Dispatches from Nagasaki No.21
Peace Declaration and Mayors for Peace Nagasaki Appeal
On August 9, 2017, the day that marked the 72nd year since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, the Mayor of Nagasaki City once again read out the Peace Declaration at the Peace memorial Ceremony (https://nagasakipeace.jp/content/files/appeal/2017/english.pdf). This year the majority of the declaration concerned the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted by the United Nations in July. Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue started by praising the years of tireless effort made by the hibakusha, describing the Treaty as “a moment when all the efforts of the hibakusha over the years finally took shape.” He also expressed his gratitude for civil society and the non-nuclear nations, saying: “I would also like to express our profoundest gratitude to all of the nations that promote this treaty, the United Nations, NGOs and others who have acted with such vigorous determination and courage.” On the other hand, the Mayor appealed to the nations that have declared that they will not participate in the Treaty and those nations under the nuclear umbrella to review their nuclear policies, particularly the Japanese government, for whom he had some harsh words of criticism: “its stance of not even participating in the diplomatic negotiations for the Nuclear Prohibition Treaty is quite incomprehensible to those of us living in the cities that suffered the atomic bombing.”
The message delivered by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe contained no reference to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at all, indeed he could be seen as actually criticizing the treaty when he said: “in order to truly realize “a world free of nuclear weapons,” it is essential for both nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states to participate. Japan, firmly upholding the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles,” is determined to take the lead within the international community by urging both kinds of states to participate .”
When Koichi Kawano, chairman of the Hibakusha Liaison Council of the Nagasaki Prefectural Peace Movement Center, who has listened with a sense of disappointment to the Prime Minister’s speech, came face -to-face with Mr. Abe at an event after the ceremony he asked him point-blank: “What country’s prime minister are you? Are you going to abandon us?” (Tokyo Shimbun, August 10, 2017)
The 9th General Conference of Mayors for Peace was also held from August 7 (Monday) to August 10 (Thursday), 2017. A total of 284 people from 158 cities, 19 people from the governments of 13 nations, and 15 people from 9 NGOs and other organizations participated in the general conference. (http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/report/meeting/9th_meeting.html, (accessed December 21, 2018)) On August 10 the Nagasaki Appeal (http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/statement/appeal/pdf/9th_nagasaki_appeal_en.pdf) and the Special Resolution Requesting the Early Bringing into Effect of the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons (http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/report/meeting/data/9th_meeting/Nagasaki_special_resolution_E.pdf) were both announced.
In addition to the earliest participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, The Nagasaki Appeal also urged in the strongest terms that all governments should “make efforts to address global issues that deprive human beings of dignity and “make efforts to create a culture of peace and offer opportunities to more people to learn, be aware of, and realize the harsh reality of atomic bombings and wars.”
Reaction to the 6th nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
On September 3 North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test. In reaction to this the
Mayor of Nagasaki City and the Nagasaki City Assembly sent a co-signed letter of protest
to Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the Worker’s Party of Korea (http://nagasakipeace.jp/japanese/abolish/protest/kogi_list/86.html).
The letter of protest described how “there is great anger brewing in Nagasaki,” and stated that: “On behalf of the city of Nagasaki, we protest against the DPRK’s nuclear test in the strongest possible terms.” Five other hibakusha organizations also sent letters of protest to Kim Jong-un on September 4th. The letters of protest expressed their strong sense of distaste with the words “We protest with a heartfelt anger.” (Sankei Shimbun, September 4, 2017 (Japanese only): http://www.sankei.com/west/news/170904/wst1709040059-n1.html) Moreover, on September 5 hibakusha and citizens of Nagasaki City staged a sit-in protest in front of
the Peace Memorial Statue in Nagasaki peace Park (Matsuyama-machi). Around 60 people took part, unveiling banners with messages such as “We protest against North Korea’s nuclear tests” and “Make reality of nuclear weapons abolition and total arms reductions.” (Jiji Press, September 5, 2017 (Japanese only): http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/13570463/)
Nagasaki University announces launch of English language academic journal
On September 4 Nagasaki University announced the launch of an English language academic journal focusing on the topic of nuclear arms reductions. Nagasaki University President Shigeru Katamine emphasized the significance of the publication, saying: “I want it to be known just how terrible the effects of nuclear weapons use are through the presentation of scientific proof.” The publication has been named Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, and the first edition is schedule to be released in February 2018. Fumihiko Yoshida, Vice Director of RECNA, who will serve as the Journal’s chief editor, told at press conference: “The Journal will communicate viewpoints and ways of thinking that are different from those of the nuclear states and the United States and Europe.” (Jiji Press, September 5)
平和宣言と平和首長会議の「ナガサキアピール」
被爆72年目にあたる、2017年8月9日、今年も長崎市長は「平和宣言」(https://nagasakipeace.jp/japanese/peace/appeal/2020.html)を平和祈念式典で発表した。今年は、7月に採択された「核兵器禁止条約」に関する記述が半分以上を占めた。冒頭に、核兵器禁止条約採択について、「被爆者が長年積み重ねてきた努力がようやく形になった瞬間」として、被爆者の長年の努力を讃えた。また、その願いを実現させた、市民社会や非核保有国の「強い意志と勇気ある行動に深く感謝します」と感謝の意を述べた。一方、条約に参加しないとの声明を出した核保有国、核の傘の下にいる国に対しては、核政策の見直しを訴え、特に日本政府に対しては、「核兵器禁止条約の交渉会議にさえ参加しない姿勢を、被爆地は到底理解できません」と強く批判した。
一方、これに対し安倍首相の挨拶は、核兵器禁止条約に一言も触れることもなく、むしろ条約を批判するように、「真に「核兵器のない世界」を実現するためには、核兵器国と非核兵器国双方の参画が必要です。我が国は、非核三原則を堅持し、双方に働きかけを行うことを通じて、国際社会を主導していく決意です」と述べたのである。
この安倍首相の挨拶を失望の思いで聞いていた長崎の被爆者の一人で長崎県平和運動センター被爆者連絡協議会議長を務める川野浩一さんは、式典後の面談で、首相に対し「あなたはどこの国の総理ですか・・・私たちをあなたは見捨てるのですか」と問い詰めた。（東京新聞、2017年8月10日）
また、長崎市では、8月7日から10日まで、第9回平和首長会議総会が開催された。総会には、158都市から284人、各国政府から13か国19人、自治体組織、NGO等9団体から15人が参加した。（http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/jp/report/meeting/9th_meeting.html）（2018年12月21日アクセス時の数値）そして最終日の8月10日には、「ナガサキアピール」 （http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/jp/statement/appeal/pdf/9th_nagasaki_appeal_jp.pdf）と「核兵器禁止条約の早期発効を求める特別決議」（http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/jp/report/meeting/data/9th_meeting/Nagasaki_special_resolution_J.pdf）を発表した。
「ナガサキアピール」では、「核兵器禁止条約に参加すること」に加え、「人間の尊厳を奪う地球規模の問題の解決に尽力すること」や「平和文化の創造、また被爆や戦争の実相を学び、触れ、理解する機会の創出に尽力すること」をすべての政府に対して強く求めた。
北朝鮮（朝鮮民主主義人民共和国）6回目の核実験に対する反応
9月3日、北朝鮮の6回目の核実験が実施された。これに対し、長崎市長と長崎市議会議長の連名で、9月4日、北朝鮮の金正恩国務委員長に対し、抗議文（http://nagasakipeace.jp/japanese/abolish/protest/kogi_list/86.html）を送付した。抗議文では、「被爆地では、強い憤りが渦巻いています」と市民の反応を伝え、「私たちは、被爆地を代表して、貴国の核実験の愚挙に厳重に抗議します」と訴えた。
また、被爆者5団体も、4日に金正恩委員長に対して抗議文を送付。抗議文では「満腔の怒りを込めて抗議する」と強い不快感を表明した。（産経新聞、2017年9月4日: http://www.sankei.com/west/news/170904/wst1709040059-n1.html）。さらに、5日、被爆者や市民らが平和公園（長崎市松山町）の平和祈念像前で、抗議の座り込みを行った。座り込みには、約60人の被爆者や市民が参加し、「北朝鮮の核実験に抗議する」「核廃絶と全面軍縮を実現させよう」と書かれた横断幕を掲げた。（時事通信、2017年9月5日: http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/13570463/）
長崎大学、英文学術誌を発行することを発表
9月4日、長崎大学は、核軍縮に関する英文の学術誌を創刊することを発表した。片峰学長は、「核兵器、核戦争がどれほど悲惨な結果をもたらすのか、科学的根拠で提起したい」と創刊の意義を強調した。学術誌は、「Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament」（平和と核軍縮）の名称で、来年3月までに第1号を発行する予定である。編集長を務める吉田文彦長崎大学核兵器廃絶研究センター長は「核保有国や欧米とは違った視点や考え方を被爆地から発信していく」と記者会見で述べた（時事通信、2017年9月5日）
