Counselor Toyama speaks at support association meeting, demands compensation for victims of asbestos exposure on U.S. military bases
November 18, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
Chatan – On November 17, a general meeting of an association that supports individuals and family members of individuals who have been exposed to asbestos as a result of the U.S. military presence in Okinawa was held at the Chatan Chamber of Commerce Hall. The group works to get relief for former employees, or families of employees of U.S. military bases who were victims of asbestos exposure during their work. Naoyuki Toyama is a lawyer who has been in charge of the asbestos-related lawsuits in Okinawa. He gave a lecture at the meeting, discussing the need for lawsuits to get relief for victims. “For decades, these individuals devoted themselves to doing their jobs. It’s only natural that they have a right to ask for compensation if the country employing them was negligent.”
Toyama has been in charge of ten completed asbestos-related lawsuits in Okinawa and has not lost any of these cases. All have ended in a settlement with the government.
At the general meeting, it was decided that Masako Zamami would assume the role of chair beginning November 17. Zamami says, “I hope to continue finding the victims of asbestos exposure and to help them to get relief.” Inquiries and consultations can be directed to the Okinawa Center for Former Military Base Employees (Okinawa Churyugun Rishokusha Center), phone number: 098 (923) 0151.
(English translation by T&CT and Ellen Huntley)
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