Working together for the abolition of nuclear weapons and firmly standing for peace, mutual understanding and friendship between Asian countries and Japan, we express our deep concern and strong indignation over the Japanese government's approval of the "New History Textbook" and the Japanese Prime Minister's plan to visit Yasukuni Shrine.
We cannot tolerate any attempt to distort or gloss over the historical fact of the war of aggression and of colonial domination by Japanese militarism because it only helps undermine good neighborly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the rest of Asia and seriously threaten Asian peace. If Japanese government continues this attitude, it can not but be isolated in Asia and deepen the contradiction.
As an expression of solidarity with the Japanese peace movement which is pressing its government to truly reflect on the past war of aggression in Asia, representatives of peace movements in Asian countries, including China, Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam, which were invaded and colonized by Japanese militarism, call on the Japanese government to:
- Sincerely listen to Asian nations strongly criticizing the Japanese government, revoke its approval of the history textbook directed by the "Japanese Society of History Textbook Reform" which glorifies the Japanese war of aggression and not repeat the same mistake in the future.
- Cancel the plan of the Prime Minister's
official visit to Yasukuni Shrine, which was used to mobilize the Japanese
people to the war of aggression and which enshrines war criminals even
today.
Hiroshima, August 5, 2001
Niu Qiang / Chinese People's Association
for Peace and Disarmament
Lee Yu Jin / Green Korea United
Corazon Fabros / Nuclear-Free Philippines
Coalition
Duy Thuy Quach / Vietnam Peace Committee
Resolve of Japanese Peace
Movement on the Statement by Four
Representatives of Peace
Movements in Asia
We welcome and fully support the statement.
The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
was unjustifiable by any standard. At the same time, we recognize
that it has close connections with the war of aggression by Japanese militarism.
The Japanese Movement against A and H Bombs therefore has demanded that
the Japanese government, while criticizing the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki, fundamentally reflect
on its past war of aggression against
and colonization of Asian countries.
There are planned actions on the occasion of the war termination, August 15th 2001. We would like to reiterate our determination to do our utmost in order to successfully organize them.
Kouichi Akamatsu / Japan Council against
A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo)
Tomoyasu Kawai / Japan Scientists Association
Mitsuo Sato / Japan Council against A
and H Bombs (Gensuikyo)
Hiroshi Suda / Japan Peace Committee
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*Simultaneous actions in Asia and the
world are suggested on August 15th 2001, the 56th anniversary of the defeat
of Japanese militarism in the WWII and the planned date of Japanese prime
minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine. Various forms of protest actions are
expected towards Japanese government, embassies and consulates in respective
countries, such as mass rallies and performances, sending messages by fax,
e-mail, postcard, etc.
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