Hidankyo urges Hatoyama to establish fund to relieve A-bomb sufferers

Japan Press Weekly

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Hidankyo urges Hatoyama to establish fund to relieve A-bomb sufferers

An aomic bomb sufferers’ organization on November 26 petitioned Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio to establish a fund to relieve A-bomb sufferers who are plaintiffs in lawsuits calling for the state to recognize their diseases as caused by exposure to atomic bomb radiation in Hiroshima or Nagasaki in 1945.

Representatives of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), plaintiffs of the concerted lawsuits, who have won 19 consecutive victories in the lawsuits, and their lawyers, met with Hatoyama for the first time since he came to power.

The prime minister affirmatively responded to the petition, saying that the new government will go ahead with the matter as promised by the former government.

On August 6, the lower court’s ruling in favor of the plaintiffs’ demands was confirmed by Hidankyo and then Prime Minister Aso Taro to the effect that a fund will be established as a lawmaker-initiated legislation, and meetings will be held regularly between Hidankyo and a welfare minister till the collective suits are concluded.

The fund-related legislation is one step forward toward implementing this agreement.

Hidankyo Co-chairpersons Tsuboi Sunao and Tohei Nori, and Secretary General Tanaka Terumi, and Yamamoto Hidenori, chief of the plaintiffs’ group, attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Hatoyama also said that he will play an active role in the cause of the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

The concerted lawsuits were first filed in 2003 by Hibakusha, who are suffering from aftereffects of exposure to radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They demanded that the government recognize their diseases as A-bomb caused so that their medical care costs will be covered by the state.

Upper House committee adopts bill to give relief to Hibakusha

The Upper House Welfare Committee on November 27 unanimously decided to submit to a plenary session a bill to give relief to all plaintiffs in lawsuits calling on the government to recognize their diseases as caused by the 1945 atomic bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bill is expected to be enacted by the end of the current Diet session.

Sponsored by a cross-party group of lawmakers, the bill requires the government to establish a fund to provide relief for all A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) involved in the lawsuits against the government, including those who lost their cases, based on the agreement reached on August 6 by the former cabinet and the plaintiffs.

Since Hibakusha launched the nationwide court struggle in 2003, the government has lost in 19 consecutive lawsuits.

Tohei Nori, representing the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers' Organizations (Hidankyo), said, “For six years, 69 out of the 306 plaintiffs have passed away. But we have continued our struggles in order to help the public truly understand that nuclear tragedies can be repeated as long as nuclear weapons exist.” “As the world works for the abolition of nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Hatoyama is expected to support this aim as the head of the only A-bombed nation,” he added.

- Akahata, November 27 & 28, 2009