More Minamata disease sufferers seek judicial remedy+

KUMAMOTO, Japan, March 3 Kyodo -
A group of Minamata disease sufferers filed a damages suit Tuesday, demanding
that the state, Kumamoto prefectural government and Chisso Corp., which caused
the mercury-poisoning disease, pay 918 million yen in compensation to them.
The latest move by 108 sufferers from Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kumamoto and Kagoshima
prefectures brought the total number of plaintiffs in the joint lawsuit actions
at Kumamoto and Osaka district courts to 1,662.
A project team of the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the
New Komeito party is now working to compile comprehensive and final measures to
redress Minamata disease patients.
But 68-year-old Toshio Oishi, who heads a sufferers' group, said, ''We're
seeking a judicial remedy so all of the victims will be relieved.''
Minamata disease, a neurological affliction, was caused by mercury-laced
wastewater from a synthetic resin factory operated by Chisso in Minamata, which
poisoned fish, and a similar disease was confirmed in Niigata Prefecture in
1965 that was found to be caused by wastewater from a plant operated by Showa
Denko K.K.
==Kyodo
2009-03-03 22:31:16