August 10, 2012

People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE)
Idinthakarai & P. O. 627 104
Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu
Phone: 98656 83735; 98421 54073
koodankulam yahoo.com
pushparayan gmail.com

The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) condemns the undemocratic and authoritarian decision of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to grant clearance for the ‘Initial Fuel Loading’ and ‘First Approach to Criticality’ of Unit-1 of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP).

Even as the country is awaiting the Madras High Court’s judgment on a batch of petitions that have challenged the legality and appropriateness of the Environmental Clearance granted to the KKNPP project, this decision amounts to contempt of court and outright insult of the rule of law in our country.

More interestingly, the AERB has given assurance to the Madras High Court that the post-Fukushima taskforce’s recommendations would be fully implemented in all the nuclear installations in India and that no fuel loading decision at the KKNPP would be taken until then. The current permission to load fuel at KKNPP is a gross violation of that commitment made at the Court and the sentiments of the struggling people.

This attitude and functioning style, however, is very much in congruence with the undemocratic, authoritarian and anti-people nature of the atomic energy department. The political parties and leaders in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, the civil society leaders and the media must take a stand and protect the interests of the “ordinary citizens” of India and reassert the rule of law in our country.

The struggling people will do whatever democratically possible to oppose the authoritarian and illegal decision of the Indian nuclear establishment.

The Struggle Committee
The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE)

 Hiroshima Day Commemoration at Idinthakarai

The Struggle Committee of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) had decided to commemorate the Hiroshima Day as the “Nuclear-Free Tamil Nadu Day” and had requested all the various political parties and social movements in Tamil Nadu to organize events all over the state in support of this demand. We have also made an appeal to the people of Tamil Nadu to light lamps or candles in front of their homes on August 6^th.

Accordingly, several events are taking place in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Here at Idinthakarai, we have planned a massive public meeting at 4 PM and it will be attended by the people of several villages around Koodankulam. The meeting will be addressed by several political leaders such as Thol. Thirumavalavan, Ku. Ramakrishnan, Arima Valavan and a few others. At 6 PM we take out a candle light procession around Idinthakarai to pay our homage to the victims of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Chernobyl and Fukushima. There will be a cultural program at the end of the procession.

At this event, we are also launching a postcard campaign requesting the Russian Ambassador in India to give us a copy of the secretive Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) signed by New Delhi and Moscow on the liability for the Koodankulam nuclear plants 1 and 2. Since the Indian government has been refusing to give us a copy, we have decided to ask the Russians for it.

August 6, 2012

 Postcard Campaign Demanding Copy of Indo-Russian IGA on KKNPP 1 & 2 Liability

August 6, 2012

Press Release

The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) is commemorating the Hiroshima Day 2012 as the “Nuclear-Free Tamil Nadu Day.” Thiru. Thol Thirumavalavan is addressing a massive public meeting at Idinthakarai followed by a candle light procession around the village and a cultural program.

As part of this camapign, the people of southern districts in Tamil Nadu are embarking upon a postcard campaign to the Russian Embassy in New Delhi demanding a copy of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) signed secretly by New Delhi and Moscow in 2008 about KKNPP 1 and 2 liability.

Article 13 of the IGA states very clearly that Russia will not be held liable for any accident at the Koodankulam nuclear power plants. Indian government does not want to give a copy of the IGA to the Indian citizens, or to the people around Koodankulam. We do not know why.

We do not know what is so secret about it? What is the Manmohan Singh government hiding from its own people? If they secretly sign an agreement with Russians and do not want to show it to their own people, who are they being loyal to? Isn’t this a seditious crime? We, Indian citizens, have been asking the Indian government for a copy of the 2008 Indo-Russian IGA for more than two years now.

Since we have not got a copy or any response from the Indian government, we have decided to ask the Russian Embassy for a copy of the 2008 IGA on liability. People from southern Tamil Nadu would be sending a terse postcard to the Russian Embassy in New Delhi.

H.E. The Ambassador
Embassy of Russia
Shantipath
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021 (Email: emb rusembassy.in, indconru gmail.com)

Your Excellency: Please send us a copy of the Indo-Russian IGA concluded in February 2008 and signed in December that year about the KKNPP 1 and 2 liability. Also if your reactors are the “best” in the world, why do you refuse to give any liability?

We would also request all the expatriate Indians all over the world to write to the Russian embassies in their national capitals to do the same.

The Struggle Committee
People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE)