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On June 18, DPJ Secretary General Goshi Hosono spoke to reporters inside the Diet building. He commented on a remark made by LDP Policy Research Council Chair Sanae Takaichi that “The [Fukushima] nuclear accident has not caused any deaths.” He severely criticized this statement, saying, “Among the 1383 people in Fukushima prefecture recognized by the government as having died as a result of the disaster are those who died as a result of the nuclear accident. People who cannot acknowledge these figures or comprehend their gravity are not qualified to participate in the government.”
Hosono commented, “There are people who have died as a result of the nuclear accident, such as those people who died while being evacuated in the aftermath of the accident, and those people who died as a result of the various stresses they experienced while living in evacuation centres. It seems that Ms. Takaichi was unaware of these facts. What amazed me even more were comments made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga and LDP Secretary General Ishiba defending Ms. Takaichi which seemed not to acknowledge these figures. When we consider the feelings of the residents of Fukushima prefecture, people who cannot take these figures into account or comprehend their gravity are not qualified to participate in the government. It is truly regrettable and I urge them to make a fundamental correction in their perception [of events]. It is a betrayal of the people of Fukushima to proceed with the drip drip drip implementation of nuclear policy while ignoring these facts. ”
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