The following question was addressed at the meeting called "Listen to the Voice of A-bomb Survivors" with the Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi attending yesterday. "Which should we believe, the key recommendations from the Tokyo Forum or the policy of new guideline (Japan-US Defense Cooperation Guideline)? The meeting was held in Hiroshima, which commemorated the 54th anniversary of the A-bombing.
Japan initiated Tokyo Forum urged America and Russia to reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons and called upon all parties to double their efforts to achieve the goal of denuclearised Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, Guideline-related bills spell out how the Japanese Self-defense forces and the local government should assist the U.S. military in emergencies in areas surrounding Japan. People are concerned that the new guideline will eventually be connected with the expansion of arms race and violate spirit of the Japanese Peace Constitution which declares the renunciation of war. The simple anxiety of the survivors pointed out the ambiguous attitude of anti-nuclear and disarmament policies of the government.
The prime minister declared the government's policy to determine the triple nonnuclear principle (not to make, possess or bring in nuclear weapons) and pledge the effort for nuclear disarmament but he also kept quiet about the government's intention to legislate the triple nonnuclear principle this time.
In Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba's Peace Declaration, which was delivered in the Peace Memorial Ceremony for the first time since he took office, the contributions made by the A-bomb survivors were the main subjects. Praising the survivors' contributions had a purpose to reemphasize the pledge inscribed on the Memorial Cenotaph "We shall not repeat the evil." and to materialize the spirit of the constitution. We now have 73% of the post war generation in all generation and it is feared that the survivors' stories might fade away. Therefore I understand the Akiba's intention of characterizing nuclear weapons as "absolute evil" and appealing the importance of possessing a "strong will" for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The characteristics of this year's Peace Declaration are that the mayor Akiba called upon the government to follow the philosophy outlined in the preamble of the Constitution and persuade other countries of this course and cement a global commitment to the abolition of nuclear weapons. One of the reasons for this statement is the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference this May. The resolution urged all of the countries to include this philosophy into their Constitutions and their laws. I ardently applaud his approach to the globalization of Peace Constitution.
In the past Peace Declaration, mayors used to describe the on-going situation around Hiroshima and raise the assignment. But this year, the status analysis was omitted and the meanings of Peace Declaration as a reflection of the age became rather out-focused. Moreover, I wish Akiba indicated concrete plans on what the citizens could do with such "strong will".
Mayor Akiba urged the prime minister Obuchi to determine the triple nonnuclear principle, to legislate denuclearization laws and to promote the elimination of nuclear weapons. He called upon the government to support Hiroshima to be a place for confidence building in Asia and Pacific region. At last Akiba asked Obuchi for a foreign policy which does not exercise the guideline-related laws. But the meeting only lasted for 20 minutes. I was disappointed to hear Obuchi replying, "All of them are important issues to be discussed." He came all the way to visit the A-bombed City. I wonder why it wasn't possible to accommodate the schedule to discuss peace issues with more time.
In regard to the government's previous comment on nukes loaded military ships calling at Japanese ports, Obuchi said, "I ran a search on that but there is no evidence to prove such suspicion". As to the triple nonnuclear principles, he persistently kept saying, "I will do the best I can to prevent anyone from violating the sprit." His answers didn't clear himself of suspicion. In order to carry out the anti-nuclear policy and add more persuasiveness to Japan's appeals to the world, it is necessary to review the security treaty which currently depends on America's nuclear umbrella. It is our assignment to start working on this contraction.
"Realize the ever-lasting peace from Hiroshima" is the backbone of Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this law. We need to strengthen the function of the Hiroshima Peace Institute and the World Peace Inter-city Solidarity Mayors Conference and hasten our plan for the creation of nuclear weapons-free 21st century.
