Protest at sea against Kudankulam N-plant

A large number of fishermen from Tuticorin and neighbouring villages launched a protest at sea on Sept. 22 against commissioning of Kudankulam Nuclear power plant. The sail protest, which commenced at Tuticorin coast, passed off peacefully, amidst tight security.
Around 3,000 fishermen were aboard over 700 boats and made an attempt to lay siege to the approach channel of V.O. Chidambaranar Port condemning the Central and State Government’s apathy on the issue. Many fishermen from Tirunelveli district also took active part in the protest.
The one-hour sailing by boats moved at an average speed in tandem to reach the channel at a distance of five nautical miles. While steering towards the port channel, where a long and sturdy rope was tied up between breakwaters at the threshold of the channel, the fleet of boats, which converged closed to the channel, stayed afloat as the entry was blocked.
Immediately, the agitating fishermen raised slogans demanding the closure of the nuke plant at Kudankulam, a coastal hamlet in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. They also demanded the withdrawal of police force at Idinthakarai, cases against the protesters and relaxation of the prohibitory order by Tirunelveli district administration.
With National flags hoisted atop the bow and black flags waving up the stern with uniformity in all boats, the participants said that it was done to safeguard the entire citizens of India and also to express remorse over the commissioning of the nuke plant citing that it would cause harm to human lives. Declaring that their livelihoods would be at stake once the plant was made operational, the agitators voiced concern and claimed that both the Governments were against the interests of the fisher-folk.
However, work pertaining to port activities was not at all affected, according to sources.
An aerial surveillance was made by an aircraft, which hovered over the coast to monitor the sailing vessels. Two patrolling Indian Coast Guard ships including Naiki Devi and Veera were involved in the operation, said Commandant S. E. D. Anand Kumar, Indian Coast Guard, Tuticorin Station. Central Industrial Security Force personnel maintained a high alert to avert any untoward incident.
Mr. C. Sylendra Babu, Additional Director General of Police, Coastal Security Group, said a drill was conducted ahead of the sailing protest and the personnel were advised to act according to signals on assembling and dispersing. Since the Coastal Security officials had maintained good liaison with the fishermen, a few protesters, who behaved in an unruly manner in the ocean for a while, responded instantly to maintain peace, Mr. Sylendra Babu added.
Mr. Y. John Nicholson, Deputy Inspector General of Police (CB-CID), stated that the police force was doubly careful after passing instructions to organize the protest in a smooth way at meetings convened with fishermen the previous day. Adequate strength of land force was deployed at Tuticorin fishing harbour. The agitators in mechanized boats, who waged the sailing protest, stepped ashore the harbour around 1.30 p.m.

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