Antinuclear groups ask gov't to oppose U.S.-India nuclear deal

TOKYO, Aug. 19 Kyodo - Antinuclear groups on Tuesday asked the Japanese government to oppose allowing the United States to transfer nuclear technology to India, saying such a stance is needed from the only nation to have been bombed by atomic weapons.

The move came as Tokyo appeared ready to express a position accommodating U.S.

desires at a meeting this month of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, even though India, a known nuclear weapons state, is a non-signatory to the NuclearNon-Proliferation Treaty.

Officials who visited the Foreign Ministry to make their case included those from the Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs, known as Gensuikin, and the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, or Gensuikyo, and the JapanConfederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, or Hidankyo.

''We have not finalized a stance on how we as the Japanese government should approach (the meeting). We want to strongly demand India to join the NPT,'' Yasutoshi Nishimura, parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, was quoted bylawyer Masayoshi Naito as telling group representatives at their meeting.

Japan, being the only nation to have suffered atomic attacks, by the United States in 1945 during World War II, has so far taken a cautious stance on embracing a revision to NSG guidelines, which ban extending cooperation tostates like India that have not signed the NPT.

But government sources said recently that Japan has decided not to oppose sucha revision.

The revision would be required for a U.S.-India civilian cooperation pact to take effect and enable transfers of nuclear power technology and fuel from the United States to India, but that requires in principle a unanimous vote at theNGS assembly.

The special assembly of the Nuclear Suppliers Group will convene in Vienna fromThursday.