UN report slams TN on Thoothukudi police firing

A team of UN human rights experts have condemned the apparent excessive and disproportionate use of lethal force by police against protesters calling for the closure of a copper smelting plant (Vedanta group’s Sterlite) at Thoothukudi over health and environmental concerns.

Police opened fire on thousands of protesters marching against the expansion of the copper smelter in Thoothukudi. According to reports, protesters set fire to vehicles and threw stones at officers after being denied permission to march to the District Collectorate.

“We call on the Indian authorities to carry out an independent and transparent investigation, without delay and to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations be held accountable. The government should uphold the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as they are the cornerstone of democratic societies and a critical tool to identify and protect against business-related human rights abuses.” The experts noted that local and national judicial and administrative bodies have documented water contamination, air pollution and other forms of environmental degradation linked to the copper smelting plant and related activities.

“Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, all business enterprises have a responsibility to respect human rights, including identifying, preventing, mitigating and accounting for how they address their adverse human rights impacts,” the experts said, calling on Sterlite Copper as well as its parent company, Vedanta Resources, to take immediate measures to mitigate pollution and to ensure access to safe water and health care.