April 21, 2011
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on April 20 met with representatives of fishermen and farmers at their respective offices to discuss how to restore both industries from damages inflicted by the 3.11 disaster and the ongoing Fukushima nuclear crisis.
In the meeting with the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (JF Zengyoren), Zengyoren senior managing director Yoshida Hiromi said, “Disaster-affected fishermen are eager to resume fishing. All they need is a fishing boat.” He went on to say that the government should immediately provide support for fishermen to clear rubble from fishing grounds, regain fishing boats, and restore aquaculture facilities.
Regarding fishermen who lost their boats in the disaster, Yoshida referred to the present system under which two-thirds of the construction cost for a fishing boat less than five tons are jointly covered by the national and prefectural governments, and said, “Our real need is for the state to fully subsidize fishers for the cost of building their boats.” He also said that another demand is for the state to help local fisheries cooperatives in disaster-hit areas to reconstruct their offices and marketplaces which were destroyed by the tsunami.
Shii said, “The JCP will call on the government to provide full financial assistance to those who intend to build fishing boats of less than five tons. I understand that fisheries cooperatives have a central role in the fishing industry, and that it is important to place fisheries cooperatives at the center of a reconstruction plan.”
Regarding countermeasures against the ongoing nuclear crisis, JF Zengyoren urges the government to prohibit Tokyo Electric Power Co. from discharging water contaminated with radioactivity into the sea, monitor the level of radioactive substances in the water, and provide notification of areas and fish species possibly polluted by radioactive substances. In addition, Zengyoren demands that the government and TEPCO fully compensate fishermen, who are barred from operating due to radioactive contamination, for loss in earnings.
Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu) official Baba Toshihiko at the meeting said, “The area of devastation is immense. It is hard to make progress in reconstruction programs under the existing framework.”
Baba reported that JA-Zenchu on April 14 made representations to the government to demand that it buy available farm land in disaster-hit areas and lease them to farmers wishing to continue farming, provide assistance to those who want to move to other areas to resume agriculture, and compensate farmers for loss in earnings.
“Income that farmers lost due to the Fukushima disaster should be fully compensated,” added Baba.
Shii said, “Fully endorsing your demands, the JCP will work hard to help you realize them.”
In the meeting with the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (JF Zengyoren), Zengyoren senior managing director Yoshida Hiromi said, “Disaster-affected fishermen are eager to resume fishing. All they need is a fishing boat.” He went on to say that the government should immediately provide support for fishermen to clear rubble from fishing grounds, regain fishing boats, and restore aquaculture facilities.
Regarding fishermen who lost their boats in the disaster, Yoshida referred to the present system under which two-thirds of the construction cost for a fishing boat less than five tons are jointly covered by the national and prefectural governments, and said, “Our real need is for the state to fully subsidize fishers for the cost of building their boats.” He also said that another demand is for the state to help local fisheries cooperatives in disaster-hit areas to reconstruct their offices and marketplaces which were destroyed by the tsunami.
Shii said, “The JCP will call on the government to provide full financial assistance to those who intend to build fishing boats of less than five tons. I understand that fisheries cooperatives have a central role in the fishing industry, and that it is important to place fisheries cooperatives at the center of a reconstruction plan.”
Regarding countermeasures against the ongoing nuclear crisis, JF Zengyoren urges the government to prohibit Tokyo Electric Power Co. from discharging water contaminated with radioactivity into the sea, monitor the level of radioactive substances in the water, and provide notification of areas and fish species possibly polluted by radioactive substances. In addition, Zengyoren demands that the government and TEPCO fully compensate fishermen, who are barred from operating due to radioactive contamination, for loss in earnings.
Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu) official Baba Toshihiko at the meeting said, “The area of devastation is immense. It is hard to make progress in reconstruction programs under the existing framework.”
Baba reported that JA-Zenchu on April 14 made representations to the government to demand that it buy available farm land in disaster-hit areas and lease them to farmers wishing to continue farming, provide assistance to those who want to move to other areas to resume agriculture, and compensate farmers for loss in earnings.
“Income that farmers lost due to the Fukushima disaster should be fully compensated,” added Baba.
Shii said, “Fully endorsing your demands, the JCP will work hard to help you realize them.”
