Japanese Prime Pressured to quit

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan faces no-confidence motion in parliament. At present himself under pressure to resign from the prime minister's chair, after he was considered a failure to face nuclear crisis during the earthquake and tsunami rocked Japan.

Kan said his party now feels responsible for the crisis and trying to lead the process of repairs after the earthquake and tsunami that struck March 16 last. But he sure would resign after the post-earthquake reconstruction process is complete.

"After the completion of reconstruction after the earthquake. I will hand over responsibility (as prime minister) to the younger generation," said Naoto Kan was quoted as saying by the Associated Press on Thursday (02/06/2011).

"Nuklur crisis still continues. I'll try my best to overcome this crisis and continue the reconstruction process," he continued.

Previously, the opposition party the Liberal Democratic Party filed a motion of no confidence together with two other smaller parties. Although the Democratic Party of Japan that carries the Kan was still in power in parliament, still many party officials are worried about the leadership Kan.

This motion and disunity in the body of the party making Kan-led reconstruction effort became increasingly difficult, including plans for the addition of large amounts of funds and possible tax increases.

Earthquake measuring 9.0 Richter scale (SR) hit Japan last March. Earthquakes accompanied by tsunamis that caused damage to a nuclear power plant (NPP) Fukushima Daiichi suffered heavy damage and leakage in reactor.

The crisis is considered as the most severe nuclear crises since the nuclear leakage in the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant earlier. Approximately 80 thousand residents were evacuated after detection of leakage from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.