Kirk here with two editorials about the recent court ruling in favor of Minamata victims seeking compensation. Both editorials urge the government not to appeal and to comply with the court decision. I thought the following statement in the Asahi editorial was particularly noteworthy:
— start quote — Even when the Supreme Court indicated for the second time lenient recognition criteria in 2013, the government didn’t alter its designation standards requiring a combination of multiple symptoms. Instead, the government even released new guidelines raising the bar for official recognition the following year. Such insincere responses should never be repeated. — end quote —
In my mind, this is a representative sample of how both Kumamoto Prefecture and the national government have dealt with Minamata disease over the decades: Resist providing compensation to the extent possible. Even government steps that appear positive, such as the 2009 special measures law, can be interpreted as attempts to bring things to a close as economically as possible. Government resistance to complete compensation for all victims is the main factor contributing to the seemingly never ending series of Minamata disease lawsuits.
EDITORIAL: All Minamata victims should receive relief as new ruling shows https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15015862
Editorial: Minamata disease ruling stresses Japan gov’t relief must match reality https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230928/p2a/00m/0op/011000c
