International Law

Latest Government press conference

By Karl-Friedrich Lenz

of 11:30 AM today now online at the Government streaming site.

Chief cabinet secretary Edano remarked that there are people returning to the evacuation zone briefly to take their belongings from their homes. He noted that the Government is studying the question if it is safe to do so, and advised strongly against doing this without waiting for the results of that study.

Again, having exact radiation data for the evacuation zone would obviously be quite useful; and the German military has exactly the capability to provide such data, but is not involved because the Japanese Government hasn’t asked for their assistance yet.

In response to a question about the measuring mistake yesterday he said that the Government is not pleased with this kind of basic mistake and has ordered TEPCO to avoid any more such problems.

In response to a question about Unit 2 he said that the Government now assumes there has been a partial and temporary meltdown in this Unit. And that water in contact with fuel from that meltdown has leaked.

Another question asked for comments on reports that Prime Minister Kan visiting the site by helicopter in the night after the earthquake delayed venting at Unit 1 (for example at Japan Times here). As is clear from Edano’s answer, those reports are lacking in factual accuracy. On the contrary, the Government repeatedly required TEPCO to speed up venting; and there was no danger for the safety of the Prime Minister.

Full post as published by Lenz Blog on March 28, 2011 (boomark / email).