Japan Press Weekly

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2011 March 9 - 15 TOP3 [GREAT EAST JAPAN DISASTER]

Independent team of experts should deal with N-crisis: Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo suggested that the government give a mandate to the Nuclear Safety Commission, which is independent from atomic-power promoters, to handle the ongoing nuclear crisis.

At a press conference on March 14, Shii pointed out that the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, the present organ dealing with the nuclear accidents, is part of the pro-nuclear Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Citing the fact that the government did not inform the public of the explosion at the No.1 reactor of Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant (Mar.12) until five and a half hours after the explosion, Shii said, “I must say this was an irresponsible response. The government should swiftly reveal accurate facts to the public and inform them of how the government intends to cope in the event the worst-case scenario occurrs.”

Referring to the following explosion at the No.3 reactor of the same plant (Mar.14), Shii said, “The No.3 reactor uses plutonium. If that leaks, the damage will be tremendous.”

As for the planned outage of March 14, Shii criticized Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) for cutting electricity without appropriately explaining about what areas are subjected to the blackout, when the blackout starts, or what happens to medical institutions and to people on oxygen at home.

He pointed out that there is the possibility of serious health and safety problems occurring and stated, “The JCP demands that the government instruct TEPCO to go through acceptable procedures before implementing the planned outage.”

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At about 6:00 a.m. of March 15, an explosion occurred at the No. 4 reactor and another explosion was heard at 6:14 a.m. at the No.2 reactor of Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant. After 8:00 a.m., TEPCO staff at the plant, except for essential workers, were evacuated, announced TEPCO officials.