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print versionPRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
September 9, 2011
Authorities Mislead, Confuse and Harass the Local People
[1] We would like to condemn the terrorist attack on the Delhi High Court on September 7, 2011, and express our deep condolences to the families of the dead and our kind wishes for the speedy recovery of the wounded. We would also like to recall the recent statement of the Minister of State for Home, Mr. Mullappally Ramachandran that “the atomic establishments continue to remain prime targets of the terrorist groups and outfits.†With the Indian government’s characteristic lackadaisical handling of intelligence reports, security preparations, and follow-up arrangements, nuclear power plants will spell greater doom for the people of India. And for this reason, all the nuclear power plants must be shut down as soon as possible.
[2] We would like to point out to the people’s representatives in India, the Indian and international civil societies, and the national and international media that the authorities in Tirunelveli district (in Tamil Nadu, India) are treating our nonviolent Gandhian satyagraha with contempt and are harassing us with false cases and threats. Some thirty innocent and law-abiding men and women from Koodankulam and Idinthakarai villages are being harassed with CrPC 107 case for “disturbing the peace†(copies of summons enclosed). Similar cases have already been slapped on a few more of our friends also. It is a shame that authorities are being so intolerant about nonviolent and democratic protests but giving so much attention and importance to terrorist attacks and wanton killings. We demand that all of these cases be withdrawn immediately and that our Constitutional right to protest (against the dangerous nuclear power plants in this case) be honored and respected.
[3] The Tirunelveli District Collector has claimed “some forces†are spreading rumors that said “people from villages situated around Koodankulam will be displaced and fishing within 0.5km from KKNPP will be banned once the plant starts producing electricity.â€
The Tamil Nadu government G.O. No. 828 (29.4.1991 Public Works Department) claims: “The use of land within the exclusion zone of 2.0 km radius around the plant site for any purpose other than establishment of a Nuclear Power Station and its facilities is prohibited.†Could the District Collector kindly mark the 2.0 km radius of the KKNPP reactors 1 and 2 and the proposed reactors 3, 4, 5 and 6 and prove that the exclusion zones do not touch any human habitations?
Contrary to what the Collector says, fishing activities in 500 meter circumference around the KKNPP has already been banned since October 1, 2010 by the previous District Collector Mr. M. Jayaraman under the power granted in Section 5 subsection 1(a) of Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983, and as per the order of the Governor of Tamil Nadu (newspaper clipping enclosed). And it is already a daily reality for the local fishermen to be harassed by the KKNPP security forces when they venture into the sea.
[4] The authorities are aiding and abetting anti-social elements to print anonymous handbills and spread canards and falsehoods about some individual anti-nuclear activists in order to confuse and divide us (samples enclosed). We condemn this reckless and dangerous behavior of everybody concerned and will hold them responsible and liable for any unsavory outcomes.
People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE)
42/27 Esankai Mani Veethy
Parakkai Road Junction
Nagercoil 629 002, Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: 91—9865683735
Email: koodankulam@yahoo.com
