A-bomb survivors criticize prime minister over opposition to “no-first-use” policy
Aug. 19, 2016
After American news outlets reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed opposition to a policy of “no first use” with regard to the U.S. nuclear arsenal, now being considered by the Obama administration, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) issued a statement on August 18 that criticizes Mr. Abe’s position.
The statement was issued under the name of Terumi Tanaka, the secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo. He stressed that if the United States alters its nuclear course and adopts the no-first-use policy, it would be “half a step forward” for the abolition of nuclear weapons. “The fact that the prime minister of the nation which suffered nuclear bombings during the war has opposed a no-first-use policy runs counter to the feelings of A-bomb survivors and many others in Japan,” he said, demanding that Japan focus its efforts on creating a world without nuclear arms.
(Originally published on August 19, 2016)
The statement was issued under the name of Terumi Tanaka, the secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo. He stressed that if the United States alters its nuclear course and adopts the no-first-use policy, it would be “half a step forward” for the abolition of nuclear weapons. “The fact that the prime minister of the nation which suffered nuclear bombings during the war has opposed a no-first-use policy runs counter to the feelings of A-bomb survivors and many others in Japan,” he said, demanding that Japan focus its efforts on creating a world without nuclear arms.
(Originally published on August 19, 2016)
