Japan Press Weekly

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2012 August 15 - 21 [GREAT EAST JAPAN DISASTER]

JCP demands continued support for 3.11 disaster survivors

The Japanese Communist Party Fukushima Prefectural Committee and the JCP members of the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly on August 17 held a talk with the Fukushima vice-governor, demanding that the prefectural authorities request the national government and Tokyo Electric Power Company to continue and improve measures to support victims of the March 11 disaster.

Those sufferers have received a reduction or exemption of premiums in the National Health Insurance, the Long-Term Care Insurance, and the medical insurance for elderly people after the disaster. However, such measures are to be terminated at the end of September. In addition, the government subsidies for emergency job-creating projects will be discontinued at the end of next March.

The JCP representatives argued that the prefectural government should strongly request the central government to withdraw the situation “under control” declaration of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, which was issued by Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko at the end of last year. The national government uses this empty declaration as an excuse to end its supporting measures.

The JCP group also demanded that the prefectural authorities ask the central government to keep up the measures to help the 3.11 disaster sufferers repair their houses damaged by the earthquake and to resume the emergency subsidizing plan for the installation of air conditioners to elementary and junior high schools. It also demanded that the prefectural government temporarily take over these measures until they are reimplemented by the state.

Vice-governor Murata Fumio responded by saying that they are calling on the government to continue the preferential measures for the victims. Murata said, “We would like to consider how we can support the disaster sufferers while taking into consideration the financial condition of the prefecture.”