Manila: Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, in a peace declaration this year, emphasized the atomic-bombed city's enduring call for the abolition of nuclear weapons, labeling them as absolute evil. This announcement was made during a memorial ceremony commemorating the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
According to Philippines News Agency, the mayor criticized the theory of nuclear deterrence, primarily supported by nuclear-armed states, as extremely dangerous and fragile. Suzuki stated, "Nuclear weapons are not a necessary evil but an absolute evil, and can never coexist with humanity." He urged world leaders to urgently restore multilateralism and adhere to the United Nations Charter's values, advocating for the protection of human dignity, fundamental human rights, and lasting peace through international cooperation.
The ceremony, organized by the Nagasaki municipal government at the peace park near the hypocenter of the August 9, 1945 bombing, saw participation from representatives of 98 countries, including nuclear powers and the European Union. Taiwan marked its second consecutive year of attendance. Although U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass was absent, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo participated in the event. A moment of silence was observed at 11:02 a.m., marking the exact time the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki 81 years ago.
Mayor Suzuki, to illustrate the devastating impact of nuclear weapons, referenced the late hibakusha atomic bomb survivor, Katsuji Yoshida. Yoshida, who was on the street near the hypocenter when the bomb detonated, often remarked, "Peace begins when we empathize with other people's pain." Suzuki emphasized the importance of empathy in avoiding confrontation and conflict, which he believes is essential for building trust and fostering friendships between individuals and nations.
Suzuki called on the Japanese government to attend an upcoming review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and to fulfill its historical responsibility as the only nation to have endured atomic bombings in warfare. Reflecting on the Hiroshima bombing that occurred three days before Nagasaki's, he urged the government to uphold the Japanese Constitution's peace ethos and maintain the country's three nonnuclear principles.
The mayor also advocated for enhanced diplomatic efforts towards disarmament and easing international tensions. He pressed the government to promptly provide relief to those exposed to radiation from the atomic bombs but not officially recognized as hibakusha.
During the ceremony, Chiyoko Motomura, an 87-year-old survivor, delivered a message of peace, recalling her visit to the United States and emphasizing the necessity of dialogue for mutual understanding. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to strive for a nuclear-free world and lasting peace, affirming the commitment to the three nonnuclear principles, though she did not comment on the future direction regarding these principles or the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
In a poignant moment, lists bearing the names of 2,773 individuals whose deaths were confirmed over the past year were placed at a memorial monument, bringing the total death toll from the Nagasaki bombing to 204,708.
