日本被団協

About Hidankyo

HIDANKYO sent letters to President Clinton and Mr. Alyaksandr Schou, Chairman of the First Committee of the United Nations in order to tell them about our requests for SSD-IV.

Letters are as follows.

President William Jefferson Clinton
The United States of America

February 9, 1997

Dear Mr. President,

　We are atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Based on direct experience of the nuclear war hell, we can never permit nuclear weapons to be stockpiled on the earth. Last July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed that the use and the threat of use of nuclear weapons generally constitute violation of international law. This means that the A-bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was an illegal act.

　Representing the state that dropped atomic bombs on humans for the first time in human history and as successor of Ex-President Hurry Toruman, you are responsible for acknowledging that the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a heinous crime, and apologizing to and compensating the victims.

　The two atomic bombs not only killed hundreds of thousands of people instantly in the conflagration hell, but slowly killed three hundred and tens of thousands of people until today. Even now, more than 300,000 survivors are forced to live in agony. Nuclear weapons are the weapons of devil which must not be used whatever reasons. Even possession and development of them are crimes for mankind.

　On December 4 last year, 60 former military leaders of 17 countries, including retired U.S. Air Force General Lee Butler and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Goodpaster, jointly called for taking urgent actions for the elimination of nuclear weapons, issuing a statement which says "Nuclear weapons represent a clear and present danger to the very existence of humanity". We welcome this statement and urge you to respond to it faithfully.

　Unfortunately, Secretary of State William Perry and Deputy Press Officer Johnson said that this would not effect the U.S. "nuclear deterrence" policy. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Energy revealed on December 9 last year its intention to conduct subcritical tests. It also announced that it would not fail to be ready for resuming underground nuclear testing whenever the president issues instruction. This is a frontal challenge to public opinion desiring a nuclear free world and a gross insult to the peoples of the world.

　We condemn this attitude you and your government are taking. We urge you to take following actions without delay.

1. To abandon "nuclear deterrence" policy and take the position of abolition of nuclear
weapons.

2. To cancel "subcritical nuclear testing".

3. To commence multilateral negotiations on an international treaty for the abolition
of nuclear weapons in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations.

4. To immediately begin preparation for the 4th Special Session on Disarmament (SSD-IV)
planned in 1999 so that decisive steps can be taken for the conclusion of the
international treaty for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

　　On behalf of Japan Confederation　of
　　A- & H- Bomb Sufferers Organizations

Mr. Alyaksandr Sychou
Chairman
The First Committee of the United Nations

February 9, 1997

Dear Mr. Alyaksandr Sychou,

　We are atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Based on direct experience of the nuclear war hell, we can never permit nuclear weapons to be stockpiled on the earth. Our vital task and earnest desire is abolishing nuclear weapons at the possible earliest date. In order to achieve this goal while we are alive, we are sending the A-bomb survivors to speak of their experiences of atomic bombing so that the real damage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki can be heard to the people of the world.

　We express hearty respect for your great contribution to the abolition of nuclear weapons which secured steadfast steps in the U.N. General Assembly including the adoption of a resolution proposed by Malaysia.

　We heard that there was a strong drive in the General Assembly for the convening of the 4th Special Session on Disarmament (SSD-IV) in 1999. We greatly expect that we can see great development in this task this year. We cordially request you to help us to realize our desire. Our requests include:

1. To work for convening SSD-IV in 1999 without fail.

2. To set the conclusion of a nuclear weapons abolition treaty with time-bound
framework as top priority agenda in SSD-IV.

3. To have opportunities to hear first-hand the damage of nuclear weapons from
atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and nuclear test victims of the world
when the nuclear weapons issue is talked about in the U.N.

　　On behalf of Japan Confederation of
　　A- & H- Bomb Sufferers Organizations

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