About Hidankyo
Hidankyo sent letter to the heads of the world
November 20 1999
Letter to the Heads of States and Governments
The First Committee in the 54th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted by overwhelming majority a resolution on the elimination of nuclear weapons proposed by 57 countries including the New Agenda Coalition states, such as Sweden, New Zealand and South Africa.
We, survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, heartily welcome the resolution and hope that the recommendations set out by the resolution will be achieved without delay. As sufferers who witnessed the only nuclear war in history, we have for more than half a century appealed for the urgency of abolishing nuclear weapons, making known to the widest possible range of people the atrocity of nuclear weapons that caused the damage which was far beyond imagination and description.
Nuclear weapons are devilish weapons, with which human beings can never coexist. This appeal has developed to represent common voice of people the world over, and is reflected in the discussions in the UNGA.
Nevertheless, nuclear weapon states, particularly the United States, giving no heed to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the illegality of nuclear weapons, has neglected any effort to abolish nuclear weapons, thus challenging world opinion and UN resolutions in favor of nuclear weapons abolition. As the result, multilateral negotiations on the elimination of nuclear weapons have been impeded. Further, the US government has conducted subcritical nuclear tests in violation of the spirit of CTBT, in a bid to further build up its nuclear arsenals. We strongly denounce outrageous conducts of nuclear weapon states that threaten the survival of entire humanity.
The Japanese government, along with the US, has taken action to obstruct the urgent abolition of nuclear weapons, claiming that "the eliminating of nuclear weapons is an ultimate goal". In the Plenary Session of the UN General Assembly, we urge all the governments, including Japan's, to vote for the total abolition of nuclear weapons, so that the work for early conclusion of an international treaty totally banning and eliminating nuclear weapons will be started in accordance with the effect of the resolution.
We call on you and your governments to take effective action without delay for the urgent elimination of nuclear weapons, in response to world opinion in favor of it.
On behalf of Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations
Sakae Ito, Co-chairperson
Senji Yamaguchi, Co-chairperson
Takeshi Ito, Co-chairperson
