原発事故調査―第三者機関で解明を

スリーマイル島原発事故でカーター大統領がとった処置に習えばよい。
原子力以外の専門家や地域代表らも含めた特別な委員会を設ける。
再発防止が難しいと評価される原発は閉鎖する。
（スラチャイ記）

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 24
EDITORIAL: Independent panel needed to investigate Fukushima nuclear crisis
原発事故調査―第三者機関で解明を

Few days pass without news that makes us wonder if the government is telling the truth about the disastrous nuclear accident triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
　原発事故で日本政府が語ることは真実なのか――。こんな疑念がぬぐえない日々が続く。

On May 23, the Lower House special committee on reconstruction from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami asked about the government's suspected involvement in the decision to temporarily suspend the injection of seawater into a crippled reactor the day after the accident broke out at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
　きのうの衆院東日本大震災復興特別委員会でも、事故翌日に原発への海水注入が一時中断されたことに対して、政府の関与がただされた。

The government said it was a voluntary decision by the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO). But the answers from government officials to the questions failed to dispel suspicions that the prime minister's office influenced the company's decision.
　政府は東京電力の自主判断だと説明したが、首相官邸の意向が東電の判断に影響した可能性は払拭（ふっしょく）しきれなかった。

It is easy to imagine the utter confusion within the government and TEPCO at that time.
　当時の政府と東電内部の混乱は想像に難くない。

Efforts to uncover what actually happened should be made carefully.
真相解明には慎重を期さねばならない。

That is all the more reason why it is essential to get an independent entity to look into the nuclear crisis in an inquiry clearly separated from policy debate on recovery and rebuilding in the devastated areas.
だからこそ、復旧・復興の政策論議と切り離した、第三者機関による検証作業が欠かせない。

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has pledged to set up a committee of experts for an investigation into the accident. He should announce the specifics of the envisioned fact-finding committee as soon as possible.
　菅直人首相も専門家による事故調査委員会をつくると明言している。速やかに具体像を示してほしい。

There are two important factors in appointing the committee.
　その際に重視すべき点が二つある。

One is to secure its independence and neutrality.
　一つは独立性、中立性の担保だ。

To be able to carry out careful examinations and fair assessments, the investigation panel should be clearly independent of the people and organizations involved in dealing with the accident, including TEPCO, Kan, the other Cabinet members concerned, the Nuclear Safety Commission and the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.
事故対応にあたっている東電、菅首相、関係閣僚、原子力安全委員会、原子力安全・保安院らの判断をつぶさに検証するには、いずれとも距離を置かねばならない。

In selecting the committee members, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the core members will not include anyone who is affiliated with the "nuclear power village," the close-knit community of politicians, industry executives, scientists and other people with vested interests in promoting nuclear energy.
　委員の人選では、原発を推進してきた「原子力村」の関係者を中核から外すことが絶対条件だ。

To earn international confidence in the panel, it is also important to seek some forms of cooperation from relevant international organizations and foreign experts.
国際社会の信認を得るには、国際機関や外国の専門家にも、何らかの協力をあおごう。

From the viewpoint of the principle of separation of powers, which requires the legislature to check the government, the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party's idea to set up an investigation committee within the Diet is worth serious consideration.
　三権分立に基づき、立法府が行政府をチェックするという意味では、自民党が検討中の国会内に調査委を設ける方式も一案だろう。

There is, however, concern that the panel could degenerate into an arena for partisan warfare under the divided Diet with the opposition in control of the Upper House.
ただ、ねじれ国会のもとで党利党略のぶつかり合いの場になるようでは困る。

Following the 1979 Three Mile Island accident, U.S. President Jimmy Carter created a special committee that included experts in areas other than nuclear energy and local community representatives.
　１９７９年の米スリーマイル島原発事故では、カーター大統領（当時）が原子力以外の専門家や地域代表らも含めた特別な委員会を設けた。

As he recognized the importance of allowing outsiders to take part in the probe into the accident, Carter decided not to leave the task solely to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
原子力規制委員会（ＮＲＣ）任せにせず、外部の目を重視したためだ。

Japan should learn from his bold action.
この大胆さは見習う価値がある。

Secondly, the panel should be given strong investigative powers to accomplish its mission, which should be clearly defined as preventing another nuclear disaster.
　二つめは、強い調査権限を付与しつつ、調査の目的は再発防止なのだと明確にすることだ。

Depending on the results of the investigation, some of the people responsible for dealing with the crisis may have to be held strictly accountable.
　結果しだいでは、関係者の責任が厳しく問われる場面もあり得る。

What is more important than putting the blame on someone, however, is to learn valuable lessons from the Fukushima disaster that will help efforts to minimize the damage through the best possible responses should a similar situation arise somewhere in the world.
だが、罪状を暴き立てるよりも大事なのは、世界中の原発で同様の事態が起きた時、最善の対応で被害を最小限に抑える知恵を見いだすことなのだ。

There are also tasks that need to be done before the start of the planned investigation committee.
　調査委の発足前にも着手すべき作業がある。

All the necessary materials and records concerning the entire chain of events should be safely kept, while all key people involved should be interviewed for testimonies while their memories are still fresh.
事故直後からの資料や記録が散逸しないよう保存し、記憶が薄れる前に関係者の証言を集めておくことだ。

As a country that has experienced one of the worst nuclear accidents in human history, Japan should make an exhaustive investigation into what happened and fully disclose the findings.
　史上最悪レベルの原発事故を起こした国として、徹底検証をして、その結果を包み隠さず公表する。

That's the only way for the nation to regain the trust of people both at home and abroad.
国内外の信頼を回復するには、これしかない。