日本被団協

For the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons

The following statement was released on October 15.
On 24th, Hibakusha representatives visited the US embassy in Tokyo, and handed a letter addressed to President Bush to a staff member. The following and the other statement were enclosed in the letter.

Statement: Concerning the Retaliation Against Terrorism

Japan Confederation of A- and H- bomb sufferers Organization
October, 15 2001

Since August 1945, we have been appealing that “we will never create any more Hibakusha (A-bomb victims)”, and that “we will never allow a nuclear war, and we will insist upon abolishing all nuclear weapons” not only in Japan, but also in other countries. This effort has been constantly made in order to pass the stories of the A-bomb survivors and damages of the A-bomb from generation to generation. The wishes stated above reflect our experiences as A-bomb survivors, as well as those of hundreds of thousands who were killed by the A-bomb without pity in Nagasaki and Hiroshima 56 years ago.

We are now caught up by a feeling of fear and a sense of impending crisis because of what is taking place in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas.

The risk of utilizing nuclear weapons in war is becoming a serious matter as the large scale retaliation began in response to the terrorist act that occurred in the United States on September 11th. Moreover, the Japanese government is fully supporting this war.

We could not bear the fact that our outcry, “No nuclear weapons and war in the 21st century,” was trampled and our constitution, clearly stating that “we decided not to repeat the ravages of war created by an act of our government,” was violated. Our pain, agony, and sorrow are beyond words.

We have experienced the “hell” which no human has ever seen before. It is almost impossible to describe how horrible and cruel it was to suffer from the “hell” caused by nuclear war.

The damage of the A-bomb was not only physical, but psychological as well. Our entire lives were damaged and ruined by the A-bomb. Even today, it has been an ongoing challenge for us to go through everyday life. Our beliefs that “we will never have others suffer from the same mistake” and “Nuclear weapons an absolute evil devices which can never coexist with us, humans, thus they has to be abolished as soon as possible” are strengthened by our experiences with the A-bomb. These are earnest wishes beyond love and hate. There is no such word as “retaliation” in our dictionary.

Our beliefs have become common assets of all human beings today. The abolition of nuclear weapons is doubtlessly a sincere and serious wish of all people in this world with the exception of a few leaders of countries that still possess nuclear powers. The outcry for the abolition of nuclear weapons and war is based on our experiences as A-bomb victims.

It is an absolutely unbearable crime that terrorists committed the indiscriminate mass killing of innocent civilians. Those who have committed acts of terrorism have to be judged by our international law and humanitarian morality. However, an act of war does not solve any problems; the retaliation against violence will only reinforce the vicious chain of violence forever.

We, Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organization, appeal to all people in the world:

1. We never allow terrorism to take place no matter what the circumstances. We insist terrorists should be fairly judged by international law.
2. Stop war and any form of military action.
3. Do not use nuclear weapons.
4. We ask the Japanese government not to support the “retaliatory” war and not to dispatch the Self Defense Force from our country. Counsel the United States government to stop their military actions and not to use nuclear weapons.

Letters　　　Sep. 28 Statement