Japan toxic water dump sparks protests

SEOUL - Thousands of South Koreans including fishers, activists,and politicians continued a weekend rally in central Seoul on Saturday to protest against Japan's dumping of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.

The participants shouted slogans such as "Prohibit import of all Japanese aquatic products", and called on the South Korean government to file a lawsuit with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea against the Japanese government.

"Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water is just like trash," Lee Seo-yoon, a mother of three, said during the rally, adding that Japan regards the ocean as a large, cheap rubbish bag.

It would be absurd to hope that no one would be harmed after the contaminated water was let into the ocean, Lee said, calling for the radioactive water to be stored in Japan.

Kim Sam-ho, a fisherman who came from the country's southern coastal Wando County, said: "The ocean is the future of my family and the future of our descendants."

Kim questioned the safety of the radioactive water, calling for the South Korean government to take action including supporting measures for fishers.

"The major purpose of nuclear safety is to block radiation from reaching the environment and people," said Han Byung-sub, a nuclear expert who had worked at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and the Korea Electric Power Corp Engineering and Construction.

After the one-and-a-half-hour rally, the protesters marched about five kilometers to the presidential office in downtown Seoul.

Lawmakers of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party also held an overnight rally against Japan's dumping. The legislators gathered in the National Assembly building on Thursday night to take part in the protest rally, which continued until Friday morning.

UK attitude criticized

The Chinese embassy in London has expressed deep concerns over the British government's attitude to Japan's dumping.

Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth& Development Office has recently issued a statement voicing full support for the Japanese government in releasing the radioactive water into the sea.

"We are deeply concerned about the UK government's attitude on this issue," an embassy representative said. "If the UK is still a responsible country it should unequivocally reject and condemn Japan's wrongdoing."

Most countries and many Japanese oppose the discharge and have taken preventive measures in response, the embassy said.

On Thursday Minamata disease victim groups from the prefectures of Kumamoto and Niigata warned against ignoring the potential health risks posed by the ocean discharge, local media reported.

Xinhua - Agencies