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Nagasaki remembers atomic bombing

Doves fly around the monument at the Peace Park during the memorial ceremony yesterday for the atomic bomb victims in Nagasaki, Japan. The city was marking the 63rd anniversary of the bombing. PHOTO: AFP

Nagasaki’s mayor commemorated the 63rd anniversary of the world’s second atomic bomb attack yesterday with a call for stricter measures against North Korea, Pakistan and Israel for their possession of nuclear weapons.

A moment of silence was observed throughout Nagasaki in southern Japan at 11:02am, the time in 1945 when a US B-29 bomber dropped an atomic bomb on the city, killing about 74,000 people. The attack came three days after an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, killing at least 140,000.

Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II.

ABOLITION

Mayor Tomihisa Taue called for the abolishment of nuclear weapons, saying the US and Russia should take the lead.

“We also demand that the United Nations and international society do not ignore the nuclear weapons of North Korea, Pakistan and Israel, as well as the suspicions of nuclear development by Iran, but take stern measures against these countries,” he said.

“We also demand that the United Nations and international society do not ignore the nuclear weapons of North Korea, Pakistan and Israel, as well as the suspicions of nuclear development by Iran, but take stern measures against these countries.”

— Tomihisa Taue, mayor of Nagasaki

Taue spoke to thousands of people attending the ceremony in Nagasaki’s Peace Park. As he finished his remarks, doves were released and circled above the park, where colorful strings of origami cranes had been hung by local children.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda also spoke, emphasizing Japan’s long-standing policy of not possessing, developing or allowing nuclear weapons on its soil, as he had three days earlier at a ceremony in Hiroshima.

ALLIANCES

The anniversary comes as Japan warily eyes shifting nuclear alliances in other parts of the globe. Tokyo has expressed concern over a US nuclear accord with India that would reverse more than three decades of US policy barring the sale of nuclear fuel and technology to countries that have not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).

India has tested nuclear weapons but has not signed the nonproliferation treaty or the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Taue yesterday repeated calls by Japanese officials for India to participate in both treaties.

“India, whose nuclear cooperation with the US is a concern, should be strongly urged to join the NPT and CTBT,” he said.

His comments came a day after a senior US official urged Japan to support the nuclear accord.

“The bottom line for us is this is the way to get the cooperation we want, this is the way to get the support for nonproliferation,” US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher told reporters on Friday in Tokyo.

Nagasaki was chosen for atomic destruction because the original target, the city of Kokura, was clouded over. A number of US prisoners of war were in Nagasaki when it was bombed.
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