Former Hansen's disease patients who sued the state over its past isolation policy on Saturday hailed the permanency of a ruling awarding them compensation after the government decided not to lodge an appeal.
They praised the Kumamoto District Court decision in a statement, calling it a "historic first step for recovering the former patients' humanity" after decades of forced isolation in state sanitariums. The statement was also signed by a group of plaintiffs in suits pending in the Tokyo and Okayama courts. In a press conference in Kumamoto, former patients said the ruling confirmed the government's responsibility in the matter.
As for government plans to restore their honor, the statement says the steps must be based on agreement with the plaintiffs and reflect their wishes.
The plaintiffs are demanding a sincere apology from the state, publication of the apology, compensation and the establishment of ongoing negotiations with the state.