水俣病確認６８年で慰霊式　患者ら「全面解決を」―熊本

　水俣病の公式確認から６８年を迎えた１日、熊本県水俣市の「エコパーク」で犠牲者の慰霊式が開かれた。患者や遺族のほか、伊藤信太郎環境相や原因企業チッソの木庭竜一社長ら６７０人が参列し、犠牲者に黙とうをささげた。
　式典では患者・遺族を代表して川畑俊夫さん（７３）＝同市＝が「祈りの言葉」を述べた。２００９年成立の水俣病特別措置法で救済対象となった川畑さんは「現在も救済されず、苦しんでいる方が多くいる」とした上で、国と県、チッソに対し「患者の現状に真摯（しんし）に向き合い、全面解決を切に望む」と訴えた。伊藤環境相は「水俣病の拡大を防げなかったことをおわびする」と述べた。（2024/05/01-15:51）

A ceremony to mark the 68th anniversary of the official recognition of Minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by polluted industrial wastewater, was held on Wednesday in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.
   The event was attended by 670 people, including those still suffering from symptoms, bereaved families of Minamata disease victims, Environment Minister Shintaro Ito and Ryuichi Koba, president of Chisso Corp., which released the wastewater.
   They observed a moment of silence for the victims.
   "Many people are still suffering from symptoms without relief," Toshio Kawabata, 73, said in a speech. He became eligible for support provided under the special law for the Minamata disease relief program that was enacted in 2009.
   He called on the Japanese government, the Kumamoto prefectural government and Chisso to face the current situation of patients sincerely and boost efforts for fully resolving related issues.