JAPAN: The Worst Not Over for Mercury Poisoning Victims

By Suvendrini Kakuchi Reprint | | Print |

Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO, Mar 13 1996 (IPS) - For the thousands of helpless victims of mercury poisoning in Japan, accepting a state compensation package is the practical thing to do, but they say the government’s refusal to own up has left them bitter.

After a lot of foot-dragging, the Japanese government last month offered victims a settlement plan that entitles them to a monthly fee for medical expenses and a compensation settlement from Chisso Corporation, the chemical company blamed for dumping mercury into the Minamata Bay.

“I decided to accept a government plan that would allow me a monthly medical expense fee plus a lump sum from Chisso because time is running out,” said a 54-year-old woman named Kyoko.

Under the plan, victims demanding compensation through the courts can avail themselves of a settlement package if they drop the lawsuits. They are to receive 22,000 yen (220 dollars) a month for medical expenses from the government and 2.6 million yen (22,000 dollars) in damages from Chisso.

The settlement calls on the state to set up a public fund for the financially strapped Chisso in order to help it pay compensation to the victims.

The plan provides that the central government and the local government of Kumamoto extend 2.0 billion yen (20 million dollars) and 1.0 billion yen (10 million dollars), respectively, to the fund for Chisso.

Although the majority of the victims say they are now prepared to go along with the plan because they are old and in need of money, they question the manner in which funds will be raised.

“This clause does not force the polluter to pay the victims, which is an important part of our battle,” Kyoko says.

Court cases against Chisso, which had dumped mercury into Minamata while the government turned a blind eye, have been going on for the past four decades. Hundreds of victims who have been awaiting compensation have died.

The first case of mercury poisoning was detected in 1956 in Minamata, a tranquil fishing village in Kumamoto Prefecture, in southern Japan.

Contamination by mercury, which had since been known as the Minamata disease in Japan, is one of the worst post-war cases of industrial pollution in the world.

The government has officially recognised only 3,000 severely handicapped as victims of Minamata disease. They have been compensated.

Over the years, more than 13,000 people have filed lawsuits to compel government to recognise them as victims of mercury poisoning. It was only last month that the state offered them a package in exchange for dropping the lawsuits.

Victims of the disease complain of numbness, irritability and ringing in the ears, all symptoms of the deadly mercury contamination which attacks the nervous system.

Kyoko said she was forced years ago to give up her job because of the physical and psychological difficulties. She also experienced several miscarriages.

“Strong drugs have reduced the pain and suffering I have endured for so long. But fatigue is constant and the mental agony of losing my future remains,” she said.

A major landmark in the victims’ struggle for justice came last year when then prime minister Tomiichi Murayama expressed regret for the incident.

But his words brought no relief because the government continued to appeal against court rulings that found it negligent of its obligations to protect the public.

Takanori Goto, counsel for many of the Minamata victims, said the continuing appeals by the state have overturned lower court rulings that favoured the victims.

“The fact that no leader is willing to apologise to the public has made it all the more difficult for us to demand the government to accept its accountability in the pollution cases,” he said.

He said it is the reason he is urging the victims he represents to accept the new government offer. “I explained to them the futility of fighting on. The majority of sufferers are now in their seventies, the most pressing reason why we cannot go on,” he added.

But accepting the offer is one thing, appreciating the government gesture is another.

“We are not satisfied with the new settlement plan because it does not clearly point out government negligence,” said Saburo Hashiguchi. “But we have to accept it as we are growing old,” said the 72-year-old leader of a group of victims.

Victims point out that the state’s refusal to accept its guilt has left people facing the frightening possibility of similar negligence in case of another pollution mishap in the future.

“Most of all, I dread the long wait now for doctors to finally recognise me as an official victim,” says Kyoko. “When will this pain ever end?”