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Mayor of Hiroshima Protest Letter to George Bush on Mini-Nukes http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/shimin/heiwa/protest/furse_spratt_030421e.html Excellency
George W. Bush Letter of Protest I
have received a report that your administration has submitted to
Congress a 2004 Defense Authorization Bill that requests funds for
the development of small nuclear weapons with a yield of five kilotons
or less, which development has been prohibited since 1993, and that
would repeal the Furse-Spratt prohibition on the development of
such weapons. This clear indication that the United States
intends to develop small nuclear weapons raises the horrifying spectre
that nuclear weapons will actually be used.
As
mayor of the A-bombed city Hiroshima I am outraged by the barbarism
that has led you not only to attack Iraq, killing or injuring thousands
of innocent Iraqi citizens, but also to develop new nuclear weapons. You are trampling viciously on the hopes of the vast majority
of people around the world who seek peace and, on behalf of the residents
of Hiroshima, I
vehemently protest.
Coming
as it does on the eve of the UN NPT (NonProliferation Treaty) Review
Conference Preparatory Committee, this announcement, together with
statements regarding the necessity of resuming underground testing
and rapidly developing new tactical nuclear weapons, represents an
extremely regrettable frontal attack on the process of nuclear disarmament.
I
demand that you immediately begin demonstrating a willingness to implement
the "unequivocal undertaking" to eliminate your nuclear arsenal promised
at the previous NPT Review Conference, take a clear decision to terminate
all nuclear testing, and devote the full strength of your great
country to achieving a genuinely peaceful 21st century free from nuclear
weapons.
April
21, 2003
Tadatoshi Akiba Mayor of Hiroshima Also
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