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Japanese Delegation Meets With VVAW: Abolish A&H Bombs

By VVAW

On December 2nd, a delegation of Japanese peace activists, representing a broad spectrum of the Japanese people including educators, religious leaders, students and trade unionists met with VVAW and other organizations in a people-to-people solidarity meeting in Chicago.

The Japanese activists are traveling throughout the US and Canada to bring their struggle against A&H Bombs before the American people. Also, they will meet with the Secretary General of the United Nations in order to urge the UN to take actions on their demands: Outlaw the use of Nuclear weapons under all circumstances, completely ban A&H bombs now and forever, and withdraw all troops and nukes abroad. These demands embody the essence of the Hiroshima Appeal adopted at the 21st World Conference Against A&H Bombs in July, 1975.

The December meeting in Chicago, also attended by Iranian Student Association, The US-China People's Friendship Association, the Revolutionary Student Brigade and Asians United, centered around US-Japan people's friendship and solidarity and the need to unite in our common struggles against US foreign intervention aggression.

Beginning with a history of the US-Japan people's joint support for the struggles of the Indochinese people, the five member delegation broadened their discussion to speak of the Japanese struggle against the US military in Japan today.

Mrs. Shizuko Takagi, Secretary general of Osaka City A Bomb Suffers Association, spoke of her experiences as a student in Hiroshima at the time of the Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945. Describing the inhumane conditions of living during and after the bombing, Mrs. Takagi emphasized the fear that continues to this day as second and third generation descendents at the A Bomb victims are still suffering or dying from the radiation after effects.

Of major importance to the delegation and the millions of Japanese people they represent is the presence of the US military in Japan. The statements, made earlier this year, of the government that the US would not hesitate to use tactical nuclear weapons in the event of hostilities in Korea, alarmed the Japanese people with their implications.

The US and Japan governments have a treaty that bans nuclear weapons from Japanese soil. If, in fact, a nuclear strike occurred against Korea, it would be launched from Japan, because the US does store in Japan in spite of the treaty. As a result such a strike would precipitate a war in which US in Japan would be attacked. The Japanese people fear that such a conflict could result in a nuclear war. As most US bases are located near major population centers, they feel that once again their cities would feel the effects of nuclear bombs. The Japanese people would pour out into the streets in the millions opposing US aggression.

VVAW, in saying we won't fight another rich man's war and supporting all struggles against US military presence and aggression around the world, fully supports the goals and demands of this Japanese delegation in their struggle to remove the US military from Japan and abolish all nuclear weapons.