Japan Press Weekly

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2017 July 19 - 25 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP Fukushima lawmakers protest against TEPCO’s plan to discharge tritium-tainted water into ocean

The Japanese Communist Party Fukushima Prefectural Assembly members’ group on July 19 submitted to the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Revitalization Headquarters a statement protesting against the TEPCO chair’s remark concerning a plan to discharge tritium-tainted water stored at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.

The JCP assembly members’ group met with a deputy representative of the TEPCO’s headquarters for Fukushima reconstruction, Sato Hidetoshi, at the Fukushima Prefectural office building.

In the meeting, regarding the situation of the fishing industry in Fukushima following the 2011 nuclear meltdowns, JCP group head Kamiyama Etsuko pointed to the fact that fishermen are experiencing hardships, including economic damages caused by harmful rumors, while being allowed to carry out only experimental fishing operations. Kamiyama said, “TEPCO Chair Kawamura Takashi announced the plan to release the radioactively-polluted water into the ocean with neither Fukushima citizens’ understanding nor fishermen’s consent, which is totally unacceptable.”

Kamiyama also quoted Kawamura as saying that it is TEPCO’s responsibility to operate nuclear power plants as long as there are people supporting nuclear power generation. Kawamura made this remark in a Nuclear Regulation Authority hearing concerning the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant located about 10 km from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP.

Kamiyama criticized Kawamura’s remark for turning his back on the closure of the Fukushima Daini NPP which is demanded not only by prefectural and municipal assemblies but also by more than 80% of Fukushima residents. She urged the utility to immediately decide to shut down the crippled NPP’s sister plant.

TEPCO official Sato in reply said that he will convey the JCP’s request to the utility’s Tokyo headquarters. Sato said that TEPCO will deal with tritium-polluted water based on discussions with parties concerned and will make a decision on the Fukushima Daini plant issue as early as possible.

Past related articles:
> Polluted water leakage proves Fukushima disaster not under control [February 27, 2015]
> JCP listens to Fukushima fishermen regarding radioactive water leak [August 22, 2013]