Letter To Hiroshima's Mayor

[kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu]

From: kcc at magi.com (Kurdistan Committee of Canada)

Kurdistan Parliament in Exile
August 7, 1995

Takashi Hiraoka
Mayor, City of Hiroshima

Transmission via facsimile: (81-82-242-7452)


Dear Mayor Hiraoka,

     Our prayers and thoughts are with those who perished in the
aftermath of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. 210,000 individuals were condemned to death because of
our inhumanity. 300,000 individuals still suffer the direct
trauma of that war because our leaders failed themselves, and
failed us, for marching us to the abyss of folly.
     The absence of acrimonious words from your message speaks of
your and our enduring hopes, "to present the next generation with
a beautiful and peaceful Earth". Let the record show that we
stand by your aspirations. As to the visit of our children to the
cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we will see to it that it is
sooner rather than later.
     A word about us is in order. We are Kurds, those of
diaspora, living in Europe, America, Asia, and many other places
that have accepted us as we flee the war that is unfolding in our
homeland. We have been the victims, not of uranium or plutonium
bombs such as yourselves, but of chemical fumes that do the same
in terms of killing lives. In Halapja, Kurdistan, on March 18,
1988, 5,000 Kurds died because of cluster bombs. In Turkey, to
date, a legalized form of slavery is seen fit for some 20 million
of us. We are, in other words, waging a political struggle in
Kurdistan and abroad for a life of liberty for our people and our
country.
     On behalf of our Parliament in Exile, we extend to you our
appreciation of your message of hope and redemption for the human
family. In that still elusive world, we hope the coexistence of
peoples will be the rule and the nonexistence of nuclear weapons
a reality. We work for such an eventuality.

Sincerely yours,

Yasar Kaya
Speaker, Kurdistan Parliament in Exile

129a Avenue Louise
1050 Brussels, Belgium

Telephone: (322) 539-3033
Telefax: (322) 539-3887


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Statement From Mayor Of Hiroshima

     Fifty years have passed since the end of World War II. This
passage of time allows us to objectively consider what happened
in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 half a century ago -
and the impact these events have had on the course of human
history.
     Our intention is neither to criticize the United States, nor
to ask for an apology. We simply would like the people of the
world to know what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki fifty years
ago, to realize the suffering of the victims still continues, and
to understand the cruel nature of nuclear weapons. We do not ask
for sympathy. Rather we appeal to you - to recognize that the
existence of nuclear arms will lead to the destruction of
humanity.
     Today, more than 200,000 nuclear weapons, enough to
annihilate the human race many times over, are scattered around
the world. The more than 2,000 tests that led to the development
of these weapons have had a destructive impact on the
environment; nuclear arms intended to protect nations are
themselves a threat to the Earth. In fact, nuclear arms and
humanity cannot coexist.
     Japan's past aggressive colonial campaigns and atrocities
have caused tremendous pain and suffering for the peoples of Asia
and the Pacific. We regret and apologize for these acts and for
the anguish they caused so many. We remember our own regrettable
past as we work for peace - to present the next generation with a
beautiful and peaceful Earth.
     The Cold War is over and the era of harmony has begun. The
total elimination of nuclear arms is a realistic, attainable
goal. Now is the time for all cities and all citizens, regardless
of national boundaries, to come together and work toward this
objective. Therefore, we ask the people of the world - especially
those of you in the United States, one of the countries in
possession of nuclear weapons - to do the following:

     Together with us, make an appeal to abolish nuclear testing
and eliminate nuclear weapons.

     Those of you who lead us today, and the young people who
will lead us tomorrow, please visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki and
witness the reality of nuclear destruction.

     Please work with us to create a more peaceful, more
prosperous world free of nuclear arms.

Takashi Hiraoka,
Mayor, City of Hiroshima

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Kurdistan Committee of Canada		Tel: (613) 733-9634
2487 Kaladar Ave. Suite 203		Fax: (613) 733-0090
Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 8B9		E-mail: kcc at magi.com
		http://infoweb.magi.com/~kcc
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