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Journalism of Courage
In a fresh show of resistance,anti-nuclear protesters onboard around 500 boats on Saturday laid siege to the port here against loading of uranium in the Kudankulam atomic power plant.
Around 3,000 fishermen and anti-nuclear activists from Tuticorin,about 100 km from Kudankulam in neighbouring Tirunelveli district,and elsewhere came in mechanised and country boats and blocked the entry channel for nearly two hours,port officials said.
The officials,however,said there was no disruption of vessel movement since they had rescheduled ship arrivals and departures in advance taking into account the protest. Last night we hurried vessel loading and unloading operations. Only the piloting operations (bringing the ships and taking them out) were not done,which resumed after the protest, said on official.
Coast Guard,CISF and marine police kept vigil as the protesters positioned their boats at the entry channel and raised slogans demanding halting of fuel loading,which began Wednesday.
A group of anti-nuclear activists organised a human chain in Tuticorin too.
Meanwhile,Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy leaders,including S P Udayakumar,against whom a court has issued a non-bailable warrant,along with fishermen staged a Jal Satyagraha in the sea at Koothakuzhi,10 km from Kudankulam. They stood in knee-deep water holding hands. Similar protests were conducted in the sea at Kudankulam,Idinthakarai,Perumanal and adjoining coastal hamlets. Later,they observed a fast in front of churches.
Udayakumar has given a call to picket central government offices in the state on September 25.
