On 24th November, 2004, over 400 citizens from local communities around the Raja Talab Coke bottling plant were beaten up and carted away in police vans for protesting against Coke policies. On 24th November, 2005, a rally of about 800 people protested outside the plant to mark the anniversary of the protests.

This rally outside the plant premises in Raja Talab to mark the culmination of another march. Over the last 8 days, between 40 and 60 people – mostly residents from local districts – have been marching through over 100 small towns and villages, meeting with local residents. They have visited about over 50 schools and colleges during this march.

Earlier, local administration had met with the marchers who reiterated their commitment to non-violence. The administration wanted to stop the march 300 meters from the plant site on the grounds that about 10 people including Nandlal have constraining orders. However, the local residents argued that hundreds of others do not have such orders and enforcement of such constraints will result in a hunger strike where the march is stopped.

The gathering demanded that Coke stop draining water from the water table – a practice that is seriously affecting farmers and agrarian communities in the neighborhood. In addition, the rally also demanded compensation to local farmers for toxic wastes that the company has dumped in their fields claiming that the wastes were phosphate enriched fertilizers. Members of the local community filed FIRs in the presence of the local Magistrate detailing these charges.

The local communities are also demanding that Coke give back village land that Coke has occupied illegally. While local courts have passed a ruling that the land is illegally occupied, even suspending the former village committee leader for that irregularity on charges of corruption, the local administration has been unwilling to act against Coke.

Finally, local communities are demanding that false cases made out against 30 local farmers and villagers – including cases of looting and arson – be dropped.

All of these are clearly just demands against actions of Coke that various judicial and administrative bodies have held unethical; and yet, it is unfortunate that local communities have to go on protest marches and rallies under threat of police action to get justice.

Nandlal, one of the organizers of the march last year as well as the current one does point out that much has changed. During last years march, Nandlal points out that while people came out in support of the marchers and their cause, local administration – even at the village level – stayed away. This time, elected village officials organized events felicitating the marchers.

For one, in numerous cases, village officials supporting Coke have lost. It is clear that local farmers and the larger agrarian sections are seeing the impact Coke’s policies. In addition, village officials themselves are realizing the problems with Coke.

Two political leaders – Satyanarayan Kanaujia from BSP and Baidyanath Patel, formerly with BJP – had both come out in support of Coke during last years march. This year, they are marching in opposition to Coke’s practices.

Satyanarayan Kanaujia who is among the founding members of BSP states that there is pressure on him not to support the marchers. Party officials as well as Coke lobbyists were apparently dissuading him from marching. But he is said to have proclaimed that he will continue to march because he believes this is for a just cause – even if his party disagrees.

However, Coke continues its PR spin. In the last few days it has organized a women’s empowerment workshop within its campus giving local women Rs 150 to participate. Coinciding with the start of the march, it had organized a youth athletic competition within its premises. But it seems to have had little effect on local communities.

In addition to PR, it has increased pressure on local activists. While 4 local residents have been the victims of charges to loot and arson since the march last year, another 30 people have now been charged with IPC 160, 16, 144. This is clearly a process of intimidation.

After the rally, local communities are steeling themselves into organizing a long term effort – an indefinite community-based hunger strike, perhaps – that will highlight the impact of the local Coke plants policies.

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