PPSS opposing visit of South Korean president to lay foundation stone
Thursday, 22 Oct 2009
BS reported that Mr Abhay Sahoo president of POSO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti said that South Korean President Mr Lee Myung-bak would face a strong protest if he visits the site earmarked for the proposed steel plant of POSCO India in January.
Mr Sahoo said thousands of people facing displacement would jointly oppose the Korean President’s visit and would not allow him to lay the foundation stone of the proposed steel plant in Jagatsinghpur district.
He said that “A mass movement will be launched on the day of arrival of Lee. Besides, thousands of faxes will be sent to the South Korean embassy urging the president to cancel the Orissa visit.”
He added that “The proposed visit of Lee to Orissa will be an opportunity for us to highlight the matter in international forum.”
PPSS has been opposing establishment of the steel plant in an area spread over three gram panchayats of Jagatsinghpur since the State government signed a memorandum of understanding with Posco in June, 2005. As a result, the company has not been able to take possession of any land for the steel plant project so far.
Mr Lee, who is scheduled to visit India as a guest for the Republic Day celebrations in January, is expected to come to the state to attend the proposed ‘ground breaking’ function of POSCO’s project near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district.
