Hibakusha in NY call for abolition of nuclear weapons

Japan Press Weekly

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

Hibakusha in NY call for abolition of nuclear weapons

On May 3, the opening day of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference held every five years, the A-bomb exhibition was inaugurated at the U.N. headquarters.

The exhibition was organized by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo).

At the exhibition site, about 50 Hibakusha talked about their experiences.

85-year-old Saito Masakazu, President of the Iwate A-Bomb Sufferers Organization (Iwate Hidankyo), stated, “Many hibakusha have died without fulfilling their desire to abolish nuclear weapons while they shouted it in hoarse voices.”

After touching Taniguchi Sumiteru’s body, Chair of the Nagasaki Council of A-Bomb Sufferers, a Uzbek female U.N. staff member said, “The A-bombing was a cruel act. It will never be repeated. His message is very strong.”

The exhibition will be held through June.

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On May 7 at a NPT Review Conference meeting, Hibakusha and the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in their speeches called for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Representing Hibakusha, Taniguchi Sumiteru delivered a speech about his experience in the A-bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 while showing a photograph of himself with his back covered in severe burns.

Taniguchi stated, “In order for humans to live as humans, we can’t allow even a single nuclear weapon to remain on Earth. I have to keep living until I witness the elimination of nuclear weapons.”

Hiroshima City Mayor Akiba Tadatoshi said, “Abolishing nuclear weapons during Hibakusha’s lifetimes hinges on political will,” and Nagasaki’s Taue Tomihisa called on participants to tackle the issue of nuclear disarmament based on a belief in humanity.

- Akahata, May 5 and 9, 2010