April 13, 2021
In defiance of strong opposition from local fishermen and the National Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations (JF Zengyoren), the Prime Minister Suga-led government on April 13 decided to release radiation-tainted water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Regarding this decision, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira in the Diet building said to the press, “The government made the decision in a high-handed manner that is undesirable in a democratic country.”
Koike pointed out that in addition to opposition from the JF Zengyoren and Fukushima fishermen’s cooperatives, the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly and 70% of local assemblies in Fukushima adopted a statement opposing the ocean release plan. He also pointed out that in August 2015, the national government and TEPCO in their written response said that they will not dispose of radioactive Fukushima water without obtaining the understanding of all concerned parties. Koike said, “Nevertheless, PM Suga outrageously decided to execute the plan after a 20-minute-talks with the Zengyoren president last week. This is unacceptable.”
Koike stressed, “Even after ten years from the 2011 quake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, the fisheries industry in Fukushima has yet to achieve full recovery. On top of this, they are experiencing hardships due to the pandemic and poor catches. They will be devastated if the ocean release of contaminated water is steamrollered.”
Furthermore, Koike said, “What the government intends is to discharge into the ocean tritium-tainted water from storage tanks at the Fukushima NPP. However, costal fishermen in the Tohoku region including Fukushima fishermen express concerns that it is highly likely that cooling water for the melted nuclear fuel will also be dumped into the ocean.”
Past related articles:
> Fishery industry opposes ocean release of radiation-tainted Fukushima water [June 25, 2020]
> Fukushima residents oppose gov’t plan to discharge radioactive Fukushima water into ocean [April 7, 2020]
> Fukushima fishermen oppose release of tritium-tainted water into ocean [August 31, 2018]
Regarding this decision, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira in the Diet building said to the press, “The government made the decision in a high-handed manner that is undesirable in a democratic country.”
Koike pointed out that in addition to opposition from the JF Zengyoren and Fukushima fishermen’s cooperatives, the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly and 70% of local assemblies in Fukushima adopted a statement opposing the ocean release plan. He also pointed out that in August 2015, the national government and TEPCO in their written response said that they will not dispose of radioactive Fukushima water without obtaining the understanding of all concerned parties. Koike said, “Nevertheless, PM Suga outrageously decided to execute the plan after a 20-minute-talks with the Zengyoren president last week. This is unacceptable.”
Koike stressed, “Even after ten years from the 2011 quake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, the fisheries industry in Fukushima has yet to achieve full recovery. On top of this, they are experiencing hardships due to the pandemic and poor catches. They will be devastated if the ocean release of contaminated water is steamrollered.”
Furthermore, Koike said, “What the government intends is to discharge into the ocean tritium-tainted water from storage tanks at the Fukushima NPP. However, costal fishermen in the Tohoku region including Fukushima fishermen express concerns that it is highly likely that cooling water for the melted nuclear fuel will also be dumped into the ocean.”
Past related articles:
> Fishery industry opposes ocean release of radiation-tainted Fukushima water [June 25, 2020]
> Fukushima residents oppose gov’t plan to discharge radioactive Fukushima water into ocean [April 7, 2020]
> Fukushima fishermen oppose release of tritium-tainted water into ocean [August 31, 2018]
