Mayor Matsui, Hiroshima Requests Participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of "Cannot Coexist with Nuclear Weapons"

It has been 76 years since the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 6 days.

As the scale of the Peace Memorial Ceremony is shrinking due to the spread of the new coronavirus, Mayor Matsui of Hiroshima City told the Japanese government in a peace declaration that "it cannot coexist with nuclear weapons that kill people indiscriminately." We called for participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which came into effect in January.

The Peace Memorial Ceremony held at Hiroshima Peace Park from 8:00 am was attended by representatives of A-bomb survivors and bereaved families, Prime Minister Suga, and representatives of 83 countries.

This year, the government shelved the appeal in the so-called "black rain" trial that fell immediately after the atomic bomb was dropped, and two people who were finally recognized as survivors also attended.

As the infection of the new coronavirus spreads, the scale of the ceremony was reduced as it was last year, and the number of attendees was about 800, which is less than 10% of the average year.

At the ceremony, a list of 328,929 people who died or were confirmed dead in the past year, including a total of 4,800 people, was placed in the A-bomb memorial monument.

Then, at 8:15 am when the atomic bomb was dropped, all the attendees offered a silent prayer.

Mayor Matsui of Hiroshima City stated in the Peace Declaration that "it cannot coexist with nuclear weapons that kill people indiscriminately."

He touched on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which came into effect in January, and told the Government of Japan, "We sincerely accept the thoughts of the A-bomb survivors and become a party to the treaty as soon as possible and participate in the first meeting of the parties. I want you to create an environment where you can regain the trust of each country and draw a path to security that does not rely on nuclear weapons. "

He called for immediate relief of those who experienced black rain other than the plaintiff, given that the government had forgotten the appeal in the trial over "black rain."

In response, Prime Minister Suga said, "In order to promote nuclear disarmament, it is necessary to persistently proceed with realistic efforts while bridging between countries in various positions. Maintaining the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty System It needs to be strengthened, "he said, not directly touching on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

On the other hand, regarding the black rain, he said, "We will urgently consider relieving those who were in the same situation as the plaintiffs."

Hiroshima, the A-bombed area, will be wrapped in prayers in memory of the victims, and will be a day to send out appeals for the realization of a peaceful world without nuclear weapons at home and abroad.