Minamata resolution still elusive

The new redress steps for uncertified Minamata disease patients are not
likely to lead to a complete settlement of decades-old disputes
involving the mercury poisoning disease, panelists at a recent Tokyo
symposium indicated.

More than 40,000 people with the disease have applied for the assistance
in the last 13 months under a special law stipulating that determining
who should receive the benefits take no longer than three years.

But Masazumi Harada, a doctor involved in the Minamata issue during the
past half-century, told the audience of around 150 on Saturday:
"Symptoms of Minamata disease develop with advancing age. There still
must be many potential patients."

His point suggests that the three-year provision could result in those
people being abandoned, particularly congenital patients, who were hit
by mercury in the womb and who so far have not exhibited symptoms.

The redress, the largest settlement since the government compiled a
package in 1995 for uncertified victims, features a lump sum of \2.1
million and \12,900 to \17,700 in monthly medical allowances.

Takeko Kato, who 13 years ago founded a community workshop to support
the independence of congenital patients in Minamata, Kumamoto
Prefecture, underlined Harada’s remarks: "I have seen several congenital
patients whose symptoms deteriorated rapidly over a few months and have
become confined to wheelchairs.

“They must represent just the tip of the iceberg,” she said, indicating
there must be an unknown number of such cases among those who were born
in Minamata as well as in areas surrounding the Shiranui Sea, and are
now in their 40s and 50s.

Minamata disease was caused by Chisso Corp. discharging contaminated
wastewater into the sea from its chemical plant in Minamata.

Following official recognition of the disease in Minamata in 1956, a
similar disease was later confirmed in Niigata Prefecture, which was
caused by wastewater from a Showa Denko K.K. plant.

The symposium was sponsored by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Takahiro Suzuki, a Tokyo-based lawyer working for the federation’s
committee on pollution, stressed the need to survey the health of people
living near the Shiranui Sea.

He said this is necessary to clarify the damage caused by Minamata
disease and to determine who should be treated.

It is estimated that 100,000 or 200,000 people were infected with
mercury, and there must be many potential patients, according to the
federation.

The new redress measures are based on a 2009 special law that expands
the scope of victims entitled to government relief measures and allowed
Chisso to split into two entities.

One is a holding company responsible for financially compensating the
victims, while a subsidiary handles business operations.

Concerns remain that the spinoff, which took place in March, could
eventually lead to liquidation of the responsible firm.

Kyodo

Chronology of mercury disease

May 1956 – Unexplained encephalopathy detected in Minamata, Kumamoto
Prefecture.

May 1965 – Second case of Minamata disease confirmed in Niigata Prefecture.

Sept. 1968 – Minamata disease officially designated as a
pollution-triggered illness.

March 1973 – The Kumamoto District Court rules in favor of patients in
damages suit against Chisso.

Oct. 1995 – Groups of uncertified patients accept government-initiated
settlement proposal.

Oct. 2004 – The Supreme Court recognizes the government’s responsibility
for spreading Minamata disease, eases standards for certifying patients,
triggers damages suits filed by uncertified patients.

July 2009 – Relief act enacted for uncertified patients.

April 2010 – The Cabinet adopts redress measures for uncertified
patients, featuring a \2.1 million lump sum coupled with monthly medical
allowances.

March 2011 – Chisso spins off its business operations to secure
compensation costs.

Kyodo