A-bomb survivors beg Abe to reconsider

Atomic bomb survivors implore Abe to withdraw unpopular security bills

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201508060050

August 06, 2015

By TAKASHI OKUMA/ Staff Writer

HIROSHIMA--Survivors of the atomic bombing here pleaded with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to drop the new security legislation following a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the devastation of the city.

"It is a clear violation of the Constitution, and a majority of Japanese either oppose it or hold doubts about it," they told Abe.

Every year, representatives of hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) meet with the prime minister after his attendance at the memorial ceremony held at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

This year, the representatives of seven hibakusha groups asked Abe to retract the security bills now being deliberated in the Upper House. If the legislation becomes law, it will greatly expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces overseas.

The representatives also handed Abe a document detailing their requests, including the one to retract the bills.

"Some of the measures being pushed by the government go against the wishes of the hibakusha, and we cannot but hold fears and doubts. The best example is the security legislation," the document said.

Abe replied, "(The security legislation) will send the message that the Japan-U.S. security alliance will function in a complete manner, and that will prevent conflicts from occurring."

It was the second straight year that the hibakusha groups have asked the prime minister to rescind a major policy initiative.

Last year, the representatives of the seven groups called on Abe to retract the Cabinet decision made in July 2014 to change the government interpretation of the Constitution and lift the self-imposed ban on the exercise of the right to collective self-defense.