Japanese peace groups issue statement ahead of 80th anniversary of A-bombings
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, or Nihon Hidankyo, which represents survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and two other groups, the Japan Council against A & H Bombs and Gensuikin, released a joint statement on Wednesday.
The statement said that the world today is in a critical situation, which can be described as being on the verge of collapse amid the mounting threat of the use of nuclear weapons and the rising dependence on nuclear deterrence.
The groups criticized the stance of the Japanese government, which has yet to sign or ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons although Japan is the only country in the world to suffer atomic bombings.
The statement insists that the movement in Japan is playing an even greater role today amid the rising threat of the use of nuclear arms.
The statement says that in order to fulfill its responsibility, it is of foremost importance for Japan to pass on the reality of the atomic bombings and convey the inhumanity of nuclear arms with the rest of the world.
Terumi Tanaka, co-chairperson of Nihon Hidankyo said, "In light of past situations, the world today is undergoing an extremely difficult time." And he hopes "the statement will help promote to the world the call to abolish nuclear weapons."
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