Sumio
Shigezumi
International Meeting 2004 World Conference against A & H
Bombs
Sumio Shigezumi
Head of the plaintiffs of Hiroshima Hibakusha lawsuit
Hello, my name is Sumio Shigezumi, head of the plaintiffs of Hiroshima
Hibakusha lawsuit. Together with 45 plaintiffs, I'm determined to
achieve a victory in court.
I was born in Tokaichi Town, just 600 meters away from the blast
center. There was a street of 100 shops in the town. According to
a survey conducted of 200 town people, anyone who at home was killed
in an explosion, which caused 60 missing families in the town.
Defense Agency Director Shigeru Ishiba recently made an astonishing
remark. It came to light in the minutes of a House of Representatives
Special Committee meeting held on April 22 to discuss legislation
that would define the nation's response to foreign military attack.
His remark aroused a flood of criticism and protest from many organizations,
including the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bombs Sufferers Organizations
(Japan Hidankyo). Manabu Masuda, head of the Citizen's Department
of the Hiroshima City government, strongly criticized Ishiba's statement
saying, "The DA chief may not understand the tragedy in Hiroshima
and Nagasaki and the situation that many Hibakusha and still suffering
from in the aftermath of the A-bombs."
According to the minutes, Ishiba said, "Many people survived
and avoided losing their lives even near the blast center either
in Hiroshima of Nagasaki." I soon looked into the History of
the Hiroshima A-bomb Damage compiled by Hiroshima City. It reports
that all residents of 19 districts close to the epicenter, including
Saiku Town and Otemachi Town's first-sixth blocks, were killed instantly.
The subsequent survey shows that only ten people survived but died
after apparently suffering from A-bomb diseases such as cancer.
Children in the student mobilization were at different places.
Thus, they avoided directly suffering the explosion, but they were
exposed to radiation when they returned to their towns near the
blast center. The children couldn't distinguish their family's bodies
or even couldn't find them. There are many graves around here without
any ashes.
Knowing that Japan's DA chief made such a terrible remark, I feel
gloomy about the future. I fear that my country will be at risk
if we fail to stop Ishiba from repeating the statement. His statement
has caused controversy and has been criticized in many rallies in
Hiroshima.
The A-bomb destroyed Hiroshima's downtown area and its unarmed
citizens at once.
Unlike conventional war damage, 80 percent of people who were
within one kilometer from ground zero at that time died of A-bomb
diseases. My father was burned to death under the rubble of our
house. My mother, however, escaped unharmed but died on August 14.
She wouldn't have died leaving her 17-year-old son behind, if the
attack had been by a conventional weapon. At that time, I was filled
with deep sorrow. I wanted my parents back.
I had an operation for stomach cancer two years ago. Everyday,
I worry about the possibility that the tumor will spread and recur
in other parts of my body.
In Hiroshima, 45 Hibakusha filed a lawsuit on June 12, 2003, calling
for official recognition that we are Hibakusha with A-bomb diseases.
Unfortunately two have already died. Since the first trial hearing
on August 20 last year, eight hearings have so far taken place.
The defendant, the Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry, keeps
refusing to disclose complete information consistent with the U.S.
policy of concealing the impacts of the A-bombs. The government
seems to be waiting for use to die since our average age is 72.
Two of us have already died, and six other plaintiffs have been
repeatedly hospitalized. I'm trying my best to ensure that our case
is concluded in less than a year.
Thank you.
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