We hope you have been following the Koodankulam Anti - Nuclear Struggle from its inception. The entire populace in and around Koodankulam have rallied under the leadership of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant and have successfully with-stalled its implementation for the past 218 days. The State till to date has failed to address the real apprehensions of the people but instead stepped up aggressive propaganda to the extent of blaming a foreign hand and in-flow of foreign funds.
The latest development in the series of State measures to suppress the struggle of the protestors has moved to the point of deploying armed police at the power plant premises and start power production. The Tamil Nadu State government upon the instructions of New Delhi has ordered the occupation of the premises by 10000 strong armed Central Reserve Police Force leading to the wholesome eviction of the native population on 19.03.2012. Occupation of the premises by the state Para-military forces has clearly signaled the government's intention of implementing the nuclear power project. The State has also stepped up its aggressive stance arresting key leaders of the people's opposition.
The evicted people of Koodankulam have assembled at Idindhakarai, the centre of protest. Thousands from the surrounding villages too have started assembling at Idindhakarai upon hearing the news of the arrest of the leaders and the occupation of the premises, despite threats and arrests by the police forces. The administration has evoked Section 144 IPC (unlawful assembly) in clear view of suppressing the democratic and peaceful protest. The press has been signaled not to release any news reflecting the ground situation. A journalist, who wished to remain anonymous from ground zero, has reported to us that the armed forces occupying the power plant have intimated them to leave the centre of protest - Idindhakarai, or else to face the consequences that might befall the protestors.
The above stated real state of affairs in Koodankulam and Idindhakarai has been systematically suppressed by the popular media. In spite of the people's surged agitation against State's measures since yesterday morning, and in spite of the fact that Mr. Udhaya Kumar, Coordinator of the struggle had announced unequivocally that the struggle will go on, announcing a hunger fast till death, the popular media has deliberately chosen to play fiddle to the tune of the State. We wish to emphasize, from the information collected from ground zero, that the reports declaring the struggle has fizzled out, appearing in various sections of the popular media are in stark contrast to the ground reality in Koodankulam and Idindhakarai. We fear such depictions are strategic manipulations on the part of the State to choke out the voices that have been gaining momentum off late in support of the protestors. More than that, our major concern is about the total black-out of the ground situation to the world at large, which would grant a free hand to the State forces, and our strongest apprehension is that of carnage of the locals without any witness.
We look forward communities with humanist concerns, working at National and International levels to raise their voices in support of the protestors who have dared to brave formidable state machinery against all odds, upholding democratic traditions.
Regs,
MAY17 movement
In Solidarity with PMANE