25nd Nov., 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Coke’s Criminal Activities in Mehdiganj, Varanasi
A peaceful march of 1000 citizens was brutally attacked by the police near the Coca Cola plant in Mehdiganj near the holy city of Varanasi and hundreds have been arrested. While many of the arrested were women, there were only two women constables. Male police were manhandling women protestors who had reached the plant after a one week march through affected villagers and were 300 meters away from the gate when they were lathi charged. They have been kept in the open without food all night. A peaceful march of citizens defending their right to water and life is being defined as a “crime” because Coke, a criminal corporation is bribing and influencing the police to create a police state for continuing its crimes against people and nature.
As in every other Coke plant, the company is extracting millions of litres of water per day, leading to a 40 drop in water level, inspite of the plant being near the Ganga. In 2002, coke has also dumped its toxic waste water on the 50 acres of agricultural land. The waste water was earlier being dumped untreated in the Ganga, but the World Bank’s super highway blocked the flow into the river. Then the toxic water was allowed to flow in nearby fields till the company was ordered to remove the water by the District Administration under Section 133. Even after the draining of water, the fields yield only 10% compared to earlier crops due to toxic contamination. No mangoes bear fruit.
At every step Coca Cola has engaged in criminal activity. It has illegally occupied land of the village Panchayat, but the Court order which called for the removal of the plant has not been implemented.
Coke cheated the government of 1 crore 75 lakh rupees in stamp duty, and was fined by a local Court.
On 23rd of November, when the protestors including Sandeep Pandey, the Magasasy Award winner who returned his award, were meeting in Kashi Vidyapeeth, Coke sent goons to disrupt the University gathering. Four people were arrested, and three vehicles with coke propoganda were confiscated.
Yet the criminal corporation bribed local police to arrest the innocent, peaceful villagers who are already victims of Cokes water theft, toxic pollution and land grab. On 10th May 2003, Jagrupa Devi had been injured during another protest. She is now a local leader.
We demand –
* The peaceful protestors be released
* An independent inquiry be initiated to look into Cokes bribing local officials
* Cokes Regional Manager Akhil Ahmed, and Area Managers Shitla Singh and Sharad Kumar are arrested for the unlawful activities of their company Mehdiganj.
* The human rights and civil liberties of communities engaged in peaceful non-violent action to defend their water rights be upheld in accordance with the constitution.
For further information on the Coke Pepsi Campaign:
Dr. Vandana Shiva
Research Foundation for Science,
Technology and Ecology
Ph. 011-26535422
email : vshiva@vsnl.com
Dr. Banwari Lal Sharma
Azadi Bachao Andolan
Ph. 0532 -2641872
Arundhati Dhuru
NAPM
Ph. 09415022772
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