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February 28, 2006
Bhopal-Delhi padayatra covers 200 km, marchers in high spirits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28 February, 2006. New Delhi
More than 60 activists, including survivors of the 1984 Bhopal disaster and their supporters, and Bhopalis whose drinking water was poisoned by Union Carbide’s toxic wastes have completed a fourth of their 800 km long padayatra from Bhopal to New Delhi to see the Prime Minister. Set to arrive in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, on 1 March, the Bhopal delegation has sought a meeting with the Prime Minister, and has declared that it is coming prepared to launch an indefinite hunger strike until all demands are met. En route, the padayatris are screening “Bhopal Express” – a Hindi feature film about the disaster – in various villages. In Pillukhedi, a town with several polluting units including a Coca Cola plant, Bhopal survivors led a special awareness session for villagers on corporate crime and globalisation.
Meanwhile, Bhopal supporters in New Delhi met Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chauhan, Congress MPs Oscar Fernandes and Digvijay Singh, Sebastian Paul (CPM independent MP-Kochi), Ministry of Chemicals Secretary Satwant Reddy, and Bhopal Gas Cell Director Yashvir Singh to seek their support in ensuring that the Bhopal demands are met without delay. Other meetings, including with Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi and Arjun Singh, head of group of Ministers on Bhopal, are being sought.
Survivors have demanded that the Government should set up a National Commission on Bhopal, with participation of survivor organisations, to provide facilities for health care, economic rehabilitation, medical research and social support. Other demands include the setting up of a special cell within the CBI to expedite prosecution of Union Carbide Corporation and its former chairman Warren Anderson, assessment and clean up of toxic wastes, and a ban on the Government’s purchase of Dow Chemical’s products, including the toxic pesticide Dursban. The survivors also demand that December 3 be declared a National Day of Mourning for victims of industrial disasters and that the story of the disaster must be included in educational curricula.
Internationally, solidarity is pouring in. Indian embassies in the US had received 37 phone calls and more than 170 emails in support of the walk and urging a speedy resolution of all the Bhopal demands. Demonstrations are planned at various locations including embassies and in various places in India, including New Delhi, Chennai, Kodaikanal, Kolkata and Bhopal. On 1 March, Jana Natya Manch, National School of Drama (NSD) and the Delhi-based youth group We For Bhopal are organising a play and dance performance on Bhopal at the NSD.
Despite blistered feet and swollen legs, morale among the padayatris is high. Speaking from Vijaypur, Madhyapradesh, where the padayatris are currently interacting with villagers, Champa Devi Shukla of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationary Karmachari Sangh said “We are confident of getting our demands met. The Government has had 22 years notice. The only demand the Government is likely to balk at is in prosecuting Union Carbide and Warren Anderson, and that’s why we have declared that we’re prepared to fast as long as it takes to get the Government to overcome its fear of or love for the United States.”
Recent events indicate that the Prime Minister and the Government are actively facilitating Dow and Union Carbide’s business interests in India. On September 15, 2005, the Indian Prime Minister personally met Mr. Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow Chemical, at a high-powered luncheon with US corporate CEOs. Within months, the Planning Commission was asked to set up a special task force to facilitate investments by US corporations, including Dow Chemical which has expressed interest in setting up petrochemical plants in Vizag and Haldia, West Bengal.
The four organizations : Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Bhopal ki Aawaaz will present their charter of demands to the Prime Minister.
For more information, contact:
Madhumita Dutta: 26105472/41652451-52
Pragya Vats: 9868424692
Nishant Jain: 9811764745
Address: A 1/125 (FF)
Safdarjung Enclave
New Delhi 110029
Visit: www.bhopal.net/march
Posted by bhola at 05:48 PM | Comments (0)
February 23, 2006
Tamilnadu groups express support for Bhopal-Delhi march by Union Carbide gas and water victims
21 February, 2006, CHENNAI
Human rights, environmental and youth groups from Tamilnadu pledged their support to the 150 survivors of the December 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal who today set off on a 800-km march on foot to New Delhi demanding justice and a life of dignity for the people poisoned by American multinational Union Carbide Corporation. The march led by four Bhopal-based organizations will also include people affected by ground water contamination from Union Carbide’s abandoned factory in Bhopal. The Tamilnadu groups said “It is shameful to see the Indian Government facilitating the business of Union Carbide and Dow Chemical while the problems caused by the 1984 gas leak remain unaddressed. The Prime Minister should meet the survivors and ensure that every one of their demands is speedily met.” Worldwide, students and other supporters will demonstrate at Indian embassies and send letters to the Prime Minister in support of the Bhopalis demands.
In Tamilnadu, supporters will organise marches, vigils and demonstrations around the state, and student groups will organise street plays to highlight the failure of the Indian Government to protect the victims of the world’s worst industrial disaster. They will also participate in a massive letter writing campaign directed at the Prime Minister to press him to meet the survivors and accede to their demands. “Bhopal is of relevance to all of us. More than anything else, Bhopal exposes that the Government is there only to protect the rich. It will spend crores to build a shipping channel or a desalination plant, but it is unable to find the resources to deliver water to 20,000 people in Bhopal who are currently forced to drink water poisoned by Union Carbide’s toxic wastes,” the Tamilnadu support group said. The most urgent demand in the 6- point charter of demands of the Bhopalis is the supply of piped water from Kolar reservoir in the 16 communities affected by toxic contamination of ground water.
The Bhopal marchers expect to reach New Delhi in the last week of March when they have sought a meeting with the Prime Minister. Depending on the response of the central government the marchers may decide to go on an indefinite fast at the end of their 800 kilometer long march. The four organizations : Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Bhopal ki Aawaaz will present their charter of demands to the Prime Minister.
They have demanded that the Government should set up a National Commission on Bhopal, with participation of survivor organisations, to provide facilities for health care, economic rehabilitation, medical research and social support. Other demands relate to the setting up of a special cell within the CBI to expedite prosecution of Union Carbide Corporation and its former chairman Warren Anderson, assessment and clean up of toxic wastes, and a ban on the Government’s purchase of Dow Chemical’s products, including the toxic pesticide Dursban. The survivors have also demanded that December 3 be declared a National Day of Mourning for victims of industrial disasters and include the disaster in educational curricula. .
The route for the Delhi Padyatra has been chalked out with a view to making connections with other pollution impacted communities along the way. The marchers will organize poster exhibitions, film screenings and public meetings to make people aware of the need for justice in Bhopal for prevention of corporate crime everywhere.
Supporting Organisations:
Human Rights - Tamilnadu Initiative
Penn Thozhilalar Sangam (Women Workers Association)
Corporate Accountability Desk
Tamilnadu Dalit Women’s Movement
Alliance for People’s Movement
Tamilnadu Women’s Forum
We Feel Responsible – A Youth Initiative
Pond’s HLL Ex-employees Association
Consumer Action Group
Tamilnadu Meenavar Munnetra Sangam
South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association
Fisher Movements Coordination of Tamilnadu & Pondicherry
Manali Youth Welfare Association
Annai Sarada Devi Trust
West Konur Farmers Welfare Association
Tamilnadu Women’s Collective
Veeranganai Women’s Organisation
Tamilnadu Green Movement
Tamilnadu Environment Council
For more information, contact:
Nityanand Jayaraman. 9444082401. Email: nity68@vsnl.com
Visit: www.bhopal.net and http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/MarchToDelhi.htm
Posted by bhola at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)
Delhi groups support Bhopal marchers
PRESS NOTE
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
Delhi Groups Express Support for Bhopal-Delhi March by Carbide Gas Victims
21 February, 2006, New Delhi: Human rights and environmental groups from Delhi pledged their support to the 150 survivors of the December 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal who on 20th February set off on a 900-km march on foot to New Delhi demanding justice and a life of dignity for the people poisoned by American multinational Union Carbide Corporation. The march led by four Bhopal-based organizations will also include people affected by ground water contamination from Union Carbide’s abandoned factory in Bhopal. The Delhi groups said “It is shameful to see the Indian Government facilitating the business of Union Carbide and Dow Chemical while the problems caused by the 1984 gas leak remain unaddressed. The Prime Minister should meet the survivors and ensure that every one of their demands is speedily met.” Worldwide, students and other supporters will demonstrate at Indian embassies and send letters to the Prime Minister in support of the Bhopalis demands.
In Delhi, supporters will organise marches, vigils and student groups will organise plays to highlight the failure of the Indian Government to protect the victims of the world’s worst industrial disaster. They will also participate in a massive letter writing campaign directed at the Prime Minister to press him to meet the survivors and accede to their demands. “Bhopal is of relevance to all of us. More than anything else, Bhopal exposes that the Government is there only to protect the rich. It will spend crores to build a shipping channel or a desalination plant, but it is unable to find the resources to deliver water to 20,000 people in Bhopal who are currently forced to drink water poisoned by Union Carbide’s toxic wastes,” the Delhi groups said. The most urgent demand in the 6- point charter of demands of the Bhopalis is the supply of piped water from Kolar reservoir in the 16 communities affected by toxic contamination of ground water.
The Bhopal marchers expect to reach New Delhi in the last week of March when they have sought a meeting with the Prime Minister. Depending on the response of the central government the marchers may decide to go on an indefinite fast at the end of their 800 kilometer long march. The four organizations: Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Bhopal ki Aawaaz will present their charter of demands to the Prime Minister.
They have demanded that the Government should set up a National Commission on Bhopal, with participation of survivor organisations, to provide facilities for health care, economic rehabilitation, medical research and social support. Other demands relate to the setting up of a special cell within the CBI to expedite prosecution of Union Carbide Corporation and its former chairman Warren Anderson, assessment and clean up of toxic wastes, and a ban on the Government’s purchase of Dow Chemical’s products, including the toxic pesticide Dursban. The survivors have also demanded that December 3 be declared a National Day of Mourning for victims of industrial disasters and include the disaster in educational curricula.
The route for the Delhi Padyatra has been chalked out with a view to making connections with other pollution impacted communities along the way. The marchers will organize poster exhibitions, film screenings and public meetings to make people aware of the need for justice in Bhopal for prevention of corporate crime everywhere.
Issued By:
Amnesty International-India, Association for India’s Development, Delhi Forum,
Greenpeace, Jan Sangharsh Vahini, Kalpavriksh, Lokayan, Lok Raj Sangathan, National Alliance of People’s Movement, People Tree, Pravah, The Other Media, Urban Labour Organisation, Urban Women Labour Organisation, We For Bhopal
Contact:
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
c/o The Other Media
A 1/125 Safdarjung Enclave
New Delhi 110029
Phone: 41652451/52 and 26105472
http://www.bhopal.net/march
http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/MarchToDelhi.htm
Posted by bhola at 11:38 AM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2006
Padyatris prepare to set out
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
Bhopal ki Aawaaz
February 17, 2006
Survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal and people poisoned by ground water contamination from the pesticide factory that caused the world's worst industrial disaster on December 3, 1984 will start their Bhopal to New Delhi Padyatra (march on foot) on February 20, 2006.
Over 100 Padyatris will start walking "to the office of the Prime Minister at Raisina Hill, New Delhi" from the Union Carbide factory at 11 AM on Monday. They have already hand delivered the information on the 800 kilometers long march to the offices of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh along with their six-point charter of demands.
The four survivors' organizations are seeking the Prime Minister's personal intervention in ensuring "justice and a life of dignity for the people poisoned by Union Carbide and its current owner Dow Chemical".
Their demands include immediate supply of safe water to the communities with ground water contamination, speedy prosecution of Union Carbide Corporation and its officials and blacklisting of Dow Chemical till it pays for environmental and health damages caused due to reckless dumping of hazardous wastes.
The organisations : Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal ki Aawaaz and Bhopal Group for Information and Action also demand the setting up of a "National Commission on Bhopal" for long term medical care, research and economic and social rehabilitation of the victims. They demand that the disaster in Bhopal must be made part of educational curricula and the creation of a memorial to the disaster with full participation of the victims.
A team of supporters in New Delhi will be communicating the demands of the Padyatris to the Director of the Bhopal cell in the Ministry of Chemicals on a daily basis. Supporters in other parts of the country will organize rallies and signature petitions to the Prime Minister. Members of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal will hold demonstrations at Indian embassies in USA and other countries in support of the campaign.
The ICJB's campaign web site www.bhopal.net is providing communication support to the marchers who will be updating blogs on a daily basis.
With their ages ranging from 19 to 70 years, the Padyatris are from gas affected areas such as Jai Prakash Nagar and Risaldar Colony as well as from areas that are affected by contamination of ground water such as Shiv Shakti Nagar and Blue Moon Colony. Their five week long journey will take them through Guna, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Dholpur Agra, Mathura, Ballabhgarh and other towns and villages in four states.
Walking between 25 and 35 kilometers every day, the Padyatris will depend on villagers and townspeople for food and shelter. They will exhibit posters, screen films and address public meetings along the way to create awareness about industrial pollution, corporate accountability and other issues of the Bhopal campaign. The four organizations today made an appeal to the people of Bhopal for financial and material support to the Padyatris and requested persons from the media to join in the march.
Rashida Bee, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
+91 93031 32959
Syed M Irfan
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
+91 93290 26319
Shahid Noor
Bhopal ki Aawaaz
+91 98261 82226
Satinath Sarangi, Rachna Dhingra
Bhopal Group for Information & Action
+91 98261 67369
Contact :
House No. 12, Gali No. 2, Near Naseer Masjid,
Bag Umrao Dulha, Bhopal 462 010
For the latest information on the Bhopal to New Delhi Padyatra please bookmark www.bhopal.net/march/
Posted by bhola at 10:14 AM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2006
Indian accused appear in court to face charges as Union Carbide and Warren Anderson continue to ignore summons
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
Bhopal ki Aawaaz
PRESS STATEMENT, FEBRUARY 6, 2006
Victims of the December ’84 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal today demonstrated at the District Court demanding exemplary punishment for the accused officers of the Indian subsidiary of the American multinational who were summoned before the Chief Judicial Magistrate.
The protestors demanded that Keshub Mahindra, Vijay Gokhale, Kishor Kamdar, J. Mukund and S.P. Choudhury former chairman, managing director, vice-president, works manger and production manager respectively of Union Carbide India Limited [UCIL] should be made to undergo the maximum punishment of two years of rigorous imprisonment in the criminal case regarding death and injury due to the disaster on 2-3, December 1984.
Protestors including victims, who lost several family members to the poisonous gas leak from Union Carbide’s pesticide factory, erected a gallows (see picture above) outside the District Court to “welcome” the Indian accused. The foreign accused in the case namely, Union Carbide Corporation, its Asian subsidiary Union Carbide Eastern and former Chairman Warren Anderson are absconding from more severe charges in the case.
The Bhopal victims complained of the slow pace and mishandling of the case by the prosecution and condemned the Indian government’s deliberate negligence in this regard. They called for the setting up of a Special Prosecution Cell including representatives of the Ministry of External affairs.
The case began with the filing of charge sheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI] in December 1987 against nine Indian and three foreign corporations and their officials who were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The criminal charges were quashed by the order of Supreme Court of India on the settlement between Union Carbide and the Government of India on February 14-15, 1989. Subsequently, a revised order of the Supreme Court in October 1991 reinstated the criminal charges and in November 1991 criminal cases were revived in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court at Bhopal.
On September 13, 1996, responding to an appeal by Keshub Mahindra and others, the Supreme Court brought down the charges against the Indian accused from culpable homicide [Sec 304 Part II of the IPC] to death by negligence [Sec 304 A] thereby reducing the maximum punishment from 10 years of imprisonment to two years. The Bhopal activists blamed the CBI for the dilution of criminal charges against the Indian accused and condemned the “turning the worst industrial disaster in history in to a common motor vehicle accident”.
Assistant works manager R.B. Roy Chowdhury, also an accused, in the case died in January 1998 in USA. In 2002 Keshub Mahindra had to withdraw from being a recipient of the Padma Vibhusan award as a result of protest by Bhopal victims and their supporters.
Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
+91 755 93031 32959
Syed M Irfan,
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
+91 755 93290 26319
Shahid Noor
Bhopal ki Aawaaz
+91 755 98261 82226
Satinath Sarangi, Rachna Dhingra,
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
+91 755 98261 67369
Contact: House No. 12, Gali No. 2, Near Naseer Masjid,
Bag Umrao Dulha, Bhopal 462 010
For latest information on Bhopal disaster keep checking www.bhopal.net
Posted by bhola at 09:48 PM | Comments (0)