"KYOTO, Japan — Investigators concluded Thursday that a nuclear plant operator that tried to manipulate public opinion with fake e-mails was acting under instructions from a high-ranking local government official, adding a new twist to a scandal that has hampered Japan's efforts to restart idled nuclear reactors after the Fukushima disaster."
"An independent investigative committee found that the governor of Saga Prefecture told the operator, Kyushu Electric Power, to send e-mails supporting the restart of two reactors at the company's Genkai Nuclear Power Station. The company has already admitted to ordering employees to pose as regular citizens by sending e-mails during an online town-hall-style meeting in June over whether to allow the restart of the reactors.
Despite the company's admission, the committee did not accuse the governor, Yasushi Furukawa, of explicitly asking officials to send e-mails masquerading as coming from the public, but only of asking it to send e-mails. Mr. Furukawa has denied requesting any faked e-mails, saying a Kyushu Electric vice president misunderstood his remarks during a private meeting earlier in June."
Martin Fackler reports for the New York Times September 8, 2011.
SEE ALSO:
"Fukushima's Reactor Cores Still Too Hot To Open" (Nature News)
"Fukushima Impact Is Still Hazy" (Nature News)
"Sea Radiation From Fukushima Seen Triple Tepco Estimate" (Reuters)
"Former Japan PM 'Prevented Nuclear Plant Pullout'" (Dawn)
"Japan Misstated Radiation" (Wall St. Journal)
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