A Bombing Exhibition in Malaysia

We have arrived in Malaysia. In the campus of International Islamic University Malaysia we started our exhibition. Students show great interest in our exhibition and campaign for nuclear free world. 

Mr.Taka delivered greeting on this occasion on behalf of the delegation.

Exhibition on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a Nuclear Weapon-Free World

Hiroshi TAKA
Secretary General, Japan Council against A and H Bombs

Dear friends,

     On the occasion of the A-bomb exhibition: “For a Nuclear Weapon-Free World – Hiroshima and Nagasaki Speak” taking place in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, I want to first express our gratitude to Mr. Ram Karthigasu and the other members of the Perdana Global Peace Organization, Dr. Ronald McCoy and many other friends in NGO community for your active cooperation with us in holding this exhibition.  I also want to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to the Malaysian Government and its leaders for their outstanding contribution to the cause of abolishing nuclear weapons and achieving a peaceful and just world, as well as their warm support of the project of holding the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

     The Malaysian Government has also given us its support of the World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs held in every August in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, extending it a message from the leading statesmen and sending leading diplomats to express solidarity with the A-bomb survivors and the Japanese anti-nuclear weapons movement.  On behalf of the Japan Council against A and H Bombs, I express our heartfelt thanks to both the people and the government of Malaysia for all that you did for us.

　     The Japan Council against A and H Bombs, which we represent, was founded in 1955 against the background of mounting protest against the damage caused by a hydrogen bomb test of the US conducted on March 1, 1954.  It rallied many national organizations representing diverse sectors of people on the common desire for “Hiroshima or Nagasaki not to be repeated”.  Since then, we have been developing diverse forms of activity, such as organizing the annual World Conference against A and H Bombs in August in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, constant signature campaign to build up public opinion in support of nuclear disarmament, and petitioning for nuclear weapon-free declarations by municipalities, with the goals of 1) prevention of nuclear war, 2) total ban and the elimination of nuclear weapons, and 3) the relief and solidarity with the A-bomb survivors.

　     In Spring 2010, the next Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) will take place in New York.  With that conference ahead of us, the call for “a nuclear weapon-free world” is rapidly spreading beyond the Non-Aligned Movement led by Malaysia, beyond the New Agenda Coalition, the 7 member coalition of non-nuclear weapons countries, into nuclear powers and their allies, including the United States, which has been the motor of the nuclear arms race.  Especially Barack Obama’s declaration that “America seeks a world with no nuclear weapons”, announced in his election campaign on July 16, 2008, is stirring up our hope.  As it was a message he sent to the world, let us urge him and his government to honor his promise in the name of the people around the world.

　     The present uplift of momentum for the abolition of nuclear weapons is not accidental.  In May 2000, on the eve of the 21st century, facing the spreading public demands for nuclear disarmament, the five nuclear powers accepted the elimination of their own nuclear arsenals as their “unequivocal undertaking”.  Unfortunately, the Bush Administration that shortly emerged hated the agreement, and sought to establish a world order of force based on the overwhelming military strength, as having survived the “cold war”.  “Terrorism” and “proliferation” were declared as new danger, and Iraq was made a warning to the rest of the world.

     However, peace was not achieved by force. Despite massive military attack, staged against worldwide opposition, neither nuclear weapons nor any other weapons of mass-destruction were found in Iraq. The developments on Iran and on North Korea have also evidenced that only diplomatic effort, supported by the world public opinion, can lead to the resolution of the problems.

　     True, that India, Pakistan and Israel, went nuclear, staying outside NPT regime, and that North Korea followed them.  However, all the other states, that number 184, other than the five nuclear weapons powers, are placing themselves under the treaty obligation as “Non-nuclear weapons states,” renouncing their option for the development or acquisition of nuclear weapons.  Now, nothing can justify their pretext, such as for their “national security” or for their “deterrence”.  If they really need “security” they should all the more hurry up in totally banning nuclear weapons, and with the force of law and reason, they should eliminate those dangerous weapons from earth.

　     Before concluding my report, let me talk about our country.  The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted from the war of aggression, which Japan had initiated against Korea, China and many other countries in Asia and the Pacific region, including Malaysia.  We believe that Japan should officially apologize to these countries and that as a token of its sincerity it should implement Article 9 of the Constitution, by which Japan renounced war as means to resolve international conflicts.  The Japanese Government, as one that represent the only people in the world who suffered the nuclear calamity, should take the lead in freeing the world of nuclear weapons, and as its evidence it should honor its “Three Non-nuclear Principles” of not possessing, not manufacturing and not allowing the bringing-in of nuclear weapons, as it was adopted by the national Diet.

　     Unfortunately, for over 8 years since the turn of the century, Japan has given top priority to its relationship with the US, and has supported its military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, even by engaging the so-called Self Defense Forces in various operations.  Not many Japanese, however, support such operations.  Many stand in support of Article 9.  Fourteen hundred ninety five municipalities, i.e. some 80% of all, declare themselves nuclear weapon-free, and as many as 425 mayors have so far expressed their support of our proposal for a “Declaration of Nuclear Weapon-Free Japan”.

　　We are deeply convinced that the world will move to the elimination of nuclear weapons without fail.  Yet this should be made assured when peace-loving people develop dialogs and other actions at grassroots, and build worldwide opinion in support of this goal.  It was from this spirit that the NGO representatives in the 2008 World Conference against A and H Bombs together launched a worldwide signature campaign in support of the “Appeal for a Nuclear Weapon-Free World”.  We also called on national and local governments to host the A-bomb exhibition and a variety of other events to make known to citizens of stories of the A-bomb survivors.

     For about 15 months from now until the first day of the NPT Review Conference on April 26, 2010, let us develop action in every country and bring the will of the tens of millions of people demanding a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and more just world in the form of signatures before the venue of the Conference.  I conclude my report by expressing again our gratitude to you, the people of Malaysia.