ID :
198571
Mon, 08/01/2011 - 17:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/198571
The shortlink copeid
Saga gov. admits suggesting e-mails supportive of restarting reactor
SAGA, Japan, Aug. 1 Kyodo -
Saga Gov. Yasushi Furukawa admitted Monday that he suggested to Kyushu Electric Power Co. executives soliciting e-mails during a government-sponsored TV program to express public support for restarting reactors at its Genkai nuclear power plant.
Furukawa said he told them it would be necessary to solicit opinions in favor of resumption of the halted reactors via e-mail and the Internet during his meeting with the utility's senior officials on June 21 prior to the local TV program aired live June 26.
He denied any intention of instructing them to fake public opinion, but it is likely that he will come under pressure to resign over the matter.
Kyushu Electric recently admitted it attempted to make local people seem supportive of restarting two reactors at the Genkai power plant by urging employees of the utility and its affiliates to send comments in favor of the resumption to the television program via e-mail and fax amid concerns over nuclear safety in the wake of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Furukawa's remarks were sent to about 100 people, mostly Kyushu Electric employees, and ''there is a sufficient possibility that the governor's comments triggered the mail scandal,'' said Nobuo Gohara, who heads Kyushu Electric's third-party panel set up to investigate the case.
According to the local prefectural government, about 130 e-mails had been sent to the governor by Monday morning to protest at his comments.
Saga Gov. Yasushi Furukawa admitted Monday that he suggested to Kyushu Electric Power Co. executives soliciting e-mails during a government-sponsored TV program to express public support for restarting reactors at its Genkai nuclear power plant.
Furukawa said he told them it would be necessary to solicit opinions in favor of resumption of the halted reactors via e-mail and the Internet during his meeting with the utility's senior officials on June 21 prior to the local TV program aired live June 26.
He denied any intention of instructing them to fake public opinion, but it is likely that he will come under pressure to resign over the matter.
Kyushu Electric recently admitted it attempted to make local people seem supportive of restarting two reactors at the Genkai power plant by urging employees of the utility and its affiliates to send comments in favor of the resumption to the television program via e-mail and fax amid concerns over nuclear safety in the wake of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Furukawa's remarks were sent to about 100 people, mostly Kyushu Electric employees, and ''there is a sufficient possibility that the governor's comments triggered the mail scandal,'' said Nobuo Gohara, who heads Kyushu Electric's third-party panel set up to investigate the case.
According to the local prefectural government, about 130 e-mails had been sent to the governor by Monday morning to protest at his comments.
