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People's Resolve Against Coca-Cola in Plachimada
May 19, 2005
We, the members of people’s organizations and concerned citizens protest
against Coca-Cola, Pepsi and such other companies, the corporate powers,
expropriating peoples resources, water as well as land, forest, fish
and minerals.
We demand that the Coca-Cola factory in Plachimada, which is being
opposed by the local communities in Plachimada, mostly the Malasar
and Eravalon Adivasis, be closed forever.
We are concerned and feel upset that the judiciary has directed the
panchayat to reconsider its position since such a directive can bring
in undue pressure and amount to interference in the political freedom
of the communities.
We can’t accept the judgment’s position that the corporate body and
citizenry should be treated at part since such as verdict can be dangerous
and further facilitate the corporate encroachment upon people lives
and livelihood.
We support the Perumatty panchayat and its position that the local
community’s right over resources under the constitution and the Scheduled
Tribes right to peace and good governance must be guaranteed and not
violated, by the state, the state government of Kerala itself.
We know that the Coca-Cola pollutes water and affects paddy crop due
to toxicity in its effluents, the sludge. The Pollution Control Board
had already investigated, monitored the situation and concluded that
Coca-Cola's effluents pollute the water resource. The same is reinforced
by the Centre for Science and Environment’s research and Joint Parliamentary
Committee’s findings.
We, therefore, support the people’s struggle against the corporate
powers, against the destruction of natural resources and demand that
the state government of Kerala must:
- Take a firm position, protecting the adivasis, farmers and women
in Palakkad, and file an appeal against the High Court judgment.
- Take cognizance of the Pollution Control Board's report and
close down the factory forever.
- Support the Perummatty panchayat’s right, freedom and efforts
to save their life- supporting resources and livelihood.
- Facilitate alternative local, deshi drink in the state and ban
Coke, Pepsi and such drinks in the state produce by MNCs to protect
people from poison as well as political - economic expropriation.
We demand that Mr. Oomen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala, Smt. Sonia
Gandhi, the President, Mr.Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister should
immediately respond to the people’s indefinite satyagraha, hold a
dialogue and accept the demands.
Water is for life, not for profit!
Medha Patkar
National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Fr. Thomas Kochery
National Convenor, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Esabin Abdul Karim
State Co-ordinator, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
R Ajayan
Convenor, Plachmada Solidarity Commitee
KP Sureah Raj
Convenor, Anti-Pepsi Cola Commitee
Suresh George
National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), Kerala
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