For the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons
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Statement: Concerning the US withdrawal from the ABM Treaty
Statement: Concerning the US decision of withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
December 21 2001
Hidankyo
(Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations)
Since taking Office, the US President Bush has indicated reverting moves, refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol and resubmit the CTBT to the Senate for ratification. This attitude is firmly against conscience in the world, which is pursuing to save the earth and humans from ruin. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the US started retaliatory military attack on Afghanistan, claiming to capture the terrorists.
In the attack the US has been using very inhumane new arms, such as cluster bombs, which claimed innocent Afghan lives. You have turned the back to the world opinion, which asks for the solution under the initiatives of the United Nations and international law. In this indiscriminate attack, millions of Afghan citizens are on the verge of starvation and shivering with severe cold, deprived all assets for living.
In the meantime, you carried out the 15th subcritical nuclear testing, the 2nd time after the 9.11 attacks, and subsequently decided to withdraw from the ABM Treaty. The Treaty has been an obstacle to the Bush Administration that sets the missile defense program in the center of its defense policy.
Withdrawing from the ABM Treaty means that the US unilaterally promotes the missile defense program. This not only accelerates the nuclear proliferation in space but leads to further nuclear arms race. We never allow to use space as the stage of nuclear arms race and war, which is precious for humans.
A-bomb victims started to call for total elimination of nuclear weapons a half century ago, then the five nuclear powers including the US finally agreed to accomplish elimination of their own nuclear arsenals in May, last year. Where has the "promise" gone?
The A-bomb victims, who experienced the first nuclear attack in human history by the US, strongly denounce your rash act.
Stop the missile defense program and development of new nuclear weapons!
Implement immediately the clear promise of total elimination of nuclear weapons!
