INDIA: Coca-Cola investigated over activist's death

According to a February 1 media statement by the India Resource Center, Coca-Cola is the subject of police investigations into the death of V. Kamsan, a community leader who campaigned in opposition to the soft-drink company's proposed bottling plant in Gangaikondan village in southern Tamil Nadu. A village council meeting convened by Kamsan on August 22 passed a resolution against the plant that stated: "As the unit will cause environmental and health hazards besides triggering acute drinking water scarcity, the government should immediately cancel the permission given to the company, which is planning to prepare a range of soft drinks here." Twelve hours later, Kamsan issued a new statement to the daily Hindu newspaper, which totally contradicted the resolution. He told the paper he was "under immense pressure from the public, the police and some other quarters". According to Kamsan's wife, he was coerced that night into meeting with Coca-Cola officials, who made him drink alcohol despite the fact that he was suffering from jaundice, and forced him to drop the petition. He was brought home by the company officials on August 28 in a serious condition, and died from jaundice two days later. On January 27, the Gangaikondan village council passed another resolution asking the state government to cancel the license of the proposed plant. For more information, visit <http://www.indiaresource.org>.

From Green Left Weekly, February 8, 2006.

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From GLW issue 655