The number of suicides in Fukushima Prefecture linked to 3/11 is higher than elsewhere, most likely because of the nuclear disaster, according to the Cabinet Office.
It is the first case and it opens the gate of Courts to other cases: The Fukushima District Court ordered Tokyo Electric Power Co. to pay 49 million yen ($471,600) in compensation to the family of a woman who committed suicide by setting herself ablaze after being forced to evacuate her home.
She burned herself to death at age 58 after she was forced to evacuate her home due to the nuclear crisis. Watanabe's husband and three other relatives have sought 91 million yen.
Presiding Judge Naoyuki Shiomi said Watanabe's mental anguish was "huge," citing the despair she felt in the face of an uncertain future as an evacuee and the fact that she chose to die in a place where she was born and raised
The judge also said Tepco should have been able to "foresee" that displaced residents, subject to stress, might commit suicide in the event of a nuclear accident. It is the first ruling in a lawsuit in which compensation has been sought from the utility over a suicide linked to the disaster that caused serious radiation contamination. Through an out-of-court settlement, Tepco has previously agreed to pay damages to a different suicide case involving a farmer. Tepco said it will study the content of the ruling and respond to it "sincerely."
The plaintiffs have said Watanabe's mental state deteriorated because she was not able to foresee when she could return home and the chicken farm where the couple worked had closed in June. During the trial, Tepco admitted the nuclear accident had placed a severe psychological burden on Watanabe. But the utility also said other factors could have affected her, noting she had trouble sleeping before the accident and was on medication. The ruling said Watanabe was "likely to have fallen into a state of depression" because she had a tough time as an evacuee, losing ties with the local community as well as her job.
Never have I seen such anger of the civil society since March 11 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Fukushima nuclear accident.
EoQ : http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140826p2g00m0dm064000c.html
She burned herself to death at age 58 after she was forced to evacuate her home due to the nuclear crisis. Watanabe's husband and three other relatives have sought 91 million yen.
Presiding Judge Naoyuki Shiomi said Watanabe's mental anguish was "huge," citing the despair she felt in the face of an uncertain future as an evacuee and the fact that she chose to die in a place where she was born and raised
The judge also said Tepco should have been able to "foresee" that displaced residents, subject to stress, might commit suicide in the event of a nuclear accident. It is the first ruling in a lawsuit in which compensation has been sought from the utility over a suicide linked to the disaster that caused serious radiation contamination. Through an out-of-court settlement, Tepco has previously agreed to pay damages to a different suicide case involving a farmer. Tepco said it will study the content of the ruling and respond to it "sincerely."
The plaintiffs have said Watanabe's mental state deteriorated because she was not able to foresee when she could return home and the chicken farm where the couple worked had closed in June. During the trial, Tepco admitted the nuclear accident had placed a severe psychological burden on Watanabe. But the utility also said other factors could have affected her, noting she had trouble sleeping before the accident and was on medication. The ruling said Watanabe was "likely to have fallen into a state of depression" because she had a tough time as an evacuee, losing ties with the local community as well as her job.
Never have I seen such anger of the civil society since March 11 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Fukushima nuclear accident.
EoQ : http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140826p2g00m0dm064000c.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Be nice and informative when you post or comment.
Thank you to visit Asian Gazette Blog of Joel Legendre-Koizumi.