“Betrayed” by Japanese government’s decision to not take part in nuclear ban negotiations
Mar. 29, 2017
by Kohei Okata and Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writers
The Japanese government has announced its stance at the last moment, deciding not to take part in negotiations to establish a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, which has just begun at U.N. headquarters in New York. On March 28, in response to Japan’s stance, A-bomb survivors and citizens of Hiroshima reacted in anger, saying that the government’s decision does not reflect the desire of the people of Hiroshima. Although the Japanese government has pledged to serve as a bridge between the nuclear powers and non-nuclear nations, it eventually decided to remain on the side of the nuclear weapon states. This decision made by Japan, the only country on earth to have experienced a nuclear attack, now also widens the divide between the Japanese government and the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“I was enraged and so disappointed with the Japanese government.” These were the first words uttered by Toshiyuki Mimaki, 75, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), at a news conference which he hastily arranged at Hiroshima City Hall. Mr. Mimaki rejected the government’s decision out of hand.
On March 21, members of seven groups of A-bomb survivors and their supporters collected names near the A-bomb Dome for a worldwide signature drive called the “Hibakusha Appeal for a Nuclear Ban Treaty,” which urges the nations of the world to conclude a treaty to outlaw and eliminate all nuclear weapons from the earth. Their aim is to boost momentum for the establishment of this treaty. Mr. Mimaki said, “I’d like to have the U.N. headquarters surrounded by A-bomb survivors and young people to tell people all over the world that the Japanese government’s opinion regarding nuclear weapons is different from our own.”
Kunihiko Sakuma, 72, the chair of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, who also appeared at the news conference on March 21, expressed indignation, calling it humiliating that the Japanese government did not choose to take part in this historic meeting. He said he will continue to urge the government to participate in the negotiations and join the treaty if one is concluded.
To help advance the goal of these negotiations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from every U.N. member nation have been working together with the countries that support the establishment of a nuclear ban treaty.
Haruko Moritaki, 77, the co-chair of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, a citizens’ group which serves as a liaison between local people and the groups concerned, said, “We strongly protest the Japanese government’s stance and regard it as an absolute betrayal of the A-bomb survivors and the international community.” She also heard that the Japanese government’s decision to skirt the negotiations has not only invited anger from the non-nuclear nations, it has also encouraged them to unite for the realization of such a treaty. Citing the hopes of the people of Hiroshima, Ms. Moritaki said that the treaty should first be created and then pressure can be applied on states that have nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on March 29, 2017)
The Japanese government has announced its stance at the last moment, deciding not to take part in negotiations to establish a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, which has just begun at U.N. headquarters in New York. On March 28, in response to Japan’s stance, A-bomb survivors and citizens of Hiroshima reacted in anger, saying that the government’s decision does not reflect the desire of the people of Hiroshima. Although the Japanese government has pledged to serve as a bridge between the nuclear powers and non-nuclear nations, it eventually decided to remain on the side of the nuclear weapon states. This decision made by Japan, the only country on earth to have experienced a nuclear attack, now also widens the divide between the Japanese government and the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“I was enraged and so disappointed with the Japanese government.” These were the first words uttered by Toshiyuki Mimaki, 75, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), at a news conference which he hastily arranged at Hiroshima City Hall. Mr. Mimaki rejected the government’s decision out of hand.
On March 21, members of seven groups of A-bomb survivors and their supporters collected names near the A-bomb Dome for a worldwide signature drive called the “Hibakusha Appeal for a Nuclear Ban Treaty,” which urges the nations of the world to conclude a treaty to outlaw and eliminate all nuclear weapons from the earth. Their aim is to boost momentum for the establishment of this treaty. Mr. Mimaki said, “I’d like to have the U.N. headquarters surrounded by A-bomb survivors and young people to tell people all over the world that the Japanese government’s opinion regarding nuclear weapons is different from our own.”
Kunihiko Sakuma, 72, the chair of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, who also appeared at the news conference on March 21, expressed indignation, calling it humiliating that the Japanese government did not choose to take part in this historic meeting. He said he will continue to urge the government to participate in the negotiations and join the treaty if one is concluded.
To help advance the goal of these negotiations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from every U.N. member nation have been working together with the countries that support the establishment of a nuclear ban treaty.
Haruko Moritaki, 77, the co-chair of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, a citizens’ group which serves as a liaison between local people and the groups concerned, said, “We strongly protest the Japanese government’s stance and regard it as an absolute betrayal of the A-bomb survivors and the international community.” She also heard that the Japanese government’s decision to skirt the negotiations has not only invited anger from the non-nuclear nations, it has also encouraged them to unite for the realization of such a treaty. Citing the hopes of the people of Hiroshima, Ms. Moritaki said that the treaty should first be created and then pressure can be applied on states that have nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on March 29, 2017)
