Japanese Environment Minister Shintaro Ito apologized for interrupting Minamata victims’ speeches on May 8, Kyodo News reported.
“I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart. Very sorry”the minister stated during a meeting with the victims in the city of Minamata, in the southwest of the country.
Earlier in the day, the director of the ministry’s special directorate for environmental diseases and moderator of the meeting at a press conference held by a group of victims from Minamata City apologized to the victims.
Let us remember that the incident occurred on May 1 during a meeting of the minister with representatives of eight victims’ groups. A ministry official turned off the speakers’ microphones after the three minutes allotted for speaking expired.
We add that Ito announced his intention to reconsider the deadline policy, given that “It is difficult to understand the situation in three minutes”.
Let us remember that the scandal in the city of Minmamata broke out back in the 1950s due to a disease caused by the contamination of water with mercury compounds from the Chisso plant located in the city. The disease paralyzes the central nervous system and also causes birth defects. Although government relief measures have been taken, litigation continues due to unrecognized victims who are not covered by government support measures.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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