DATE=10/6/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=JAPAN NUCLEAR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254703
BYLINE=STEVEN SHAYMAN
DATELINE=TOKYO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Japanese authorities have raided the offices of
the company that operates the uranium processing plant
where the nation's worst-ever nuclear accident
occurred last week. As Steven Shayman reports from
Tokyo, the raids come just before a scheduled visit to
the stricken facility by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.
TEXT: Hundreds of police officers early Wednesday
descended on offices of the J-C-O company in the town
of Tokaimura, 110 kilometers northeast of Tokyo. They
also raided the firm's Tokyo headquarters.
At Tokaimura, police are reported to have limited
their search to an office building and other locations
- remaining away from the nuclear fuel building,
because of safety concerns.
The raids are part of intensified police efforts to
search for evidence of criminal wrongdoing, in last
Thursday's nuclear fuel processing accident. The
mishap sent three workers to the hospital and exposed
at least 49 people, including local residents, to
radiation.
Two of the three hospitalized workers remain in
critical condition. Police say the workers had poor
knowledge of the chemical substances they were
handling and of what quantities would set off a self-
sustained nuclear chain reaction.
J-C-O officials have admitted they changed their
government-approved manual seven or eight years ago to
enable them to finish plant operations faster.
Meantime, reports quote Japanese government sources
saying the Science and Technology Agency - as a result
of its own inspections of the Tokaimura plant - is set
to revoke J-C-O's business license.
The reports say the agency probe, made between Sunday
and Tuesday, confirmed suspicions of professional
negligence and that J-C-O intentionally violated
government safety procedures when processing uranium
fuel.
Public anger has been considerable in the wake of the
Tokaimura accident - the latest in a long string of
such incidents in Japan. Japan's cabinet installed
this week will soon draft a law mandating stronger
contingency plans for nuclear disasters. It also
intends to revise legislation to tighten safety
standards at nuclear facilities. (Signed)
NEB/SS/FC/PLM
06-Oct-1999 01:38 AM EDT (06-Oct-1999 0538 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
