Embattled Japan PM apologises to atom bomb victims

[struggle4progress]

Source: Reuters

By Linda Sieg

TOKYO ~snip~

In a meeting with atomic bomb survivors one day ahead of the anniversary of the attack on Hiroshima, <Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo> Abe also promised to respect Japan's own ban on nuclear arms.

The comments about the atomic bombings by Fumio Kyuma were part of a series of gaffes and scandals involving cabinet ministers that outraged Japanese voters and contributed to a defeat for Abe's ruling camp in a July 29 upper house election.

"I apologise for Mr Kyuma's remarks that resulted in hurting the feelings of atomic bomb victims very much," Kyodo news agency quoted Abe as telling representatives of survivors of the bombing in Hiroshima.

Kyuma, who had said the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki "couldn't be helped" because they brought World War Two to an end, stepped down over the remarks, becoming the third minister to exit Abe's cabinet by resignation or suicide after he took office in September. A fourth minister resigned last week. ~snip~



Read more: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/8/5/worldupdates/2007-08-05T182727Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-288280-2&sec=Worldupdates

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http://www.travel-to-japan.net.nyud.net:8090/images/hiroshima.jpg

[Retired AF Dem]

1. Here we go again

:popcorn:

[Bonobo]

2. I won't say anything. The act of dropping 2 nukes on civilians speaks for itself.

[David__77]

3. Best of luck to the Japanese anti-militarists.

I hope that Japan will adhere to its peace commitments and refrain from reverting to its shameful, criminal past.