Future Japan Plut Shipments Secret

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

>> JAPAN SAYS FUTURE NUCLEAR WASTE SHIPMENTS WILL BE SECRET;


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                    GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> JAPAN SAYS FUTURE NUCLEAR WASTE SHIPMENTS WILL BE SECRET;
GREENPEACE CALLS DECISION MISGUIDED AND ARROGANT
 
LONDON, March 24, 1995 (GP) In the midst of making its first
nuclear waste transport from Europe, the Japanese government has
responded to growing international condemnation by stating
that it will continue to make tens of future waste shipments in
secret.  The statement comes in the midst of growing
controversy around the secretive transport of 14 tonnes of
plutonium waste from France to Japan on board the British-
flagged ship "Pacific Pintail".
 
In a statement made to the nuclear industry periodical
"Nucleonics Week"  Terusuke Terada, the Press Secretary of
Japan's Foreign Ministry, stated that routing information will
not be disclosed for dozens of future nuclear waste shipments. 
Terada also disclosed that "This time, the British are
responsible for the shipment, and they said they would take
entire responsibility," Terada said. "And they believe, in
mid-to longer term, it is not desirable to release the routes to
those antagonists who, they say, naturally may obstruct the
shipment."
 
"Japanese, French and British authorities have chosen to
conduct this deadly transport in secrecy, through waters
legitimately placed off-limits to them, and now they suggest that
countries and organizations opposing such transports are the
'antagonists'!" said Damon Moglen of Greenpeace.  "This is
arrogant and outrageous behaviour."
 
"If these transports are really so safe, why don't the parties
involved make all the information public?" said Moglen.  "The
real reason for the secrecy around this and future nuclear
waste transports is that the safety and security arrangements
will not meet with public approval or acceptance."
 
The pledge to continue the nuclear waste shipments along
secret routes comes as the nuclear waste freighter Pacific
Pintail, sailed around South America in the face of mounting
protest and opposition.  The plutonium waste shipment sailed
through waters of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile
despite governmental protests.  On Sunday, while attempting the
notoriously dangerous around Cape Horn, the Pacific
Pintail was ordered by the Chilean navy to leave the waters of
that country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).  The ship, under
orders from British authorities, continued its incursion into the
Chilean EEZ until a Chilean navy ship threatened to use force to
expel the renegade nuclear transport.
 
It is expected that outraged Caribbean and Latin American
nations will use next week's OPANAL General Conference to raise
the issue of regional protest to the current and future nuclear
waste and plutonium transports.  OPANAL is the Secretariat for
the regional "Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in
Latin America and the Caribbean."  The OPANAL General Conference
will last from March 28 to 30 and will be held in Vina del Mar,
Chile.
 
The Pacific Pintail is now 650 miles of the Chilean coast. While
it is not yet clear which route the ship will now take to Japan,
the transport is likely to infringe on waters under the
jurisdiction of either Latin American or Pacific Island
states.
 
 
---End---  
 
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
 
Karen Richardson Greenpeace UK, ++44 71 354 5100
Bas Bruyne, On Board MV Solo 874 130 1166 WARNING $10 PER MINUTE
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications ++44 71 833 0600
 
 
Media and others interested in tracking the shipment's route
daily should access Greenpeace World Wide Web site at:
HTTP://WWW.greenpeace.org/