Kochi: International Public Health Team of the Americas, that had visited Plachimada, has called upon the Kerala Government to immediately withdraw all support to the Coca Cola plant and to make 'Kerala free from Coke and Pepsi'.

Addressing a press conference in Kochi today (Jan 28, 2004), the team members said they had visited the State with the goal of expressing solidarity with the community of Plachimada in their struggle against Coca Cola.

In support of the overall movement against corporate globalisation in North America and Latin America, as well as in India, the team members had also urged Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony to immediately withdraw all support to the Coca Cola plant.

The team consisting of Edgar Isch, former minister of the Environment of Ecuado, Dr Arturo Quizhpe Peralta, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador, Julio Monsalvo, a public health doctor from Argentina and Jeff Conant, a US health communications specialist, had come to participate in the recently concluded World Social Forum in Mumbai, they said.

'The poor health of the inhabitants appears closely linked with the existence of the Coca Cola plant', Edgar Isch said adding 'we exhort the Government of Kerala and of India to take urgent measures to resolve the crisis. No community's water source should be allowed to be robbed and polluted like this by any multinational giant'.

Dr Peralta said, "'in these situations the first victims are the mothers, who suffer deterioration of their physical and mental health, transporting water from more than 2 to 3 kms away."

Quizhpe Peralta said, "as members of the Peoples Health Movement, we will support the assembly of a team to monitor the health of the people of Plachimada and to denounce the corresponding abuse of Human Rights at the upcoming world Health Assembly in Geneva."

Monsalvo said, "the story of the Coca Cola plant is a startling demonstration that a private company can set up shop with the stated goal of increasing employment but with the immediate result of destruction of life, beginning with the water."

In a press statement distributed at the conference, the Plachimada Coca Cola Viruddha Samara Samithi said they would continue their ongoing strike which had entered the 647th day "till the company leaves the country after paying compensation to the affected farmers, people and employees".