THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ∙ Vizhinjam was calm yesterday after a massive one night conflict. The forensics arrived on the scene and collected the evidence. More than 600 additional policemen have been deployed in Samarapanthals and Vizhinjam Junction.
GR Minister Anil stated after the peace meeting that all but the strike committee declared their support for the Vizhinjam project. City Police Commissioner G. Spurgeon Kumar said the police had taken precautionary measures. The meeting was also attended by representatives of various political parties including CPM, Congress and BJP.
∙ ‘The positions of the central and state governments that ignore the request to solve the problems due to the construction of the port of Vizhinjam cannot be justified. Archbishop dr. Dr. Thomas Neto, Assistant Bishop. R. Kristudas and others are protesting. It is inappropriate for the political leadership and administration to make statements that aggravate the problem. A situation in which the strike turned violent should have been avoided.’ – Kerala Catholic Bishops Committee (KCBC)
∙ ‘The government should realize that methods of provocation and intervention will not help to solve the problem in Vizhinjath. The government should try to solve the problem through peaceful measures without provoking the coastal community, by filing a lawsuit against the president of the archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram’. – Bishop Dr. Joseph Curry, President, KRLCC
∙ ‘The request of the Latin archdiocese for a judicial investigation is justified. Congress will not accept it if the government’s goal is to suppress the struggle of fishermen struggling for their livelihoods.’ – K. Sudhakaran, Chairman of KPCC
∙ ‘The state government has gotten into trouble regarding the Vizhinjam conflict. There have been situations where people have attacked the police station. It means that the internal department of Kerala has no master. Where are the 2 ministers in the capital?’ – V. Muralidharan, Union Minister
∙ ‘It is ridiculous to say that those who are protesting violently in Vizhinja should undergo a judicial inquiry in defiance of court orders and assurances given to the court.’ – Minister Ahmed Devarkov
∙ ‘The anti-port strike will be supported by the government. The government has a double standard when it comes to striking. Minister Antony Raju, his brother and his family are at the forefront of the strike”. – K. Surendran, state chairman of the BJP
∙ ‘The strike committee should withdraw from the Vizhinjam strike. The government accepted six of the seven requests made by the strike committee. The request to stop the construction of the port cannot be accepted”. – AN Shamseer, Speaker
English summary: More deputy police in Vizhinjam
