Japan's anti-nuclear delegation discusses abolition of nuclear weapons with Malaysian foreign ministry official

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Japan's anti-nuclear delegation discusses abolition of nuclear weapons with Malaysian foreign ministry official

A delegation of the Japanese movement against A & H bombs visiting Malaysia to hold an exhibition about the devastation and after-effects of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki discussed the issue of the abolition of nuclear weapons with a senior Malaysian Foreign Ministry official.

The Japanese anti-nuclear delegation, consisting of the Japan Council Against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) and the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), met with the Malaysian Foreign Ministry's Deputy Secretary General Mohammad Kamal on January 16 at the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.

Welcoming the delegation, Kamal thanked Gensuikyo and Hidankyo for holding the "A-bomb exhibition" in Malaysia and said that the activities led by Gensuikyo and Hidankyo strengthening the public call for the elimination of nuclear weapons and that the Malaysian government fully supports this goal.

Expressing his gratitude for the cooperation the Malaysian government extended to the "A-bombing exhibition" as well as the World Conference against A and H Bombs, Gensukyo Scretary-General Taka Hiroshi said that Gensuikyo will work harder to make the call for the abolition of nuclear weapons heard throughout the world toward this year's U.N. General Assembly session in autumn and the NPT Review Conference in 2010.

Nihon Hidankyo Secretary General Tanaka Terumi said that Hibakusha for the last 60 years have appealed to the world that human beings can never coexist with nuclear weapons, and thanked the Malaysian government for devoting its energy to the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Kamal explained that Malaysia will continue to make efforts to get nuclear weapons abolished at the next NPT Review Conference and agreed to support the new signature campaign "For a Nuclear Weapons-Free World."

He also said Malaysia is taking a peace initiative regarding the ongoing Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip.

The Gensuikyo-Hidankyo delegation took part in seminars held at various universities including National University of Malaysia on a "Nuclear Weapons-Free World" and on the reality of the atomic bombing.

Taka Hiroshi and Tanaka Terumi spoke at seminars to explain Gensuikyo and Hidankyo activities devoted to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Hibakusha spoke about their experiences. Most of students and professors who participated in the seminars signed the petition "For a Nuclear Weapons-Free World."

- Akahata, January 20, 2009