On 14 December a private force of 500 men descended on a non-violent demonstration against the POSCO project in India’s state of Orissa. Several protestors were injured and one man (apparently from the “goon squad”) died.
The attack was widely condemned by left wing politicians in Orissa, but according to PPSS – the peoples’ organisation formed by local villagers – further action is about to be taken by the state government against the movement’s leadership. Following an investigation on 22 December, a group of Indian civil society organisations has called for an immediate judicial enquiry into the attacks of 14th December 2011.
It is also demanding the withdrawal of all newly-filed and previous false cases against theĀ  villagers and PPSS activists. See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11400.
British-based investors in South Korean company POSCO include Barclays, Alliance Bernstein/Alliance Bernstein Global Wealth Management, Foreign and Colonial Investment Trust PLC, and Henderson Far East Income Limited: see http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&search=Posco&go=Go.