(May 13, 1998, The Chugoku Shimbun)

Former U.N. Undersecretary General Yasushi Akashi pointed out the necessity of long lasting and global movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons on 12 May 1998.

Akashi, president of the newly opened Hiroshima Peace Institute which is an affiliation of Hiroshima City University, analyzed the current situation surrounding nuclear tests conducted by India after a 24-year hiatus. He said in an interview that India's decision to exercise the nuclear option was a choice to raise their status in the international society. Hiroshima needs to tackle this issue globally along with NGOs and make it long lasting.

Akashi also mentioned about the defeated result of the election to select the UN's Permanent Member State two years ago. India lost to Japan by many points. "It has something do with India's position in the international politics, which is actually losing its influence although she used to lead other unallied countries."

Akashi continued, "India could have been a true power if she hadn't opted for nuclear weapons, but in fact she leaned toward power logic. India's tests may cause to worsen the nuclear option by Pakistan. India's action is connected with the attitude of the Big 5 nuclear states who have been continuing to conduct nuclear tests and subcritical nuclear tests by taking advantage of un unguarded point of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT)."

Akashi's message to the atomic-bombed city Hiroshima, who has been appealing the elimination of nuclear weapons, for instance, holding the A-bomb exhibition in India was "The purpose of holding the A-bomb exhibition doesn't have to have an immediate effect. We shouldn't be downhearted by the test." He asked for a long lasting cooperation with the media, NGOs and governments of nuclear states to achieve the elimination for nuclear weapons.

Professor Mitsuo Okamoto of Shudo University (Peace Studies) emphasized his point of view that India took the same path as the Big 5 nuclear states in order to increase their voice in the international society. "It's no need to be depressed. We shouldn't think India's act might lead to nuclear proliferation. We should look at this matter positively so that we can take even this dangerous situation as a stepping stone for promoting world opinion." He demanded citizens' action supported by concrete plans.

Assistant Professor Satoru Ubuki of Hiroshima University, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine (Contemporary Japanese History), who is specialized in the history of peace movement said, "If you want to eliminate all nuclear weapons in the world, depending on anti-nuclear movement limits the possibility. We need to work hard tell the realities of nuclear destruction to the people of India so that they can deal with this problem more realistically like the same disaster can happen to them as well. There must be a way that each citizen can join hands to tackle this problem at the grass roots level".

Masatsugu Matsuo of Hiroshima University Peace Science Research Center suggested a new way to promote the anti-nuclear movement. "There is no doubt that sending a telegram of protest and holding an atomic bomb exhibition are important but we should decide whom we should really covey our message rather than waiting for world opinion to create the trend. World opinion is a too vague of a target. We have to focus our purpose and address more drastic measure as well." He continued, "We need to build up a new frame of security having India, Pakistan and China in the disturbance. At the same time, it is important that we lay the groundwork so that the Big 5 nuclear states can choose to eliminate nuclear weapons. It doesn't have to be done only through diplomacy. Hiroshima should take the responsibility to get a head start in this matter."