Air raid victims call on government to enact aid law

Japan Press Weekly

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

Air raid victims call on government to enact aid law

Survivors of air raids during World War II on August 14 formed a nationwide liaison group urging the government to establish a new law to compensate them for their sufferings as well as to provide support.

The group consists of many individuals and some 20 organizations, including groups of air-raid victims' bereaved families in Aomori, Okayama, and Okinawa. This is the first nationwide organization founded by air raid victims, their relatives, and their supporters.

Near the end of WWII, the United States indiscriminately bombed Japan's major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka as well as many other cities and killed many civilians.

The liaison group criticized the government as irresponsible because it has been reluctant to conduct a follow-up investigation of air raids and to produce documentation of the names of those who died and the number of casualties.

More than 300 air raid victims, their bereaved families, and citizens attended the inaugural rally of the group.

At the rally, U.S. air raid victims from across the country expressed their determination to do their best for a new law established, with the inauguration of the group as the starting point.

- Akahata, August 15 2010