Right to collective self-defense to be mentioned in Nagasaki Peace Declaration
Aug. 6, 2014
by Aya Kano, Staff Writer
On August 1, outlines of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki peace declarations were made public, revealing a contrast between the two mayors’ attitudes toward the Japanese government’s approval of the right to collective self-defense through a reinterpretation of the Constitution. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui will not mention this issue in his address, while Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue will.
As to why Mr. Matsui decided not to mention the right to collective self-defense, he explained, “I can convey my message clearly by calling for an embrace of the steps taken to this point, under the nation’s sublime pacifism. This year’s declaration expresses a broader point of view.” Referring to discussions held by a committee of experts and A-bomb survivors, which was formed to consider how A-bomb experiences would be incorporated into the contents of this year’s declaration, Mr. Matsui stressed that he believes it is better to explain his basic stance as mayor in the final declaration before his term of office expires.
Shortly after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet endorsed exercising the nation’s right to collective self-defense on July 1, Mr. Matsui voiced criticism, saying that the fear that the use of force might expand without limits has not been dispelled. However, he has not made his personal view on this issue clear, and this year’s declaration is a reflection of his outlook.
Within a month, members of a group that advocates abolishing Japan’s Special Secrecy Law collected 5,591 signatures in support of including words of opposition to the use of the right to collective self-defense in the Peace Declaration. They submitted these signatures to the city administration on August 1.
Meanwhile, Nagasaki Mayor Taue stated in a press conference, “Mentioning the issue of collective self-defense will help sort out the situation and make the declaration clear.” He will call on the Japanese government to listen to the voices of the people, who are feeling uneasy about the prospects for peace because of recent discussions on national security issues, including the right to collective self-defense.
Outline of Hiroshima Peace Declaration
To eliminate the “absolute evil” of nuclear weapons, we must value person-to-person relationships and build a world that allows forward-looking dialogue. We ask people to put themselves in the place of the A-bomb survivors and think and act together with them.
By introducing the experiences and relentless post-war struggles of an A-bomb orphan and three people who were students at the time of the bombing, “unceasing efforts to build, not a culture of war, but a culture of peace” will be emphasized.
Mayors for Peace will promote the movement to outlaw nuclear weapons, stressing their humanitarian consequences, and will help strengthen international public demand for the start of negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention.
We will call on U.S. President Barack Obama and all leaders of nuclear-armed nations to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We will also call for a new security system based on trust and dialogue.
The Japanese government should accept the full weight of the fact that we have avoided war for 69 years thanks to the noble pacifism of the Japanese Constitution. We must continue as a nation of peace in both word and deed.
(Originally published on August 2, 2014)
On August 1, outlines of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki peace declarations were made public, revealing a contrast between the two mayors’ attitudes toward the Japanese government’s approval of the right to collective self-defense through a reinterpretation of the Constitution. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui will not mention this issue in his address, while Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue will.
As to why Mr. Matsui decided not to mention the right to collective self-defense, he explained, “I can convey my message clearly by calling for an embrace of the steps taken to this point, under the nation’s sublime pacifism. This year’s declaration expresses a broader point of view.” Referring to discussions held by a committee of experts and A-bomb survivors, which was formed to consider how A-bomb experiences would be incorporated into the contents of this year’s declaration, Mr. Matsui stressed that he believes it is better to explain his basic stance as mayor in the final declaration before his term of office expires.
Shortly after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet endorsed exercising the nation’s right to collective self-defense on July 1, Mr. Matsui voiced criticism, saying that the fear that the use of force might expand without limits has not been dispelled. However, he has not made his personal view on this issue clear, and this year’s declaration is a reflection of his outlook.
Within a month, members of a group that advocates abolishing Japan’s Special Secrecy Law collected 5,591 signatures in support of including words of opposition to the use of the right to collective self-defense in the Peace Declaration. They submitted these signatures to the city administration on August 1.
Meanwhile, Nagasaki Mayor Taue stated in a press conference, “Mentioning the issue of collective self-defense will help sort out the situation and make the declaration clear.” He will call on the Japanese government to listen to the voices of the people, who are feeling uneasy about the prospects for peace because of recent discussions on national security issues, including the right to collective self-defense.
Outline of Hiroshima Peace Declaration
To eliminate the “absolute evil” of nuclear weapons, we must value person-to-person relationships and build a world that allows forward-looking dialogue. We ask people to put themselves in the place of the A-bomb survivors and think and act together with them.
By introducing the experiences and relentless post-war struggles of an A-bomb orphan and three people who were students at the time of the bombing, “unceasing efforts to build, not a culture of war, but a culture of peace” will be emphasized.
Mayors for Peace will promote the movement to outlaw nuclear weapons, stressing their humanitarian consequences, and will help strengthen international public demand for the start of negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention.
We will call on U.S. President Barack Obama and all leaders of nuclear-armed nations to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We will also call for a new security system based on trust and dialogue.
The Japanese government should accept the full weight of the fact that we have avoided war for 69 years thanks to the noble pacifism of the Japanese Constitution. We must continue as a nation of peace in both word and deed.
(Originally published on August 2, 2014)
