• Koodankulam fast enters 10^th Day
• Chief Minister Jayalalitha starts to react and pass the buck on to centre
• The movement leaders are to meet Jayalalitha and press for their demand of Tamil Nadu government passing a resolution asking for shut down.
• Solidarity fasting at Amailipuram, Manappad (thoothukudi district)
• In Kanyakumari around 5000 villagers did day fasting

 Today Medha Patker visited the fasting venue where more than 20000 had gathered. She said she was moved by their non-violent protest. She urged them to continue their struggle with the same courage and resilience they had shown and to be careful about the lives of the fasters. She offered her full support and communicated that she will make all efforts to force the state and national governments to act.  Lot of people and movements from various parts of the country came to Idinthakarai to express their solidarity and support. Major solidarity protests happened in all the 3 southern Tamil Nadu districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi. Police are denying permission for people to protest but people are not bothered. In Kanyakumari shops remain closed and 5000 people who gathered in front of the railway station did a one day hunger strike in solidarity with the protest. In Amailipuram village in Thoothukudi district 10000 people had a one day hunger strike and close to 5000 people gathered in Manappad another village in Thoothukdi. Faced with peoples pressure Jayalitha the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister issued a press release and send a letter to the Prime Minister of India passing the buck on to the centre and did not take a stand demanding a closure of the plant which is what the protestors want.

Koodankulam: Movements Reponse to Jayalalita’s Letter

[1] We thank profusely the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for understanding the feelings and fears of the Tamil people who have been struggling against the Koodankulam nuclear power project that threatens their rights to life and livelihood with a motherly attitude and approach and for reviewing her stand and issuing a fresh statement.

[2] We thank the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for writing a letter to the Honorable Prime Minister of India on behalf of the Tamil people and requesting that the work at the Koodankulam nuclear power project be stopped until we resolve the issue on a permanent basis.

[3] We thank the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for deciding to send a delegation of all party leaders from Tamil Nadu and members of the Koodankulam Struggle Committee to meet the Honorable Prime Minister of India and discuss the issue.

[4] Although the Koodankulam nuclear power project is a Central Government project, the State Government does have rights and duties over the issues of land use, pollution control, fresh water supply,external security and so forth. Hence the State Government does have its duties and responsibilities to the people of Tamil Nadu. In the light of the above situation, we humbly request the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to take the position that we do not want nuclear power plants in Tamil Nadu just as the Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal has decided recently.

[5] As the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has said very clearly that her Government would not encourage any project that affects people adversely, we humbly request the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to adopt a ministerial resolution against the opening of the Koodankulam nuclear power project and respect the feelings of the Tamil people.

[6] As per the plan the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has expressed in her statement, we humbly request her to convene an all party leaders’ meeting and take a consensual decision against the opening of the Koodankulam nuclear power project and respect the feelings of the Tamil people.

People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy
September 20, 2011