Finally, there is a sense of justice in the air over who should take responsibility for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Finally, there is a sense of justice in the air over who should take responsibility for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
A July 31 decision by a citizens' panel to indict three former executives of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. has given renewed hope to victims that they will get the answers they have been looking for.
The decision to indict marked the second time an independent judicial panel of citizens has overturned earlier decisions by prosecutors not to indict.
For the first time, a criminal trial will be held to determine the responsibility of TEPCO executives for the disaster.
Ruiko Muto, 61, who heads a group pursuing the criminal responsibility of TEPCO and government officials, was overcome with emotion when she learned of the decision.
"Even today, 110,000 residents (in Fukushima Prefecture) cannot return to their homes," Muto said. "Unless the truth is revealed, the victims will not feel rewarded for all the trouble they have been through."
With regard to the three former executives who were indicted, Muto said, "I hope they will reveal the entire truth in the courtroom as to why that accident happened."
Hiroyuki Kawai, who heads the team of lawyers working with Muto's group, said: "If this had ended with a decision not to indict, the real truth about the accident would have been forever buried in darkness. There is a major significance in the decision to indict based on the sense of justice held by ordinary citizens."
In its decision, the citizens' panel noted that in the years before the accident TEPCO's bottom line was worsening.
"There was concern that if measures were taken on work to deal with (a potential) tsunami at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the financial situation would be further hurt," the panel said.
Yuichi Kaido, another lawyer, said the latest decision took greater account of TEPCO’s financial background.
"The contents were much deeper than the decision made by the first citizens' panel (in July 2014)," he said.
Many of those still trying to cope with the aftermath of the Fukushima accident were unsure whether they would see any immediate improvement in their day-to-day lives.
Reiko Hachisuka, 63, who lives in temporary housing in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, welcomed the decision to indict. She said many people will never be satisfied until responsibility for the accident is made clear.
An evacuee from Okuma, Hachisuka joined the Diet's Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission as a representative of disaster victims.
"Even if a few people are tried in court, that will not lead to an end to our lives as evacuees," she said.
Of the 110,000 Fukushima residents who fled their homes, about 45,000 currently live outside the prefecture.
"I hope everyone realizes there is no direct relationship between the court case and the rebuilding of Fukushima," Hachisuka said. "Nothing will be resolved by making a judgment about someone's responsibility. The problem is much deeper."
Yuichi Manome, 52, an official with the Iwaki city fishing cooperative, said, "Damage continues to be inflicted on Fukushima even today. I hope a clear decision is made in the court."
The Iwaki fishing cooperative resumed the harvesting of sea urchins on July 30 on an experimental basis.
Manome suggested that the failure to clarify the responsibility of TEPCO executives helped fuel moves to resume operations at other nuclear plants.
"Despite the magnitude of the accident, no one has been asked to take responsibility," Manome said. "That leads to the thinking that perhaps the accident never happened in the first place."
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office and TEPCO issued statements saying there would be no direct comment on the decision made by the citizens' panel.