by North Korea, at a time when the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant is still not completely under control, is extremely unfortunate.”
Kiyoko Nosaka, 84, a member of the A-bomb sufferers association in the city of Kudamatsu, joined a sit-in conducted in front of Kudamatsu City Hall. “The A-bomb experiences will never be forgotten,” she said with emotion. “Nuclear weapons aren’t needed.”
Following the third nuclear test conducted by North Korea, the Japan Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) and a citizens’ group in Hiroshima called the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition released statements of protest, respectively, on February 13.
Nihon Hidankyo determined its action at a meeting of its executive board members held in downtown Tokyo. In its statement, the organization denounced the nuclear test conducted by North Korea, saying, “It is an act that runs counter to international public opinion, calling for a world without nuclear weapons.” The organization urged North Korea to abandon its ambitions to possess a nuclear arsenal for its nation’s defense, arguing that the idea was “misguided.” Nihon Hidankyo also called on nations in the vicinity, including Japan, to respond wisely.
In its statement, the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition urged North Korea to halt its nuclear tests and forsake nuclear weapons, stating, “Nuclear weapons threaten the existence of all living creatures on this planet.” The group also criticized the foreign policies of Japan, the United States, and South Korea, saying, “The continuous presence of U.S. forces in South Korea and Okinawa Prefecture is a driving force behind North Korea’s efforts to develop nuclear arms.”
(Originally published on February 14, 2013)
Just after noon, members of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi, along with such organizations as the Hiroshima Chapter of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo Hiroshima), and the Hiroshima chapter of the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs (Hiroshima Gensuikin), began their sit-in. About 80 people joined the demonstration, sitting for about 30 minutes and hoisting a banner of protest. Haruko Katayama, 82, an A-bomb survivor and the chairperson of Hiroshima Gensuikin, appealed, “It’s our responsibility to leave behind a peaceful world for our children’s and grandchildren’s generations.”
The other faction of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, chaired by Kazushi Kaneko, conducted a sit-in with the Hiroshima chapter of the Japan Council Against A- and H-bombs (Hiroshima Gensuikyo). About 60 people joined the protest and adopted a resolution urging North Korea to renounce its nuclear development program, and calling for the nuclear weapon states and the Japanese government to make efforts to realize a nuclear weapons convention.
Thirteen members of a citizens’ peace group in the Mirasaka district of Miyoshi City, located in northern Hiroshima Prefecture, conducted a ten-minute sit-in at a local park, called Mirasaka Peace Park, to express their opposition to the nuclear test.
In the cities of Iwakuni, Kudamatsu, and Yamaguchi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, three sit-ins were held. In Iwakuni, Satoshi Matoba, the chairman of the Iwakuni District Peace Movement Forum, comprised of labor unions, criticized the test, saying, “The action taken by North Korea, at a time when the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant is still not completely under control, is extremely unfortunate.”
Kiyoko Nosaka, 84, a member of the A-bomb sufferers association in the city of Kudamatsu, joined a sit-in conducted in front of Kudamatsu City Hall. “The A-bomb experiences will never be forgotten,” she said with emotion. “Nuclear weapons aren’t needed.”
Hidankyo releases statement protesting North Korean nuclear test
Following the third nuclear test conducted by North Korea, the Japan Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) and a citizens’ group in Hiroshima called the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition released statements of protest, respectively, on February 13.
Nihon Hidankyo determined its action at a meeting of its executive board members held in downtown Tokyo. In its statement, the organization denounced the nuclear test conducted by North Korea, saying, “It is an act that runs counter to international public opinion, calling for a world without nuclear weapons.” The organization urged North Korea to abandon its ambitions to possess a nuclear arsenal for its nation’s defense, arguing that the idea was “misguided.” Nihon Hidankyo also called on nations in the vicinity, including Japan, to respond wisely.
In its statement, the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition urged North Korea to halt its nuclear tests and forsake nuclear weapons, stating, “Nuclear weapons threaten the existence of all living creatures on this planet.” The group also criticized the foreign policies of Japan, the United States, and South Korea, saying, “The continuous presence of U.S. forces in South Korea and Okinawa Prefecture is a driving force behind North Korea’s efforts to develop nuclear arms.”
(Originally published on February 14, 2013)
