Corporate AccountabilityInternational -- Activists Urge Indian Officials to Defend Human Rights Over Coke's Profits -- November 21, 2005 - Corporate Accountability International - Challenging Abuse, Protecting People - Think Outside the Bottle


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Activists Urge Indian Officials to Defend Human Rights Over Coke's Profits
Letters Challenge False Charges in Coke Case

For Immediate Release:
November 21, 2005

Contacts:
Bryan Hirsch/Corporate Accountability International, (617) 695-2525
Priya Ranjan/Association for India's Development, 301-422-4441
Melli Annamalai, 603-886-3332

Boston, MA--One year ago this week, police attacked, detained and arrested non-violent protestors outside of a Coca-Cola plant in India. Today, four community leaders--Nandlal Master, Laxman Rathore, Rajesh Kumar and Shivlal--still face false criminal charges. Hundreds of people around the United States are sending letters to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to urge him to drop the false charges. The Coke bottling plant in Mehdiganj, Uttar Pradesh, where water levels have dropped over 40 feet since the plant began operating, has been the center of much controversy.

"We are gravely concerned that the human rights of these four community leaders are being threatened in order to protect Coke's ongoing operations," says Corporate Accountability International Campaigns Director Patti Lynn. "We must send a clear message that human rights are more important than Coke's profits."

Coke is draining precious water resources from communities in Uttar Pradesh and across India. One year ago today, activists concluded a 150 mile march in northeastern India from one Coke bottling plant to another, protesting Coke's dangerous practices. These marchers joined with more than 1500 local villagers in Mehdiganj to call for Coke's bottling facility to be shut down.

"It is critical that the government protect the rights of people in these affected communities, to nonviolently protest Coke's abusive practices without fear of reprisal," explains Sandeep Pandey, a National Convener for the National Alliance of People's Movements .

With global brand recognition and tremendous economic clout, Coke tries to influence government officials in countries across the globe. This past year, thousands of people across the U.S. have taken action to challenge Coke's abuses and demand that Coke stop draining water from communities in India. This week, people are sending letters to urge the Chief Minister to drop the false criminal charges that have been brought against the four local leaders.

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Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For over 25 years, we've forced corporations--like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria--to stop abusive actions. Corporate Accountability International, an NGO in Official Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), played a key role in development of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. For more information visit www.stopcorporateabuse.org.