 Hibakusha discuss ways for their relief with welfare ministry The Japan Confederation of A and H Bombs Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo) and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on June 1 held their first meeting to discuss the government's criteria for certifying atomic bomb survivors as having illnesses or injuries caused by the atomic bombing to recognize their eligibility for special government benefits. The talks were held following the ministry's acceptance of the April 11 Tokyo High Court ruling that the state recognize hepatitis-C which the late Azuma Kazuo had was caused by radiation from the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The ministry has issued nearly 300,000 "Hibakusha certificates," but fewer than 2,000 patients are regarded as having illnesses caused by the atomic bombing radiation. In the talks, the ministry, which gave up appealing to the Supreme Court on the Azuma verdict, stated that it will carry out a "scientific and comprehensive study" in assessing Hibakusha's request to be certified as eligible for special government benefits because Azuma's hepatitis-C was caused by radiation he had at the time of the atomic bombing. In the presence of about 70 people, including Hibakusha, the ministry officials said they will establish a study team to deal with the issue of hepatitis sufferers. Hidankyo requested that its members be included in the team, and the ministry agreed with the proposal. After the meeting, a lawyer for Hidankyo said, "The discussion did not get into a review of the government policy for the examination of Hibakusha's applications and certification. It deferred the solution of many problems, including one concerning how to reflect Hidankyo's opinion in the study team findings. Nevertheless, holding discussions between Hidankyo and the government is a step forward." In assessing Hibakusha's applications, the ministry has used the radiation dose at the initial stage of the atomic bombing to determine whether their illnesses were caused by the atomic bombing, and most applicants were regarded as being under the level required for certification. Currently, hepatitis is not regarded as caused by the atomic bombing. However, the latest high court ruling urged the government to take into account the entire aspect of one's situation in the atomic bombings and that their after effects be "comprehensively taken into consideration." The court judged that applicants' hepatitis could be attributed to radioactive fallout. - Akahata, June 4, 2005 |