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Summary: Many Japanese from outside the area affected by radiation remain wary in their dealings with Fukushima locals out of fear of being contaminated by them. Evacuees travelling in cars with Fukushima number plates have been denied access to petrol stations. Yet it’s more serious for the children if they are bullied or teased at school because that's where they spend most of their time apart from their homes. More public awareness on the issue is urged, as this discrimination is based on misunderstandings and prejudice.
[TOKYO, 11 June 2011] - ...While Japanese society's cohesion and strength has shone through during [the post-tsunami nuclear crisis], isolated examples of discrimination against the tens of thousands of refugees from around the Fukushima nuclear plant began surfacing not long after the March 11 quake. They include institutional and individual discrimination. The government of the city of Tsukuba, just northeast of Tokyo, was forced to apologise after forcing Fukushima area refugees who had sought shelter to obtain "radiation-free" certificates or undergo screening. The Mayor of Minamisoma, a town of 71,000 that lies 25km from the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, said this week he been approached directly by several victims of discrimination. Katsunobu Sakurai said: "I was told by a mother with some children that when they went to a different area of Japan, they were warned by other children: 'You are contaminated don't come near me.' "The children came home in tears. Having heard such stories, I made an appeal to the national government to ensure that proper education is given so that children do not say such terrible things." Japanese media have reported on a Fukushima area evacuee family with young children that was driven out of Funabashi City near Tokyo after local children complained they might "infect" them with radiation. Although such examples are isolated, the severity and callousness of them led chief government spokesman Yukio Edano to condemn such actions. But many Japanese from outside the affected area remain wary in their dealings with Fukushima locals. The Fukushima Bar Association says evacuees and their children have been victimised and petrol stations have denied access to cars with Fukushima plates. "Discrimination to the Fukushima people is based on misunderstandings and prejudice, and it is an extremely serious violation of human rights," association chairman Akihiro Sugano said. "Fukushima people have suffered from a great earthquake and tsunami. And because of the nuclear power plant accident, these people are now forced to leave their home town. "In the midst of such unrest, it is extremely distressing to face discriminatory treatment at a new place where they evacuated to. "It becomes more serious for the children if they are bullied or teased at school because that's where they spend most of their time apart from their homes." The Weekend Australian spoke to a Fukushima area courier company whose Tokyo customers were still insisting they don't bring parcels using trucks with Fukushima prefecture plates. "So we agreed to deliver products up to Saitama (north of Tokyo) and hand the parcels over to another company, and they do the final delivery to the Tokyo area clients," Akai Transport president Jinichi Sasaki said. "But it is, of course, not a very pleasant way of doing business." Further Information:
Owner: Rick Wallace pdf: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/discrimination-increases-torm...