JCP: Government and power company must end MOX fuel plan

On the Kariwa Village residents' rejection in the May 27 referendum of the plutonium-uranium mixed oxide (MOX) plan for Tokyo Electric Power Company's nuclear power plant, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi published the following statement on the same day:

The result of the referendum in Kariwa Village shows clearly that the majority of villagers are against the planned introduction of plutonium-uranium mixed oxide (MOX) as fuel for a reactor of the nuclear power plant which is located in Kariwa Village and neighboring Kashiwazaki City. The government and Tokyo Electric Power Company must honor the residents' demand and cancel the project.

This was the nation's first judgment passed by residents on the so-called "pluthermal" project, and the result has again shown how critical the Japanese people are of the government's clinging to the nuclear fuel recycling program using plutonium as fuel in disregard of safety.

The JCP extends its respect for the villagers who made the decision based on conscience and in defiance of the irresponsible government publicity campaign "Nuclear energy is safe." We request that the government accept the referendum result, turn away from the dangerous MOX project, and make efforts to establish a stable and safe energy policy. (end)