日本被団協

For the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons

December 13, 2001

His Excellency George W. Bush
The President
The United States of America

According to the press, the United States is going to carry out its 15th subcritical nuclear test at your underground test site in Nevada.

The September 11 terrorist attacks claimed several thousands of innocent lives. Terrorism must not be allowed no matter what reasons. In order to prevent another terrorism and root out any form of terrorism, many countries have been working together. Nevertheless, recognizing the attacks as a "war" against the US, you have undermined sovereignty of Afghanistan with military attack, in which you are reported to consider the possibility of actual use of nuclear weapons. Even though nuclear weapons are not used, it is reported that new atrocious weapons have been used. Innocent women and children in Afghanistan have become victims of the battle. You should respond to criticism of the people around the world that ask for not retaliating with military force but bringing the terrorists to justice through the law.

We, the atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, actually suffered much more dreadful damage by the bombings. However, we have overcome hatred and agony, then continued to call for never creating Hibakusha any more for survival of human race. We have appealed to every country including nuclear weapon states that humans cannot coexist with nuclear weapons and immediately work for achieving to conclude an international treaty for total elimination of nuclear weapons.

We have consistently protested against your conduct of subcritical nuclear testing and called for cancellation of all the testing. However, neglecting our request, you have been continuing to carry out the testing. We protest with a great anger that you even conduct the second testing since the terrorist attacks.

The International Court of Justice clearly stated in its advisory opinion that threat or use of nuclear weapons is generally against the international law and humanitarian law. Political circumstances in the world have moved toward achieving elimination of nuclear weapons. At the NPT review conference May 2000, nuclear-weapon states including the US agreed to make an "unequivocal undertaking" to accomplish total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. You should make efforts for implementing your agreement, canceling your nuclear testing which is considered to carry out to develop new arms.

Mr. President, we urge you in the name of human race:
1. to cancel further subcritical nuclear testing.
2. to ratify the CTBT and abandon your plan to develop another nuclear weapons.
3. to immediately conclude an international treaty for elimination of nuclear weapons, in accordance with the agreement at the UN General Assembly and the NPT Review Conference.

Sunao Tsuboi, Co-chairperson, Senji Yamaguchi, Co-chairperson, Nori Tohei, Co-chairperson

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