CNDP Statement on violence against Koodankuam protesters

From: CNDP India <cndpindia@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 13:22:40 +0530
Subject: CNDP Statement on violence against Koodankuam protesters

*Statement against violence on anti-nuclear protesters in Koodankulam *

*February 03, 2012*



On their way to attend talks with the Central Government Expert Panel, a
group of activists agitating against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project
in Tamil Nadu were attacked by a violent group.  The miscreants are
believed to be supporters of the local Hindu Munnani group.  20 women
accompanying M. Pushparayan and Jesuraj, the representatives of People's
Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) in the dialogue with the Central
Government's expert committee were beaten badly and are hospitalized.

We condemn this heinous act in strongest terms and demand that the violent
miscreants should be brought to book.

It is extremely unfortunate that the establishment is seen indulging in
intimidating and violent tactics against people who are struggling to
safeguard their lives and livelihoods. The talk between the Central
Government and the protesters is at the fourth round. While the Central
Government has declined to adequately answer the questions raised by PMANE
and even to share the documents requested by it, it has resorted to
religious profiling, intimidation, and now open mob-violence against the
protesters. The movement in Koodankulam has been entirely nonviolent and
has maturely denied any pretext to the Central Government for repression.
The recent incident is being seen as incitement for violence. a section of
the media supporting the Central Govt's stand on the nuclear power plant
has recently indulged in similar incitement by publishing mobile number and
contact details of leading activists, along with a malicious article with
baseless hate-mongering against them.

We demand that this direct and indirect arm-twisting should be immediately
stopped. People are agitating against nuclear power projects in several
other parts of the country and accusing them of being foreign-funded and
religion-backed is simply malicious and defamatory.  We reiterate our
demand that the Central Government should go for an open and broad-based
national consultation on nuclear energy before going for such a massive
expansion.

 *For CNDP*

Achin Vanaik

Admiral L Ramdas

Anil Chaudhary

Amarjeet Kaur

Praful Bidwai

N D Jayaprakash

Sukla Sen


--

Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP)

A 124/6 Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi-16

Telefax: 011-26517814

Web : www.cndpindia.org