A-bomb survivors disappointed by U.S. decision not to adopt policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons
Nov. 26, 2016
by Kohei Okata and Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writers
With the news that the Obama administration will not adopt a policy of “no first use” of nuclear arms, A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima voiced their disappointment on November 25. Six months have passed since U.S. President Barack Obama visited this city on May 27. Survivors again find themselves facing high hurdles in seeking to achieve the distant goal of a world without nuclear weapons. Some A-bomb survivors met at the Diet Building and urged the Japanese government to take part in negotiations at the United Nations to discuss a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, slated to start next year, and strive to realize such an agreement.
“It frustrates me that the voices of the A-bomb survivors are not being heard,” said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 74, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi). He was deeply disheartened after learning about this news through the press. When President Obama visited the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima and touched the consequences of the atomic bombing, Mr. Mimaki hoped that Mr. Obama’s short visit to the city would lead to revising the administration’s nuclear policy.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui also expressed disappointment during a news conference held at Hiroshima City Hall. He stressed the importance of President Obama’s speech in Hiroshima, in which he emphasized that courage is needed to pursue a world without nuclear weapons. Mr. Matsui hopes that he will be able to join forces in some way with Mr. Obama after he leaves office.
According to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the number of visitors to the museum rose by 18 percent as of the end of October, compared to the same period of the previous year, showing that the impact of President Obama’s visit still reverberates. On the other hand, the United States voted against a resolution to start negotiations for a treaty to ban nuclear weapons at the First Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, which deals with issues related to disarmament. And the Japanese government followed suit. Disappointed on so many occasions, A-bomb survivors are directing the brunt of their criticism at both the U.S. and Japanese governments, which Mr. Mimaki describes as “bigots.”
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organization (Nihon Hidankyo) and other groups called an urgent meeting, and about 110 people, including survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, participated in the meeting held at the Diet Building. There, they voiced such opinions as “Japan has put priority on its national security and is acting against the tide of nuclear abolition” and “Let the citizens join hands and steer this nation.”
Representatives of the groups reportedly met with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the meeting and urged them to promote negotiations for the treaty, but no positive response was offered. Kazuo Okoshi, 76, the secretary general of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo (chaired by Kunihiko Sakuma), criticized the government, saying, “This shows the government’s true intentions.” He called for strengthening their global signature drive to support the treaty to ban nuclear weapons. “If the treaty is signed, it will be a historic turning point in refuting the logic of nuclear deterrence,” said Mr. Okoshi.
Sumiteru Taniguchi, 87, one of the co-chairpersons of Nihon Hidankyo and a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, took part in the meeting despite poor health. Looking back on his life filled with painful struggles against illness, he said, “I have continued this work so that no more hibakusha will be created. I want to see nuclear weapons eliminated from the earth while I am still alive.”
(Originally published on November 26, 2016)
With the news that the Obama administration will not adopt a policy of “no first use” of nuclear arms, A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima voiced their disappointment on November 25. Six months have passed since U.S. President Barack Obama visited this city on May 27. Survivors again find themselves facing high hurdles in seeking to achieve the distant goal of a world without nuclear weapons. Some A-bomb survivors met at the Diet Building and urged the Japanese government to take part in negotiations at the United Nations to discuss a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, slated to start next year, and strive to realize such an agreement.
“It frustrates me that the voices of the A-bomb survivors are not being heard,” said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 74, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi). He was deeply disheartened after learning about this news through the press. When President Obama visited the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima and touched the consequences of the atomic bombing, Mr. Mimaki hoped that Mr. Obama’s short visit to the city would lead to revising the administration’s nuclear policy.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui also expressed disappointment during a news conference held at Hiroshima City Hall. He stressed the importance of President Obama’s speech in Hiroshima, in which he emphasized that courage is needed to pursue a world without nuclear weapons. Mr. Matsui hopes that he will be able to join forces in some way with Mr. Obama after he leaves office.
According to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the number of visitors to the museum rose by 18 percent as of the end of October, compared to the same period of the previous year, showing that the impact of President Obama’s visit still reverberates. On the other hand, the United States voted against a resolution to start negotiations for a treaty to ban nuclear weapons at the First Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, which deals with issues related to disarmament. And the Japanese government followed suit. Disappointed on so many occasions, A-bomb survivors are directing the brunt of their criticism at both the U.S. and Japanese governments, which Mr. Mimaki describes as “bigots.”
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organization (Nihon Hidankyo) and other groups called an urgent meeting, and about 110 people, including survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, participated in the meeting held at the Diet Building. There, they voiced such opinions as “Japan has put priority on its national security and is acting against the tide of nuclear abolition” and “Let the citizens join hands and steer this nation.”
Representatives of the groups reportedly met with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the meeting and urged them to promote negotiations for the treaty, but no positive response was offered. Kazuo Okoshi, 76, the secretary general of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo (chaired by Kunihiko Sakuma), criticized the government, saying, “This shows the government’s true intentions.” He called for strengthening their global signature drive to support the treaty to ban nuclear weapons. “If the treaty is signed, it will be a historic turning point in refuting the logic of nuclear deterrence,” said Mr. Okoshi.
Sumiteru Taniguchi, 87, one of the co-chairpersons of Nihon Hidankyo and a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, took part in the meeting despite poor health. Looking back on his life filled with painful struggles against illness, he said, “I have continued this work so that no more hibakusha will be created. I want to see nuclear weapons eliminated from the earth while I am still alive.”
(Originally published on November 26, 2016)
