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Japan seeks criminal charges against nuclear officials
April 16, 1997
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EST (1630 GMT)From Tokyo Bureau Chief John Lewis
TOKYO (CNN) -- The Japanese government filed a criminal complaint Wednesday against its own nuclear development agency for filing a false report last month about a fire at a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant.
The Science and Technology Agency's action against the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation -- Donen in Japanese -- followed a series of accidents and cover-ups that enflamed public opinion. The complaint asks police to pursue charges against Donen.
"We have decided to take legal action against Donen and several of its officials," said the Science and Technology Agency's director, Riichiro Chikaoka .
The agency action had a lot of support. Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said he was "disgusted" with the nuclear power corporation and promised to "investigate them thoroughly and beat them into shape."
The complaint filed by the agency involves an explosion and fire at the Tokaimura plant on March 11. Donen reported to the government that someone had confirmed the fire had been extinguished, when in fact there was no such confirmation.
Donen acknowledged that the report had been falsified, and demoted five officials. At least 37 employees were exposed to low-level radiation during the accident.
The public was vocal after the Tokaimura accident, insisting that they have the right to know what is happening.
"These nuclear accidents continue to be repeated. Everyone worries about the situation," said one citizen, while another expressed "no confidence in Donen ...they are terrible."
And the Tokaimura accident is not the only thing Donen and its officials have to worry about.
The mayor of Tsuruga City, home to two Donen facilities, has expressed concern. Kazuharu Kawase called for Donen's staff to be replaced to restore public confidence in the agency.
The mayor and his constituents may have a right to worry. In 1995, Donen was found to have covered up a potentially dangerous accident at its Monju facility in the city.
And on Monday, an accident occurred at the corporation's Fugen plant in Tsuruga -- an incident not disclosed until Tuesday. The government immediately ordered the facility closed and accused Donen of yet another failure to report.
Japan's chief cabinet secretary acknowledged the problems surrounding the state-run corporation.
"What we have to do is put them back on the right track," said Seiroku Kajiyama. "They will have to quickly find out the causes of accidents and how to prevent them in the future."
The recent accidents have forced the closure of four of Donen's six nuclear plants around Japan.
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