Denouncing the recent nuclear tests carried out by India and Pakistan, an association of city mayors from across the nation adopted an emergency resolution Wednesday at their meeting in Tokyo, urging the abolition of atomic weapons and tests.
Japan, the only nation to have been the victim of nuclear bombs, has called for an immediate halt to all nuclear tests and an abolition of nuclear weapons worldwide, the resolution by the Japan Association of City Mayors says. However, it adds that the recent tests completely ignore the strong beliefs of the Japanese people and threaten the very existence of humanity.
"We cannot allow this," the resolution says.
On other matters, Home Affairs Minister Mitsuhiro Uesugi addressed decentralization in a speech that was read to the association.
"To promote decentralization, higher administrative efficiency is required. I ask cities, towns and villages to work toward voluntary mergers. Please cooperate as you can to bring our economy back on its course," he said.
Meanwhile, about 60 members of the New Japan Women's Association marched in Tokyo's Ginza district to protest the nuclear tests. They then submitted protest statements to the embassies of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, demanding that they "act responsibly" and abolish nuclear arms. "The nuclear tests by India and Pakistan oppose the wishes of the world to abolish nuclear weapons," said Miyo Inoue, who chairs the organization.