10,000 protesters lay siege to Tamil Nadu nuclear plant site
The agitation against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant near Tirunelveli reached a feverish pitch on Thursday with more than 10,000 activists laying siege to all the entry points to the project site.
More than 700 scientists and technicians who reached the KNPP for their morning shift could not enter the reactor premises which broughtroutine works to a grinding halt.
“The maintenance works were carried out by the staff on overnight duty who could not come out of the plant because of the road block,” a senior executive of the KNPP told DNA.
This is the first time in the history of the country that the works in a nuclear reactor were affectedfollowing agitation by the local residents.
The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy intensified their agitation within 12 hours of the Prime Minister’s letter to chief minister Jayalalithaa reached the Fort Saint George.
In his letter Manmohan Singh asked Jayalalithaa to help the union government to implement the project as scheduled. He also offered to depute a group of experts to address the legitimate concerns of the people in Kudankulam.
But Pushparayan, the second-in-command to Udaya Kumar , who heads the PMANE, declared that the agitation would continue in a peaceful manner till the reactor was shut down.
“Today morning’s road block is an indication that our agitation has entered into a critical phase. We will not allow anyone to enter the KNPP premises. Today’s blockade has instilled a moral fear in the minds of the KNPP staff,” said Pushparayan.
The road block which began at 8 am in the East Coast Road was shifted to vantage points near the KNPP. “Ours is a Gandhian style agitation and we do not want to create any inconvenience to the people. But this agitation will continue till the government orders the closure of the plant. We do not want the nuclear reactors,” he said.
Even N K Balaji, project director, KNPP could not go inside the plant. “I was asked by the district administration to stay put in my house since the roads have been blocked by the agitators,” he said. Both the Tirunelveli collector and superintendent of police wereunavailable. “Both of them are busy with election duties and conferences ,” said thepersonal assistant to the collector.
Balaji feigned ignorance when asked whether the unit 1 of 1000 MW of the KNPP could be commissionedin October as scheduled. The Prime Minister in his letter had told Jayalalithaa that Tamil Nadu is entitled for 925 MW power once both the units are commissioned.
Intelligence officials said that the agitators resorted to road block because Jayalalithaa was campaigning in the district in connection with the election to the local bodies. “Though she has declared that her support was with the agitators, we are not giving any significance to it. Let her walk the talk for us to believe her assurances,” said Pushparayan.
Meanwhile, a former top intelligence bureau official expressed apprehensions over the agencies behind the agitation. “The possibility of some invisible forces working in a systematic manner to undermine national interests is quite likely. It will, however, require an intensive probe, for which one only wonders how much the present government has the capacity, time and commitment,” he told DNA.
Kumar Chellappan, Chennai, DNA
Thursday, Oct 13, 2011, 18:00 IST
Anti-nuke Activists slam NPCIL official’s charge of foreign forces’ comment in Kudankulam protests
TIRUNELVELI: The anti-nuclear activists have slammed as “irresponsible” the allegation by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) chairman and managing director S K Jain, who had said ’s allegation that foreign forces were behind the protests against the construction of the Kudankulam nuclear plant.
“The statement by NPCIL official that foreigners were behind our protests is cheap propaganda to discredit the agitating villagers. There is not even a bit of truth in it. The protests ever since it started, has been entirely by the common public residing in and around Kudankulam,” said M Pushparayan, convener of Coastal People’s Federation. The fuming activists demanded the NPCIL official to come out with concrete evidence to support their allegation that foreigners were behind the ongoing protest. in the coastal villages in southern Tamil Nadu.
TNN Oct 30, 2011, 02.25PM IST
Solidarity Solicited on Kudankulam People’s Struggle
Dear Colleagues,
As you all aware 127 people are under indefinite fast demanding the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant since 11th Sept 2011. Today is the 10th day. The Central Government is treating this fast as if it is State Government’s issue. The State Government is blaming the Central Government. Obviously, the people suffer. Even the State Government has gone to an extent of stopping the bus service to those coastal areas.
But there are over 20,000 people assemble and register their solidarity with the people who fast for their future and livelihood. The Children stopped going to school. The Fishermen stopped fishing and the local merchants closed down their shops. The struggle is spreading over to the next districts. Most of the political parties have extended their solidarity with the people. Most of the College Students and movements, all over Tamilnadu organizing several solidarity events. I was there are registered the NCCI’s solidarity on the 11th Sept 2011. For update and photos please log on to my wall on Face Book http://facebook.com/ChristopherRajkumar .
It is a very crucial time. Therefore, I kindly request you to please go there are register your solidarity with your colleagues. Secondly, please take a printout of the attached letter and send it to the Chief Minister and Prime Minister today itself. Let us not waste any minute in this regard.
If you are going or sending your colleagues, please contact Mr. Pushparayan in +91 9842154073. Please mark a copy of your letters in this regard to Mr. Pushparayan or inform him in pushparayan hotmail.com.
Please disseminate the same among your networks.
Sincerely yours,
R. Christopher Rajkumar
Executive Secretary,
Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation,
National Council of Churches in India,
Christian Council Campus, Post Box No 205,
Civil Lines, NAGPUR - 440 001, Maharashtra.
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:06:30 +0530
One-day anti-nuke fast turns into 72-hour strike at Idinthakarai
STAFF REPORTER
The one-day token fast observed by the anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project protesters at Idinthakarai on Sunday has been converted into a 72-hour-long hunger strike “to condemn the Central Government’s adamant attitude” in rejecting the Tamil Nadu Cabinet’s recent resolution pertaining to the halting of construction activities at KKNPP.
Subsequently, 106 persons, including 22 women, two physically challenged and three priests, started their 72-hour-long hunger strike in front of St. Lourdes Church at Idinthakarai.
“If the Centre, which is adamantly refusing to honour the Tamil Nadu Cabinet resolution on halting all construction activities at KKNPP and even the maintenance of the upcoming nuclear reactors, continues to be obstinate, we, who are hitherto waging our protests in non-violent fashion, will be forced to think of other forms of agitation on Tuesday evening. Hence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as a mark of respecting the sentiments of 8 crore-strong Tamils, should take an immediate and firm decision to honour the resolution of Tamil Nadu Cabinet,” said coordinator of the KKNPP struggle committee S.P. Udhayakumar. A resolution was also adopted in this connection in the token fast.
To discuss the struggle committee’s recent meeting with the Prime Minister, nearly 3,000 persons from the coastal hamlets in the district gathered in front of St. Lourdes Church at Idinthakarai on Sunday where the protesters had organised the 12-day-long fast demanding the closure of KKNPP. As Mr. Manmohan Singh dashed off a letter to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa after his meeting with the protesters asking her to ensure the timely operation of the KKNPP, Sunday’s meeting at Idinthakarai was converted into a one-day token fast.
Addressing the protesters, Dr. Udhayakumar, who explained in detail their meeting with the Prime Minister, said the Union Government should respect the State Cabinet’s resolution by ordering the halt of all activities at KKNPP.
“The Union Government, which had earlier rejected the State Cabinet’s resolutions on retrieving Katchatheevu and the commutation of death sentences Rajiv Gandhi assassins, is once again snubbing Tamil Nadu Cabinet’s resolution on KKNPP. This time we’ll not allow this to happen. We’ll resist vehemently and intensify our protest till all ongoing development activities at KKNPP are stopped completely,” Dr. Udhayakumar said.
When he noted that it might take even two years to achieve the goal of permanent closure of KKNPP, mild grouse among the protesters could be felt.
The struggle committee members and the leaders from various villages and community leaders convened a 90-minute-long meeting at Bishop Roach Higher Secondary School near the protest venue to discuss the future course of action. The meeting unanimously passed ten resolutions, of which nine condemned the Centre and its agencies Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The meeting also appealed to the State to once again press its earlier resolution.
The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2523224.ece
Support for the people protesting in Idinthakarai
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha heard the voice of the people and asked the Prime Minister to stop the work at nuclear reactor site in Kudankulam.[1] Now it’s the Prime Minister’s turn to address the concerns of the people.[2]
People in Idinthakarai village have been protesting for months now. The Kudankulam nuclear reactors will use Russian technology which according to the official assessment prepared by Russia’s nuclear agencies is , to say the least, risky.[3] The report points out that the reactors might not be safe for a long if the cooling system fails.
Even after witnessing the nuclear disaster in Fukushima six months ago and the deadly explosion in a nuclear facility in France recently,[4] the government is still keen on using nuclear energy. An accident here will affect the entire country. The PM needs to know that the entire country support the demands being made by the people in Idinthakarai.
You should show your support for the people protesting in Idinthakarai.
http://www.greenpeace.in/take-action/no-nuclear/support-protests-at-kudankulam.php
Public pressure helped make CM Jayalalitha take a stand on this issue. Now we need to gather more support to get the PM to listen to the demands being made by the people.
The locals do not want these reactors, especially when there are viable renewable energy options available now. Countries like Germany and Italy have decided to move away from nuclear energy for the safety of their people.[5] India can do the same.
Support the people of Idinthakarai now!
http://www.greenpeace.in/take-action/no-nuclear/support-protests-at-kudankulam.php
Thanks a billion!
Karuna Raina
Nuclear Campaigner
Greenpeace India
Sources:
Jaya halts TN nuke project for now, over to PM, Hindustan Times, September 21, 2011
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Jaya-halts-TN-nuke-project-for-now-over-to-PM/Article1-748407.aspx
PM to take final call on Kudankulam: Narayanasamy, Economic Times, September 23, 2011
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-09-23/news/30193992_1_kudankulam-project-nuclear-power-project-narayanasamy
Checks of Russian nuclear reactors fail safety hopes - and worse, leaked report reveals, Bellona.org, June 6, 2011
http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2011/rosatom_report
Explosion at French Nuclear Site Leaves One Person Dead, The New York Times, September 13, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/world/europe/13france.html
Japan crisis turns Germany, Italy against nuclear, Reuters, March 17, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/17/us-japan-quake-europe-nuclear-idUSTRE72G6X420110317
Don’t Create a Fukushima in TN, warn Japanese activists
Chennai: The anti-nuclear protest in Koodankulam is being watched keenly the world over, especially in Japan. More than 20 civil society organisations representing Japanese individuals and victims of Fukushima nuclear disaster have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa asking them to abandon the Indo-Russian joint venture.
Reminding the Indian Government of the Fukushima disaster, which triggered massive destruction in Japan, the organisation have expressed solidarity with the Idinthakarai protestors and have called for scrapping of the project. “One mistak of this (Fukushima) kind is enough for the world,” noted the letter.
Reacting to Jayalalithaa’s letter to the protestors, Secretary General of Japan Occupational Safety and Health Resource Center, Sugio, wrote, “While the Chief Minister has acknowledged people’s protest and even extended support to it, she has failed to appreciate the fact that the protestors are calling for a cancellation of the project and not to have their fears allayed.”
“Indeed, their fears can never be allayed. At least as long as Chernobyl remains a no-go area nearly three decades since the disaster and while the memories and stories of the unfolding disaster in Fukushima are fresh,” said Sugio in an email to Express. “Japan did not learn its lessons from Hiroshima and pursued peaceful use of nuclear energy. The result was Fukushima.”
“It may seem like a waste of money to scrap a power plant that has been constructed. But as Japanese, we know that the magnitude of human lives lost in the event of a nuclear disaster dwarfs the investments made in construction of an inanimate concrete structure.” On Monday, a meeting of 60,000 people was held in Tokyo against nuclear projects, where Koodankulam was also discussed, Sugio said.
Gokul Chandrasekar
New Indian Express. 21 September, 2011