Anti-nuclear protesters defied a government order to vacate the area in front of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Tokyo’s Kasumigaseki district on Jan. 27.
Anti-nuclear protesters defied a government order to vacate the area in front of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Tokyo’s Kasumigaseki district on Jan. 27.
Despite a formal notice from the ministry, which oversees the nuclear industry, to remove three tents on the government-owned land by 5 p.m., no action was taken by officials or the police to evict the activists when they refused to budge.
"We will never voluntarily leave here unless the government pledges not to restart nuclear power plants," said one protester. "The ministry issued the order now because we would be an obstacle to its push for a restart of the nuclear plants."
As the deadline for removal passed, protesters shouted "No nuclear power plants," "Protect the tents" and other slogans. A banner at the site reads: "No more radioactive contamination."
The demonstrators set up the tents on Sept. 11, six months after the Great East Japan Earthquake triggered the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Four or five people have been taking turns living in the tents and have been collecting signatures for a petition demanding the abolition of nuclear plants and compensation for residents of Fukushima Prefecture.
The ministry rejected a request from the citizens in September for permission to use the government land. Ministry officials have previously asked the protesters to leave, but have not taken any action to forcibly move them.
The ministry said it issued the formal notice because the protesters had ignored a request not to use fire at the site. A gasoline power generator triggered a small fire late last month near the tents used by the protesters.
The ministry claims the tents are obstructing its day-to-day management, but said it has no legal basis for taking forcible action to remove them.
As of Jan. 26, only four of the nation's 54 reactors were operating. They will be all shut down by the end of April for maintenance.
Some local governments hosting nuclear plants have expressed concern about the restart of reactors in their areas.