A-bomb Survivors Rap Japan's Absence from Nuke Ban Talks

Hiroshima, March 28 (Jiji Press)--Hibakusha atomic bomb survivors criticized on Tuesday the Japanese government for its decision not to take part in U.N. talks on concluding a treaty to ban nuclear arms. "Although Japan should play a leading role" in concluding such a treaty, it stands by the United States," said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 75, deputy chief of a hibakusha group in Hiroshima Prefecture, said at a press conference held in the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima. No nuclear power takes part in the talks that started at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Monday. Mimaki urged the government to join the talks and work hard to bridge the gap between countries supporting the treaty and those opposing it. "I believe it's Japan's turn now," Mimaki said. Kunihiko Sakuma, 72, head of another prefectural hibakusha group, said the only atomic-bombed country's absence from the negotiations is "regrettable." The absence is "globally embarrassing," Sakuma added. Yukio Yoshioka, 87, another key member of the group, expressed his anger, saying that the government did not make statements from an atomic bomb sufferer's position. "We know the cruelty of atomic bombs very well," Yoshioka said, showing his resolve to strongly convey to the whole world that people will have a terrible time even with one bomb. Separately, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said the same day that he strongly felt regret for Japan's absence from the negotiations. "All countries hope to create a world without nuclear weapons," Matsui said. "We'll strongly call for stopping disputes over methodology." END