2009 November 25 - December 1 [
ENVIRONMENT]
JCP demands relief for all Minamata-disease victims
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November 25, 2009
The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers’ Group on November 24 demanded that Minister of Environment Ozawa Sakihito provide across-the-board relief to all Minamata-disease victims based on the Supreme Court decision.
In October 2004, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the government was responsible for the Minamata disease incident and ordered the state to amend its criteria to recognize Minamata-disease patients and its system that gives relief and medical checkups only to a limited number of victims based on the unfair criteria. However, the Liberal Democratic Party, Komei and the Democratic Party of Japan in July this year forcibly enacted a special measures law that excludes many victims from relief measures and acquits the guilty company in order to draw a curtain over the Minamata-disease issue.
JCP representatives called on the minister to immediately conduct an appropriate health examination of Minamata-disease victims and establish a permanent framework to give relief to all the victims.
JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said, “Your cabinet now enjoys a high public approval rating, but you must be aware that it reflects people’s expectations and you must not disappoint them by acting in the same cold-hearted way as the previous government.”
The environment minister in reply said, “I want to express my respect for your efforts regarding this issue and hope to reach a comprehensive settlement without further delay under the Hatoyama government. With the help of your opinion, we will also make efforts to achieve this end.”
- Akahata, November 25, 2009
