“Bringing in nuclear weapons is impossible.” A-bomb survivor groups protest against proposed revisions to security documents in Hiroshima

A group of Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors held a protest rally in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima on the 12th, as the government is considering a proposal to revise three security-related documents to specify exceptions that would allow nuclear weapons to be brought in in case of an emergency. ``There are no exceptions'' and ``this is unacceptable,'' the approximately 90 people gathered chanted, ``We must abide by the three non-nuclear principles.''

Kunihiko Sakuma (82), chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Atomic Bomb Victims Association, one of the sponsoring organizations, criticized the explicit request for nuclear weapons to be brought in as "akin to abandoning our position as a non-nuclear government." ``Bringing nuclear weapons into Japan does not guarantee Japan's security; on the contrary, it puts it at risk.We must not allow a repeat of the atomic bomb that took place 81 years ago, resulting in the loss of many lives.''

Regarding the exceptions, Hiroshima City Mayor Kazumi Matsui also spoke at a press conference on the 11th, asking for the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, saying, ``If they are an important tool for asserting a peaceful nation, I would like to see them not be treated so carelessly.''