Koodankulam: non-violence needs our non-silence !
Jeyaprakash Jagannathan| (Save Tamils Movement)Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is a nuclear power station currently under construction in Koodankulam in the Thirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu in India. An Inter-Governmental Agreement on the project was signed on November 20, 1988 by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev just two years after the world’s worst nuclear disaster happened in Chernobyl (former Soviet Union).The people protest against Koodankulam Nuclear plant started right from the foundation stone laying day itself (May 1, 1989). The Indian government dispersed the protestors after opening rounds of fire shot against the protestors on that day. It is to be noted that the foundation stone laying ceremony for KKNPP was cancelled for three times due to strong protests by the people against the nuclear plant. After the fall of Soviet Union, the project got delayed and later construction resumed from 2001 only. The people protest against KKNPP has grown along with the plant construction.The anti-nuclear activists formed People’s Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) in late 1980s to spread awareness among the people about the danger of nuclear radiation emitted by nuclear power plants and its threat to peoples’ life living close proximity to the plant .PMANE is spearheading the anti nuclear campaign in three districts around KKNPP for about 25 years.The Fukushima Nuclear disaster and the loud noise from the KKNPP during a mock drill in August 2011 brought about 10000 people to the streets and started a massive fasting protest on September 11, 2011 in Idinthankarai village. Reacting to unresponsive government, PMANE declared that people’s protest would continue till the Koodankulam Nuclear plant is completely scrapped. This strong, well disciplined and non-violent protest by the people continuing for the past 120 days irked the Indian government to suppress the protest in various ways. The people struggle gained support from various political movements, parties and activists across the state. The government’s main agenda is to isolate the people struggle from the mainstream politics and rest of the country through ministers, pro-government ‘experts’ and pro-state media.The cheap ways used by the Indian Government to suppress the people protest against the nuclear plant are listed below:

• Illustrious benefits to Tamil Nadu claiming KKNPP will solve the power deficit of the state and will augment the growth of state
• False campaign of ‘safe’ Nuclear power through pro-government scientists, experts and by advertisements in Television channels
• Incepting minds of common people that nuclear energy is the only solution for India’s growing power demand
• Biased Negotiation talks with protesters as delaying tactics
• Indecent attempt to split the people protest in the name of religion citing Christian Missionaries are behind the people struggle
• False campaign of foreign aid in the people protest through pro-state media agents

Despite the above attempts, the people protest continues peacefully and spreading across the state and gaining momentum day by day. Knowing that the closure or delay of KKNPP will affect India’s dream of nuclear paradigm and of course , 5 lakh crore rupees worth commercial agreement with US, France, Russia , Germany, Japan , Indian government attempted to create panic among the people by unleashing violence against them through its agents.

The attack on anti-nuke activists by criminal elements on 31st January 2012 in Thirunelveli Collectorate premises is nothing but the preview of government’s plan to suppress the protest by force. The act of suppression of peaceful protest by violence is anti-democratic and it is highly condemnable.

We urge you to register your condemnation of attack on the anti-nuke activists in Tamil Nadu and extend your solidarity to the Koodankulam people, who are very determined in their peaceful struggle to shut down the Nuclear plant.

Through this petition, we urge the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to intervene in the matter and provide enough and safety security to the people protesting peacefully against the nuclear plant in Koodankulam.