Peace organizations protest against U.S. nuclear test plan

In protest against mass media reports that the U.S. government will resume underground nuclear tests, Japan's peace organizations, including Hibakusha (Atomic bomb survivors) groups, issued statements and carried out street actions.

On January 9 in Hiroshima, the Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo) and the Federation of A and H Bombs Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo) jointly issued a protest statement and sent it to U.S. President George W. Bush, demanding that the United States retract the testing plan.

The statement said that the plan is tantamount to unilaterally undermining international promises which the United States made to eliminate nuclear weapons, attained through vigorous efforts by many countries working through the United Nations.

Hiroshima's peace organizations also made representations to Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro, requesting that his government, which represents the only A-bombed country, to urge the U.S. government to withdraw the plan.

Also, Nagasaki Gensuikyo issued a statement saying, "The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference's Final Document declares that nuclear weapons possessing countries must take initiatives to withdraw nuclear weapons. We can never allow the United States to again carry out nuclear tests, because it completely contradicts U.N. efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons."

In Tokyo, in front of JR Ueno Station, Japan Gensuikyo and 15 other peace organizations waged a joint "Monthly 6th and 9th Day Action" as the first of this year.

Akamatsu Koichi, Gensuikyo chief representative, and other peace activists emphasized that negotiations should be started for an immediate conclusion of an international treaty for a total ban on nuclear weapons and their elimination.

They criticized the U.S. Bush administration for its dangerous moves to review its nuclear strategy, including the plan to reopen underground nuclear tests. Signatories in petition to the government and funds were collected from citizens.

Similar actions took place in Kagoshima in Southern Japan and Yamagata in Eastern Japan. (end)