Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2011 June 29 - July 5 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Kyuden attempted manipulation of public opinion in TV program

Kyushu Electric Power Co. (Kyuden) organized its related firm employees to send to a local TV program e-mails supporting the restart of its nuclear power plant in Genkai Town, Saga Prefecture.

The TV program was hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and aired on June 26 through local cable TVs and the Internet. In the program, four officials of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) as well as a college professor answered questions from seven local residents picked by the state regarding the resumption of the operations of two reactors at the Genkai plant.

According to persons involved, Kyuden’s affiliate company on June 23 and 24 explained to its employees in an in-house meeting that it was ordered by Kyuden to send e-mails calling for the restart of the suspended nuclear reactors.

The company’s manager then told employees to write such e-mails as ordinary citizens and send them from their homes in line with the flow of the TV debate.

The program introduced 11 e-mails and faxes. Some opposed the resumption of the reactors’ operation since the Fukushima nuclear crisis is still out of control. Others expressed concerns over future generations if closure of nuclear plants will cause the flight of domestic industry abroad.

According to the ANRE, the program received 473 e-mails and 116 faxes from viewers.

In answer to an Akahata inquiry, Kyuden claimed that it had never made such a request to affiliated companies.

Currently, operations at Units Nos. 2 and 3 of the Genkai nuclear power plant are suspended due to regularly scheduled inspections.

Muto Akemi, Saga Prefectural Assembly member of the Japanese Communist Party, said that it is outrageous for the electric company to try to manipulate public opinion on a TV program which should sincerely respond to residents’ questions and concerns.