Solidarity Statement Against Malicious Slandering of Activists Who are Fighting Against Adani International Seaport at Vizhinjam, Kerala

[Sukla Sen]

[Also relevant:

<<CPM and BJP join hands against Vizhinjam strike. It was notable that CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan and BJP district president VV Rajesh lined up together in the long march to the local people's association secretariat demanding the implementation of the Vizhinjam project. 

The local association of Mullur, which was formed recently, has come out against the strike against the demand of the protest committee to proceed with the independent scientific study that stopped the construction of the port in Vizhinjath. CPM and BJP leaders joined hands in this event.>>

(Excerpted from: <https://www.malabarnews.com/cpm-and-bjp-leaders-on-the-same-platform-against-the-vizhinjam-strike/>.)]

https://countercurrents.org/2022/11/solidarity-statement-against-malicious-slandering-of-activists-who-are-fighting-against-adani-international-seaport-at-vizhinjam-kerala-india/

Solidarity Statement Against Malicious Slandering of Activists Who are Fighting Against Adani International Seaport at Vizhinjam, Kerala, India in India — by Press Release — 07/11/2022

The coastal fishing community is on a struggle path against the disastrous International seaport which is being built at Vizhinjam by Adani ports.  The port has resulted in coastal erosion leading to the disappearance of coasts and the destruction of houses in the fishing villages.  The dredging in the port will result in the loss of local fishing habitats leading to the destruction of the livelihood of thousands of fishing families and their displacement from the coasts.

As the coastal community&#39;s sit-in protest continues against the distress caused by the Vizhinjam Adani port gathering solidarity and support at the state level, corporate-backed media such as News 18, Janam TV, Desabhimani, Kerala Kaumudi are now resorting to blatant lies and misinformation against the protest and protesters. As a part of this, attempts have been made to slander Ms Aleyama Vijayan who is the founder trustee of the feminist organisation Sakhi women’s resource centre and has been working for women’s empowerment for the past three decades, along with AJ Vijayan, who has been working as a trade unionist and researcher in the fisheries sector since 1980.

It is accused that Sakhi, a women’s rights organisation based out of Thiruvananthapuram, which has no direct affiliations with the protest committee, is receiving foreign contributions for the protests. They have already issued a defamation suit against the media for spreading misinformation and rumours. The details on the Sakhi website show that all their activities are transparent. We support this legal suit and wish this organisation to operate smoothly in the future.

The attempt to portray the struggle as a foreign conspiracy through funding is malicious and an insult to the fishing community who is fighting against the port and its sponsors.  We request that all people who believe in democracy protest against this false propaganda. This slander campaign is done together with attempts by vested groups to create communal issues and problems of law and order on the coast, to divide the fishing and host communities in the name of religion.  We urge the government, masses and civil society groups to positively intervene to keep communal harmony and peace.

The fisher folks in Vizhinjam, under the leadership of Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese, have been protesting for the last 105 days, raising seven demands, including stoppage of the construction of the seaport in Vizhinjam and a complete study on the impact and damages by the port by an independent team of experts including people representing the fisher community.

The rest of the six demands from the formation are:

(1) Find a sustainable solution to coastal erosion on the Thiruvananthapuram coast due to the unscientific constructions in the sea, including that caused by the Vizhinjam port construction.

(2) Provide temporary rental accommodation to people whose houses were destroyed due to coastal erosion

(3) Plan and implement reasonable policies to rehabilitate the people who have lost their land and houses.

(4) Intervene to revoke the kerosene price hike; provide subsidised kerosene following the neighbouring state Tamil Nadu model.

(5) Provide minimum wages to the fisher folks to compensate for the loss on the days of fishing weather warnings.

(6) Find sustainable solutions to the problems instead of temporary ones. The claim that all the demands have been more or less accepted by the government has been debunked by the Convener of the protest committee, Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese, Fr. Eugene Pereira, in a press conference on October 31st, 2022. It is undemocratic that, instead of fulfilling their obligation to settle the strike, the ruling government is resorting to covert attempts to tarnish coastal communities and overturn their struggle.

We strongly condemn attempts by certain media houses to malign civil society organisations and vilify A J Vijayan, who has been researching and writing on the eco-social impacts, the unscientific nature of the project and the contract irregularities. He has been doing so since the period of the environmental impact study during the UDF regime, which initiated the Adani port project with special interest. We believe it is essential to have independent research and scientific studies on the impact of the port on coastal communities, and any such studies should be encouraged.

We urge the government to settle the Vizhinjam issue urgently by arriving at a reasonable and sustainable solution and defending the rights of fishing and coastal communities. Vizhinjam Struggle Solidarity Committee, Keralam

Social Movements, Eminent Persons, Social Organisations

Aflathoon, Samajwadi Jan Parishad

Ammu Abraham, FAOW ; PUCL Maharashtra (E.C.)

Anand Patwardhan, Film Maker

Anjali Bharadwaj, Collective Delhi

Arundhati Dhuru, National Convenor, National Alliance of Peoples Movements

Ashok Choudhary/ Roma , All India Union of Forest Working People

Avinash Kumar , Former Director, Amnesty International India.

Aysha, Right to Food Campaign

Chandana Pusapati, Dakshin Foundation

Delhi Solidarity Group

Dr. John Dayal, Writer, Human Rights Activist

Dr. Ram Puniyani, National Solidarity Forum

Dr. Suneelam Ex MLA

Dr. Syeda Hammed, Former Member Planning Commission

Evita Das – Pakistan India Peoples&#39; forum for peace and democracy

G Devarajan, Gen Sec All India Forward Bloc

Gabriele Dietrich Movement for Womrn&#39;s Rightss

Geeta Seshu, Co-Editor, Free Speech Collective

Gutta Rohith, Human Rights Forum

Indian Social Action Forum – INSAF

Joy Sinha – COLLECTIVE Delhi

K Babu Rao, HRF, President, Hyderabad City

K P Sasi, Activist Film Maker

K. G. Jagadeesan trustee Centre Gandhi Smark Nidhi

K. J. Joy, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India, Pune

K. Sajaya, Women &amp; Transgender Orgs JAC, Hyderabad.

Krishnakant (NAPM, Gujarat)

Leena Dabiru, Anhad, Delhi

Madhu Bhushan, Women&#39;s rights activist, Bangalore

Madhuri, Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan Madhya Pradesh

Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachavo Aandolan

Meera Sanghamitra (National Alliance of People&#39;s Movements), NAPM

N.D.Pancholi, Citizens For Democracy, Delhi

Nityanand Jayaraman, Writer, Social Activist. Chennai Solidarity Group. Chennai

Pradip Chatterjee, National Convener, National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers

Priya Dharshini, Finanical Accountability Network India

Prof. S. P Udayakumar, Anti nuclear activist

Prof. Sandeep Pandey, Writer, Social Activist

Ranjit Sur, APDR

Sandeep Pandey Socialist Party (India)

Soumya Dutta, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha

Subhash Lomte, Swaraj India

Tapas Das, National Convenior, Nodi Bachao Jibon Bachao Andalon

Vidya Dinker, President, INSAF

Vihaan Vee – Ambedkarite, Queer Feminist Activist

Xavier Dias, Editor, Khan Kaneej Aur ADHIKAR (Mines minerals &amp; RIGHTS)

Yash, Let India Breathe

Yugma Collective

A Sunil Dharan, Motilal Nehru College (Delhi University)

A.Suneetha, Independent Researcher, Hyderabad

Alaka Basu, Researcher

Amod Shah, PhD Researcher

Asha Achy Joseph, Dean, SH School of Communication, SH College, Thevara, Kochi

Brinelle Dsouza, Chairperson, Centre for Health and Mental Health, TISS

Chhaya Datar Ex-professor of Women&#39;s Studies in TISS

Devika, feminist scholar

Dr . K.P Rammohan, Economist

Dr. K. G. Tara, Former Head, Disaster Management Centre

Dr. Karuna DW,

Dr. Mary George, Economist

Dr. P. A. Azeez, Salim Ali Centre For Ornithology And Natural History

Dr. T. G. Jacob

Frans Manjali, Prof. Linguistics, JNU

Hariprasath R, Researcher

Jashodhara Dasgupta, Independent Researcher

Kochurani Abraham, feminist theologian, Kerala

M. Dasan, Dalit Thinker

Maggie Allessu, Vidhyadeep college, Gujarat

Nandita Narain, Associate Professor, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University College

Nivedita Menon, Professor JNU

Padma Velaskar ,Professor (Retd) TISS

Prof. Iris

Prof. Janaki abraham,

Prof. Kusum Joseph

Prof. Sanil V

Prof. Vida Sequeira (Retired)

Prof. Vindo Chandran

Rakhi Sehgal, Researcher, New Delhi

Rita Paes Retired Professor

Rohini Hensman, writer and researcher, Mumbai

Seethalakshmi, Independent Researcher and Activist

Shilpa Parthan, PhD student, University of Illinois Chicago

Shweta Wagh, Associate Professor, KRVIA. PhD researcher IIT Bombay

Soma K P, Independent researcher

Academicians / Writers

Swati Birla, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Trisha Gupta, University of Oxford

Vineetha Venugopal, Researcher

Poets, writers and solidarity from Kerala Groups

B Rajeevan, Cultural critic

Binitha Thampi, Poet

C Radhakrishnan, Novelist

Damodar Prasad, Journalist

Dr. Ambikasuthan Mangad

Fr. Jose Kaliekkal ,

Hameed Vaniyambalam, state president welfare party

Joseph Jude, Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) state vice-president

K Ajitha, Feminist activist, Anweshi

K. Sahadevan, writter

Kalpatta Narayan, writter

KG Sankarapilla (KGS), Poet

Kumar Kalanand Mani, Save the Western Ghats Movement

Kuripuzha Sreekumar, Poet

Pandavath Baburaj, Activist Film Maker

S Rajeevan, K Rail Virudha Jankeeya Samara Samiti

Sarath Cheloor, State Coordinator, NAPM- Keralam

Savithri Rajeevan, Poet

Sridhar Radhakrishnan , Kerala Paristhithi Aikya Vedhi

V Dinakaran , Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha

Vijayaraghavan Cheliya, State Convenor, NAPM Keralam

Solidarity from across the country

A.K. Shibu raj

Adv K V. Bhadrakumari

Adv Pyoli Swatija

Adv. John Joseph

Adv. Joseph Paull

Adv. Vinod Payada

Allwyn Dsouza

Amit Singh

Amrita Shodhan

Anil E.P

Anita Cheria, Bangalore

Anitha Ruban

Anitha Shanti Treewalk

Anna SJC Social Activist.Karnataka

Annette Fernandes MBBS

Annie Director

Anthony Dias

Aparna, Social worker

Asha G

Baby Chalil Fr

Balkis Bano, Trishur

Beatrice Joseph

Berguman Thomas

Bittu K R, Karnataka Janashakti

C.S. Murali shankar

Cecilia Crasta

Chakradhar, Samalochana

Clara Mendonca, social worker

clare muthukattol

Deejao Pathrose

Deepa V, Delhi

Devika, Advocate

Dorothy, Social Activist

Dr. C. Jayakumar, Thanal

Dr. C. Surendranath

Dr. E. Unnikrishnan

Dr. Joyce Kaithakottil, Activist for Justice

Dr. Mangesh Sawant Environmentalist

Dr. Mercy Thomas Facilitator Nirmal Jyothi ITI

Flory Menezes

Fr Joseph, Vicar, St Joseph Church Konoor Ekm Diocese

Fr Thomas

Fr Varghese Assin, Manager, St Francis Assisi School, Nedumbassery..

Fr. Agustine Vattoli

Fr. Deepak Anto

Fr. Kurian Kurisunkal, Mulanthuruthy

Fr. Lawrence

Francis Xavier, supporter

Freny Manecksha

George Mathew

Glavious Alexander

Gopinath Haritha

Gracy Kallookulangara

Growth Watch

Hazel D&#39;Lima, CRI, ICWM

Holiram Terang. Political activist.

Immaculate.F.

Jabeena Irshad

Jacqueline Rumao. Jeevan vidya.

Jaison Coopur

James Dayalaya

Jesmine Fernandes

Jessin SJC

Jibin Robin

Jinu Sam Jacob

Joanna, Social Worker

John Dsouza, Mumbai , Documentalist

John Peruvanthanam

Johnson Puthenveettil, Director, KLCA, Alleppey Diocese

Jolly Chirayath

Jose Therattil

Joseph Kannamkulam

Joseph Maniangat

Josephine Rozario

K. Ajitha

K. C. Sreekumar

K. Ramachandran

K. Sahadevan

K.G. Jagadeeshan

K.M. Thomas

K.P. Sethunath

Kalyani S.

Karavali Karnataka Janabhivriddhi Vedike.

KB Kannampilly

KCR Raja, New Delhi

KhalidaParveen

Kusum Tripathi

Leela Soloman

Leena Abraham, Mumbai

LEVIN

Lumina da Costa, citiizen of Indiaendorse

M D Varghese, a freelance Eco-Social Development Advisor

M. Dasan, Dalit Thinker

M. Sulfath

M.K. George

Madhuri Mondal, programme officer

Magdalene Almeida

Manju Kulapuram, Activist, Delhi

Manoj Kedaram, Social Worker

Manu

Marcia DCunha ICWM Thane Maharashrea

Mathew Sebastian

Mercy Alexander

Mini Bedi

Mirsad Rahman

Moksha Mary- Anmol NGO Co-ordinator

Ms. Vanitha D&#39;Souza

Mujahid Nafees, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Muralidharan K, political activist

Muthapan

N. Subramanyan

Namrata Lunia

Nancy Vaz, Mumbai

Nikita Naidu, Climate Action

Nirmala

Nita Arvind, Scrum Master

Noela J Dias

Noella de Souza, ICWM, IWTF, CRI.

Om Prakash Singh, Cuttack

P k Sasidharan

P.T. John

Padmaja Shaw

Paniyadima John

Philomena D&#39;Souza, Satyashodhak, Mumbai

Philomena….Provincial

Prabhat Sharan, Journalist

Prajval Shastri, astrophysicist

Prasad Chacko, Social Worker, Ahmedabad

Preeti Mehra, independent journalist, New Delhi

Prema Chowallur SCC

Prerana Gawde, Senior Programme Associate

Promod Puzankara

Pushpa Parmar

Pyoli, Advocate

Raj Shekhar, Right to Food Campaign

Rajesh

Rajnish Gambhir, All India Union of Forest Working People

Raju kalathil,Advocate

Ramnarayan, Independent Ecologist

Raynah Marise Braganza Passanha, Pune

Renita

Rev. Indira Paul, Chennai

Rev. Raju P George

Rita Manchanda, Independent Rights Consultant

Robert Joseph, Teacher

Robi Arayakkandy. CPI(ML).

Rohini, Writer

Rosalind Elaiyarani

Rosamma George

Rosamma Thomas

Rose Mary Tirkey ( Social Worker)

Roshmi Goswami, Shillong.

Runu Chakraborty

S. Rajeevan

Sabina Martins

Sachin Chavan,

Salahudheen Ayyoobi, Writer

Sandeep kaithamparambat, artist

Sandeep Ravindranath

Sandhya Balasubramanian, Member – Growthwatch India

Santana Pereira, Sahayini NGO

Santosh Sharma

Sarah Mathews. Managing Trustee, Sankalp Women&#39;s Support Alliance

Sarath Keeraleeyam

Sarojini N, Public Health Practitioner

SAshalatha

Seema Bhaskaran

Shalini Gera, Advocate

Shalom Gauri, student

Sharad Lele, ATREE

Shivsunder

Sister Poonam cj.

Sr Aruna Castelino /Director of Auxilium Out Reach

Sr Maria Shirsath, Teacher

Sr. Elphina Rodrigues

Sr. Mary Jacintha. Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Congregation

Sr. Melusina Colaco – religious

Sr. Rita D Souza – prov adminstrator

SR. Rita Fernandes

Sr. Thelma Paiva

Sr.Anita Gacias

Sr.Marina Kalathil

Sreedevi S Kartha

Sreekala MG, Goa

Sridhar Radhakrishnan

Stella Baltazar fmm, provincial

Suneeta Dhar Activist

Sunirose, I. P

Sunny Paikada

Suresh Melettukochy.

Suresh Rathaur mmu

Susan Joseph, Social Worker

Swarna bhat, social Activist

Swatija Paranjape

T N Sushama, Freelance writer

Tamizharasi

Thresia

V.S. Anil Kumar

Vaishnavi- Independent Labor Rights Activist, Journalist

Vandita, Morarka (founder and CEO, One Future Collective)

Vaneeta khristi

Vanita Mukherjee

Varsha Bhargavi

Veena Maruthur

Vijayan Punnathur Retiree

Vishesh Guru, Anthropologist

Prafulla Samanthara, National Convenor, NAPM India

Sudhir Pattanaik, Editor , The Samadrusti, Bhubaneswar

Debaprasad Ray, Secretary, Lohia Academy, Bhubaneswar

Jyoti Ranjan Mahapatra, General Secretary, AIFB Odisha , Bhubaneswar

Dr Sunilam, Ex MLA, President Multai Kisan Sangharsh samity , (MP)

Shweta Tripathy, SRUTI, New Delhi

Dr. Sandeep Pandey, General Secretary, Socialist Party of India