Activists from all over the state of Kerala marched to the Coca Cola factory at Plachimada and declared it taken over by the people as a matter of democratic right. They blamed the state and central governments of abdication of duty due to unwarranted influence of the multinational company. Vilayodi Venugopal, who addressed the activists, explained in detail how at every stage of the struggle for justice the company tried to influence the decision of the authorities, including the courts.
Ultimately, he said, more than the company it is our own people who have let down the adivasis and marginalised people of Plachimada. But the struggle will continue till justice is delivered. He repeated the four demands of the agitators – official closure of the factory and compensation to the victims, prosecution of the company for their human rights violations and crimes, empowering the local authorities, that is Gram Panchayats, to take the final call on how to use their natural resources and amending the Pollution Control Act and Panchayati Raj Act towards meeting this requirement.
With the arrest and remand of 22 agitators on Dec. 17, 2011, the anti-Coca Cola struggle at Plachimada has entered a new phase. The stir has been reignited by the apathy of the governments, both in the state and at the centre, in getting the approval of the President for the Tribunal Bill. This bill was passed unanimously by the state assembly in Feb. 2011 and has been awaiting the signature of the President for more than six months now. It provides for setting up a tribunal to disburse Rs 216 crores which an expert committee has estimated to be the liability of the Coca Cola company.
On Dec. 19, an indefinite satyagraha was re-launched at Plachimada. Dr P S Panikkar, Muthalamthode Mani, Arumughan Pathichira, Sulaiman, Lukman Hakim, Major P M Ravindran, Murugan, Thangamani and other members of the Samara Samithi and Solidarity Samithi participated.