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2023 August 16 - 22 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP Koike: Ocean release of ALPS-treated water will be breach of promise

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira held a press conference in the Diet building on August 21 and stated, "Releasing the ALPS-treated radiation-tainted water into the ocean from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant will be a complete breach of the promise the government made to local residents."

Reportedly, the central government and TEPCO will start the ocean release this month or early next month. Both the government and the plant operator, however, promised all parties concerned to not dispose the water without obtaining local acceptance.

Koike criticized Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for not agreeing to meet with local fishermen during his visit to Fukushima Prefecture on August 20.

Koike noted that an Asahi Shimbun opinion poll shows that 75 % of respondents think that the government measures to prevent harmful rumors are "insufficient" and that 88% and 81.9% of respondents in a Kyodo News survey express "concern about harmful rumors" and think that "the government explanation is not enough".

Koike said, "I talked with local fishermen, and they said there has already been a negative influence of rumors in the price of fish exports. They said the price has been beaten down." Koike demanded that the government and utility keep their word and cancel the ocean release plan.

The Japanese Communist Party Fukushima Prefectural Assemblymembers' group on August 18 made a representation to Fukushima Governor Uchibori Masao, demanding that the prefectural government oppose the forcible implementation of the ocean release.

Past related article:
> JCP Dietmembers call for retraction of gov't policy of dumping Fukushima water into sea [July 20, 2023]