Anti-nuclear protestors stage day-long siege of plant

Launching another phase of

their agitation against Koodankulam atomic power project,

anti-nuclear protestors today began a day-long 'siege' of the

plant by placing fibre boats and floating buoys in the sea.The protestors, including hundreds of local fishermen

from Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, remained 500

metres away from the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project,

demanding scrapping of the KNPP.Over 5,000 security personnel including Rapid Action

Force, have been deployed, besides five Coast Guard vessels,

ADGP Rajendran, who is overseeing the security, said.Led by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE),

the protestors are also demanding withdrawal of police from

the villages, release of those arrested and taking back false

cases filed against anti-nuclear activists. PMANE coordinator S P Udayakumar said the struggle would

be peaceful and democratic protest and assured of full

cooperation to police.Udhayakumar also said they would launch their next

agitation in Chennai on October 29 when the assembly session

begins. He would also hold discussions with the local

community about intensifying the agitation. This is the second time the protestors are laying siege

after September 22, when they did so at Tuticorin port against

loading of uranium in the atomic power plant. The protesters had also staged a 'Jal Satyagraha' in the

sea at Koothakuzhi, 10 km from Kudankulam, by forming a human

chain earlier.The first unit of the Indo-Russian project was scheduled

to be commissioned in December last year but had been delayed

due to protests by locals on safety concerns.