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June 28, 2008
Bhopali children donate hearts to Prime Minister Singh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
PRESS RELEASE
NEW DELHI, 28 JUNE, 2008 -- Appealing to the Prime Minister to "Have a Heart and Do Justice in Bhopal," a delegation of Bhopali children visited the Prime Minister's residence today to deliver 300 paper hearts drawn and cut-out by Delhi children over the last week.
Meanwhile, the indefinite fast by 9 Bhopal activists has entered the 19th day. The supporters of the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster held solidarity fasts in Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Bhopal, Vadodara, New Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai. International supporters in Quezon City, Philippines, Edinburgh, Scotland, Zurich, Switzerland and five US cities - Atlanta, Portland, Austin, New York and Boston are organizing solidarity fasts in these cities.
Janata Dal ideologue Surendra Mohan, senior journalists Pamela Philipose and Neerja Chowdhury and at least 31 representatives from over 20 organizations took part in the solidarity fast in New Delhi at Jantar Mantar.
As part of the "Have a Heart" campaign launched internationally last week, Bhopal supporters world over are educating children about the PMO's prolonged silence over the Bhopal demands despite a 38-day march, 90 day dharna and the advanced state of an indefinite fast by 9 Bhopalis.
A team of 8 Bhopali children have done the rounds of Delhi, visiting youth workshops, residential welfare associations, and slums telling children the story of Bhopal, and the Prime Minister's refusal to address their demands. Many of the hearts made by Delhi's children are stark in their messages to the PM. One student who visited the Bhopalis at Jantar Mantar wrote to the PM: "I am giving this heart because I think and have realized that you don't have a heart. That's why you did not feel the pain of the Bhopal gas tragedy victims. Please think about them, they are part of your country. At least think of yourself. You will also meet God one day and he will ask what you did? You will be left with no answers."
"The Prime Minister should see that law is applied equally to everybody. On one hand Union Carbide and Dow Chemical who have killed, maimed, bribed and are absconding from our courts are still going scot free and on the other hand, Bhopalis are beaten up and jailed for a peaceful protest," says 13-year old Aamir Khan, a second-generation gas victim who has spent his summer vacation in Jantar Mantar along with his parents and three siblings.
School children in Chennai too demonstrated today with hearts drawn by students from 7 schools. The hearts from Chennai will be mailed to the Prime Minister's residence on Monday.
For more information, contact: Rachna Dhingra: 9717516003
Posted by tim at 05:37 PM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2008
Bhopalis Blame PMO of Iron-Curtain Attitude to Transparency
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
NEW DELHI, 24 JUNE, 2008 -- "The Prime Minister's Office is stonewalling the Right to Information requests filed by representatives of Bhopal victims for a malafide purpose," three Bhopal-based survivor and support organisations said today. At least three complaints are lying in the Central Information Commission against a range of violations by the Public Information Officer of the Prime Minister's Office. The complaints filed against the PMO blame the highest executive office in the country of fraudulently removing important sections from files given for inspection, delaying the provision of requested photocopies and for disregarding the claim for information within two days under the Life and Liberty clause without providing any reasons for denial.
An RTI application filed invoking the Life and Liberty clause by Satinath Sarangi on 13 June C the 4th day of an indefinite hunger strike undertaken by 9 Bhopal activists C has not elicited any response till date. The application sought a time to inspect Bhopal-related files in the PMO, and has sought a copy of the register containing the identities of persons who met the Prime Minister since February 20, when 50 Bhopalis set off on their epic 800-km march to New Delhi. Repeated requests since January 2008 by Bhopal survivors and their representatives for an appointment with the PM have met with silence from the PMO. "Getting a list of people that the PM actually had the time to meet is critical to understanding where we stand in Dr. Singh's scheme of things. But this list has been denied to us," said Satinath Sarangi of Bhopal Group for Information and Action.
Having failed to hear from the PMO in the stipulated time C by June 18 -- Sarangi filed a complaint with the Central Information Commission on 20 June highlighting an earlier CIC decision that rules that hunger strikes, despite being a voluntary act, constitute a threat to life and liberty. A urinalysis done on samples taken from the 9 hunger strikers on 22 June revealed the presence of moderate to high levels of ketones in five samples. "The presence of ketones is worrisome as it is indicative of an advanced state of fasting and shows that the body is undergoing starvation," said Dr. Rakhal Gaitonde, a public health specialist with Bangalore-based Community Health Cell.
"The Prime Minister's Office is a habitual offender with respect to the Right to Information. They have perverted the spirit of the Act and rendered the Life or liberty clause meaningless, even while lakhs of Bhopalis are waiting for a nod from him to signal that justice will be done for Union Carbide's victims," said Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha and Bhopal Group for Information and Action.
An earlier request filed on 16 April, also for inspection invoking the life and liberty clause, got a response only on 9 May. However, the PMO has failed to provide photocopies of the pages requested despite repeated reminders as recently as on 23 June.
This is part of the overall scheme of protection accorded by the PMO to Dow Chemical and Union Carbide. Despite all the talk about transparency, the PMO remains the strongest practitioner of an iron-curtain mentality to sharing information, the groups charged. The PMO files contain minutes of the 17 April Group of Ministers meeting which strongly endorsed the demands of the Bhopalis. "Publishing these minutes will strongly strengthen our stance, and help end the hunger strike by catalysing a resolution in our favour," said 24-year old hunger striker Sanjay Verma. Sanjay, who was an infant at the time of the disaster, lost 7 members, including his parents, to the gas leak in 1984.
The Bhopalis have demanded a Special Empowered Commission for rehabilitation of Union Carbide's victims, including future generations, and that legal action be taken against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.
For more information, contact:
Satinath Sarangi: 9717516003
Posted by tim at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2008
Diane Wilson Arrested at Indian Consulate in Houston
Press Release
June 23, 2008
Diane Wilson and other supporters protest at the Indian Consulate, Houston last week
HOUSTON -- Police arrested activist Diane Wilson Monday at the Indian Consulate in Houston. Wilson is on an indefinite fast in solidarity with nine survivors of the Union Carbide Gas Disaster in New Delhi, India.
Through her actions, Wilson, a fourth generation fisherwoman, has urged the Government of India to fulfill the survivor's demands for clean water, health care and justice. She refers to the survivors "my sisters and brothers," as she is also from a community polluted by Dow/Carbide in Seadrift, Texas.
On December 3rd, 1984, thousands of people in Bhopal, India, were gassed to death after a catastrophic chemical leak at a Union Carbide pesticide plant; thousands more are now being poisoned by toxic waste from the abandoned factory site. Wilson believes firmly that the Indian government and Carbide parent company Dow Chemical must be held accountable for the ongoing disaster there.
Diane Wilson summed up her commitment to justice and connection the Bhopal survivors: "As one of the Bhopalis said, 'What else can people do when their government ignores their pain and cries of injustice? Agitate, agitate!'"
Diane's fast is part of an ongoing Global Fasting Relay, which is being supported by nearly 400 concerned individuals in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and India. (The full list of fasters available at www.bhopal.net) In North America, actions have taken place in Boston, San Francisco and Toronto, with further action planned at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC. The brave yet perilous decision to begin an indefinite fast has been undertaken by Wilson and others only after numerous unsuccessful attempts to focus the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh toward the grave situation in Bhopal.
Diane Wilson, a mother of five, became aware of the Dow/Carbide crimes in Bhopal after learning her own Texas County, located near several chemical plants including a Carbide/Dow plant, was the most polluted in the US. After Ms. Wilson was arrested after a protest at her local Dow facility, she toured the country refusing to go to jail until the former CEO of Union Carbide was jailed. Former Carbide CEO Warren Anderson jumped bail after the Bhopal Disaster and has refused to face manslaughter charges in India.
Survivors are demanding the establishment of a special commission to deal with the issues that still plague the people of Bhopal. They are also demanding that the Prime Minister hold Dow Chemical legally liable, following Dow's purchase of the initial disaster offender, Union Carbide, in 2001. Though survivors have gained support from many influential lawmakers, as well as the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the Prime Minister Singh has not budged from his ongoing support of this rogue chemical company.
Nearly half a million people were exposed to poisonous methyl isocyanate during a runaway chemical reaction at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal in 1984. Since then, more than 22,000 people have died and 150,000 survivors continue to be chronically ill, as the Indian government and Dow have repeatedly failed to address their liabilities in the atrocities of the world's worst industrial disaster.
The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) is a coalition of people's organizations, non-profit groups and individuals who have joined forces to campaign for justice for the survivors of the gas leak. The Campaign for Justice in Bhopal is active in more than 20 cities in the US, UK, France and India.
Read Diane Wilson's blog on her indefinite fast for Bhopal.
Posted by tim at 05:50 PM | Comments (0)
June 19, 2008
Govt handling of Bhopal: Blot on Indian Democracy, 224 Indian groups tell PM
PRESS RELEASE
19 June 2008, New Delhi
New Delhi: Terming the Government's inaction on the demands of the Bhopal victims as a 'blot on Indian democracy,' 224 organisations, including trade unions, people's struggles, NGOs and national alliances, from 19 states across the country wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister demanding immediate resolution of the Bhopal issues. Blaming the Government's silence for pushing 9 Bhopal victims and their supporters to launch an indefinite hunger strike starting 10 June, the organizations said: "We are concerned for the health of the people who have begun an indefinite fast. In particular, we are concerned about the well-being of those among the hunger strikers who have already been affected by Union Carbide's poisons." All but two of the hunger strikers are directly affected by the poisonous gas, contaminated water or both.
The open letter to the PM follows a series of high profile actions as indignation rises across the country and overseas on the failure of the UPA Government to act on its promises. Till date, nearly 300 people from 11 countries have already signed up on www.bhopal.net to fast for a day or longer in solidarity with the Bhopalis. Bhopal supporters, particularly NRIs have protested outside the Indian embassies in Toronto, Boston, San Francisco and Houston. Sixteen US Congresspersons have written a strong letter urging the Prime Minister to set up a Commission for rehabilitation and to aggressively pursue the American corporations for their crimes in India. The US parliamentarians are joined by 19 Indian MPs from six political parties and 81 British MPs, Scottish legislators, more than 100 artists and eminent writers, and 67 international organizations including 17 NRI groups that have written to the Prime Minister urging him to resolve the Bhopal demands. Separately, nearly 5200 faxes have been sent to the PMO.
Addressing a press conference today, Bhopal organizations were joined by Justice Rajindar Sachar and Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy of JNU, who said that the Government has to explain why it is hesitating to take legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical. "Why are Union Carbide, Dow Chemical and Warren Anderson being treated differently from any other person accused of a crime?" they asked. They said the Government's silence on the repeated petitions and letters from and on behalf of the Bhopal survivors leads one to conclude that the Government does not care about the Bhopal survivors.
Countering claims by sections of the Government that existing monitoring committees obviate the need for an empowered Commission, Satinath Sarangi of Bhopal Group for Information and Action pointed out that even the Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on medical rehabilitation has sought empowered status as it is unable to enforce its directions. Also, with the Group of Ministers endorsing the demand for a Commission, it is unclear as to why the Government has not yet acted on the demand for a Commission, the Bhopal organizations said. They said the Prime Minister's Office was acting with malafide intent in dealing with Right to Information requests. Applications filed by a hunger striker under the special life and liberty clause has failed to elicit a response from the PMO, even as information sought under applications filed as early as April 16 are still awaited.
For more information:
Satinath Sarangi at 9717516003 or Shalini Sharma at 9891442037
Posted by tim at 03:38 PM | Comments (0)
June 14, 2008
Punish Dow Carbide, US Legislators Tell PM
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
PRESS RELEASE
NEW DELHI, 14 JUNE, 2008. Sixteen US Congresspersons, led by Padma Bhushan Frank Pallone Jr, have sent a letter to the Prime Minister expressing their support to the Bhopalis "epic march" and demands, and urging the PM to bring Dow Chemical and Union Carbide to justice. The Congressional letter is the latest in a tide of support that has flowed in from overseas, including endorsements from British and Scottish MPs, Amnesty International, and more than 100 eminent writers and people in the arts.
The US congressional letter sent on June 5, 2008, is strong in its criticism of US-based Dow Chemical and Union Carbide. "The conduct of American corporations outside the US is a long-standing concern of ours. . .In this case, US corporations have refused to submit to the jurisdiction of foreign [Indian] courts. . .It is outrageous that the executives of Union Carbide and its successor, Dow Chemical, have yet to be brought to justice."
Besides expressing their support for the Commission proposed by the Bhopalis, the 16 US legislators added wrote: "We hope that the Indian Government pursues Union Carbide and Dow Chemical for their civil and criminal liabilities in the country."
British MP Des Turner also coincidentally issued a press statement on June 5 expressing his outrage at the continued neglect of the Bhopal survivors. "It is morally totally indefensible that in a situation like this that many local communities are exposed to this toxic threat and the Dow Chemical Company continues to abrogate its responsibility for one of the greatest human tragedies in history. I shall be bringing this to the attention of the Indian High Commission." An Early Day Motion tabled in the British Parliament in support of the Bhopal campaign by Turner was endorsed by 68 British MPs, including himself.
Meanwhile, 60 organisations, including 17 US-based NRI organizations sent a letter to the Prime Minister, and a copy of the same to Ms. Sonia Gandhi seeking an urgent resolution of the Bhopal demands.
"International pressure will escalate. People are outraged at the Government's insensitivity in handling the Bhopalis' demands, and will find ways of expressing their opposition to the Government's lackadaisical attitude," said Aquene Freechild, a US-based supporter and member of the Students for Bhopal campaign.
Already, more than a 100 people from 7 countries have signed up to fast with the Bhopalis for a day or longer. Of these, 9 people from USA, France, Argentina and India have started an indefinite fast in their own homes. They are: Indra Sinha (France), Diane Wilson, George Stadnik, Amy Harlib, Jeevan Pendli, and H. Halen from the US, Catalina Farias Rodriguez from Argentina, and Alok Nayak, Shweta Narayan and Bharati Mamani from India.
Till date, the Prime Minister's Office has received more than 5027 faxes urging the PM to meet the Bhopalis and their demands. However, Bhopal organizations have received no response from the Government yet.
For more information, contact:
Satinath Sarangi. 9717516003
Posted by tim at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)
Madhya Pradesh govt accused of conniving with Dow over Bhopal
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
June 14, 2008
Press Statement
The BBC's report about Dow Chemical's Rs. 1 lakh donation to the BJP explains the Madhya Pradesh Government's aggressive efforts to protect the American multinational from its environmental liabilities in Bhopal, said Bhopal survivor organizations currently on dharna in New Delhi. Presenting the Right to Information documents to the press in Bhopal, Syed M. Irfan, President of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha, said "The one lakh rupees is merely the tip of the iceberg. The favours extended by the State Government by way of pushing for the burning of Union Carbide's toxic wastes despite the recommendations of experts is clearly worth a lot more to Dow."
The BJP Government has led the effort in the High Court to burn 340 tons of Carbide's toxic wastes in an incinerator in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, despite opposition by the Gujarat government, warnings by experts and the opinion of the Technical Sub Committee constituted by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. A massive fire damaged large portions of the Ankleshwar facility on April 3, confirming the notes of caution by the experts.
While the MP Pollution Control Board has been reporting severe contamination of groundwater from 1996 the state government continues to deny this fact. Similarly, despite a 2006 report on the health damage caused by contaminated groundwater by the Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, a state government research agency the State Government refuses to acknowledge these injuries. A state government sponsored study completed last year by the Gandhi Medical College on the health effects of water contamination remains under wraps till date.
"Recently, BJP Minister Ajay Vishnoi was caught for skimming money from the gas relief funds. Now, Election Commission documents prove that the Party as a whole is treating this disaster as a money-making opportunity," said Mr. Irfan.
The State Government is actively pushing Dow's agenda of creating a memorial over the lands where more than 10,000 tons of toxic wastes lie buried. Survivor organizations have said that it is the buried waste, rather than the 340 tons that the Government is desperate to burn, that needs to be dealt with as a priority.
The State Government's enthusiasm to declare as gas-affected wards that ICMR determined as not affected by the gas leak, stands in contrast with the slow pace of work on delivering clean drinking water to the water contamination affected areas.
The gas relief Minister has opposed the Commission on Bhopal recommended by the Group of Ministers arguing that there are already two Supreme Court Committees on medical rehabilitation, and that no Commission can be above that. However, the State Government's disdain for the Supreme Court is clear from its track record of compliance with the apex Court's directions. The Supreme Court Monitoring Committee on medical rehabilitation has recorded that the State Government has failed to act on any of the recommendations contained in no less than six of its reports. Further, a May 2004 order of the Supreme Court directing the State Government to deliver clean drinking water to 14 water-affected communities near the Union Carbide factory remains unimplemented.
Meanwhile, nine Bhopalis – including survivors, victims of water contamination and their supporters – began an indefinite fast from New Delhi on 10 June. Two Bhopal residents – Rachna Dhingra and Meera More – are fasting from Tihar Jail, where they are currently held along with 21 others. They were arrested on 9 June for demonstrating outside the Prime Minister's Office. More than 80 people from 7 countries have signed up via www.bhopal.net to fast in solidarity with the Bhopal hunger strikers. Of this, 10 people, including, noted Booker-shortlisted author of Animal's People Indra Sinha, long-time Bhopal supporter Diane Wilson from Texas, USA and Chennai-based Shweta Narayan have begun an indefinite fast that will end only when justice is done.
Rashida Bee, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh
Syed M Irfan
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Rachna Dhingra, Satinath Sarangi
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
Posted by tim at 08:58 AM | Comments (0)
June 12, 2008
Chennai Youth's Human Chain Condemns Delhi Police Violence Against Bhopali Kids
CHENNAI, 12 JUNE, 2008 -- Chennai youth and school students today formed a human chain to protest custodial violence against children of Bhopal gas tragedy victims in a Delhi police station on June 9, 2008. A total of 14 children were detained overnight at the Parliament Street police station along with 22 adults after they were arrested for their peaceful protest outside the Prime Minister's Office. Frustrated by the Prime Minister's silence over resolution of their decades-long demands, Bhopal survivors and victims of water contamination have penetrated the high-security zone around the Prime Minister's house and office three times in the last 35 days in an effort to get heard by the PM. In a bid to "teach them a lesson" for protesting in restricted areas, police officials in the Parliament Street police station dragged survivors into the lock-up, strip searched and beat up one of the male survivors, and slapped, punched and belted several children who tried to prevent the police from abusing the adults.
Survivors and their supporters, including from Chennai, have made several phone calls to the Prime Minister's Office only to be told that no such incident of violence took place. "I was shocked to find top government officials actually denying that the Bhopalis had been abused. I am rapidly losing whatever faith I had in the government," said Manasi Karthik, a student from Chennai.
The Bhopal organizations have been on dharna on the pavement near Parliament Street in New Delhi since March 28, which is when they arrived on foot covering a distance of 800 km from Bhopal to New Delhi. Chennai resident Shweta Narayan, who joined the Bhopalis in solidarity through the length of the march, has now joined 9 Bhopalis on an indefinite hunger strike that started 10 June. Of the 9 Bhopalis, two women hunger strikers are carrying on their fast from the Tihar Jail, where they are currently under judicial custody along with 18 other Bhopali women and 2 men.
The Bhopalis are demanding for a Special Commission on Bhopal to look after economic, medical, social and environmental rehabilitation, provision of clean drinking water, and for legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical. Union Carbide, Dow's 100 percent subsidiary, is absconding from Indian courts. The company is charged with "culpable homicide" and the criminal case that is lodged against it has not progressed due to the company's failure to appear in court. Union Carbide has also not come forward to pay for the clean up of the toxic wastes it has abandoned in Bhopal. These wastes have contaminated the groundwater. More than 25,000 people, mostly belonging to minority, oppressed and economically marginalized communities have been forced to consume this water for more than two decades. Community health workers from Bhopal are reporting a high incidence of birth defects – cleft lips, missing palate, mental disorders, cerebral palsy and congenital deformities – among children born in these communities.
"This Government has plumbed the depths of insincerity, unpopularity and insensitivity in the manner it is dealing with the Bhopal demands. Dow has offered $1 billion in investments in return for legal immunity for its Bhopal liabilities. If a nation can be bribed, this is what it would look like," said Shweta Narayan, a long-standing volunteer with the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal.
For further details contact:
Nityanand Jayaraman – 94440 82401
42a, first floor, fifth avenue, Besant nagar, Chennai – 90
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
Posted by tim at 05:53 PM | Comments (0)
CPI condemns custodial violence against Bhopalis; Urges Government address Bhopal Demands Immediately
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangi
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
PRESS RELEASE
NEW DELHI, 12 JUNE, 2008 -- Talking to the media at the Bhopal dharna sthal in Jantar Mantar, CPI National Secretary D. Raja said:
"I have raised the Bhopal issue in parliament and outside repeatedly. I have written to the Prime Minister and had talks with various ministers and MPs. I learnt about the police action against the agitators a few days ago. I condemn the police action, and I condemn the arrest of the women. The Government should withdraw all charges against the Bhopalis forthwith, and should immediately release them. The Government should agree to the model law and set up a high powered commission as demanded by the Bhopal people. I know that several MPs cutting across political parties have extended their support to the Commission [proposed by the Bhopal organizations]. Why is the Government not making a serious effort to resolve these issues. This Government says it is for the "Aam Admi." Are these people not your Aam Aadmi? How long does the Government expect the victims to sit on the pavement? And if the Government does not act, what else is left to common people but to agitate, to struggle?"
Twenty-five people, including 23 women, are in judicial custody since 10 June for participating in a non-violent demonstration outside the Prime Minister's Office on 9 June. Fourteen children who also participated in the protest were detained overnight at Parliament Street police station and released late the next day. During their detention, children ranging in age from 6 to 16, and Goldman Environmental Prize winner Rashida Bee were physically abused by the police. One youth was hurt in his eye, and sent to the hospital on 9 June night. Some of the Parliament Street policepersons who were identified by the Bhopalis include: Mahendra Singh, Naresh Malik, Suraj Bhan, Yad Ram and policewoman Manisha as key participants in the abuse.
Two women – Rachna Dhingra and Meera More – who are currently in Tihar Jail, began an indefinite hunger strike on 10 June along with 7 other Bhopal activists who are carrying out their fast from Jantar Mantar. So far, 43 people from 5 countries have signed up through the www.bhopal.net website to fast in solidarity with the Bhopalis. Among these six, including Booker-shortlisted author Indra Sinha, Texas-based fisherwoman and activist Diane Wilson, and four others from US and India have said they will fast indefinitely with the Bhopalis until justice is done.
The Bhopal organizations are demanding a Special Empowered Commission to address economic, social, medical and environmental rehabilitation and provision of clean water. They have also asked for legal action against Dow and Union Carbide. A statement read by the PM's emissary Mr. Prithviraj Chavan conveyed its in-principle agreement to a Commission, but remained silent on the matter of legal action against Dow and Carbide. Even on the issue of the Commission, the PM's statement is vague and devoid of crucial details such as timelines and budget.
Bhopal survivors and victims of water contamination have been sitting on dharna at Jantar Mantar since March 28, which is when 50 of them arrived after covering 800 km on foot from Bhopal to New Delhi.
While commending the CPI for playing an active role in projecting their demands in the parliament, the Bhopal survivors have called upon other left parties, particularly the CPM, to use its influence to ensure that the UPA Government doesn't veer off the path of justice in Bhopal.
For more information, contact:
Satinath Sarangi: 9717516003
Posted by tim at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)
June 10, 2008
Hunger Strike begins with police beatings of women and children
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
NEW DELHI, 10 JUNE, 2008
Press Statement
Nine Bhopal activists, including survivors of the 1984 Bhopal disaster, victims of water contamination and their supporters today commenced an indefinite hunger strike to underscore their demands for a special empowered commission for rehabilitation in Bhopal, and legal action against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide. Joining them in the global hunger strike is noted Booker-shortlisted author Indra Sinha, who will begin his fast today from his residence in South West France. "The Prime Minister underestimates the emotive power of the Bhopal struggle. The hunger strike will catalyse global opinion against the Prime Minister's refusal to yield to the Bhopalis' justified demands," said Sinha, author of Commonwealth Prize-winning book Animal's People.
Three of the hunger strikers – Rachna Dhingra (30), Irshaad Khan (20) and Meera More (27) – are among 36 that were arrested yesterday for staging a die-in in front of the Prime Minister's Office. Toteach the Bhopalis a lesson, more than 15 policepersons, including one woman cop and two plainclothesmen, strip-searched, whipped and slapped Bhopali youth and children who were in police custody last night. Suresh Pal was stripped, beaten and locked up. 11-year old Yasmin, who walked from Bhopal to Delhi, and six-year old Nagma were beaten up by the police, while 19-year old Imran was whipped with a belt and hurt in the eye for intervening when policemen began abusing and dragging Rachna into the lock-up. Mahendra Singh, a plainclothesman who masterminded the operation, said "In saaliyon ke kapde fado." (Tear the clothes off these bitches). The arrested persons will be produced before the magistrate today. Of the 36, 18, including 9 children, 7 women and two men, said they will not post a bail. If imprisoned, Dhingra, Irshad and More will start the fast in jail.
Bhopal activists have said that the police action is part of a good-cop, bad-cop game being played by the Prime Minister's Office. "The presence of the plainclothesmen, the warning by the Deputy Commissioner of Police that "you will face the consequences this time," and the mild platitudes periodically issued from the PMO are proof enough that this is not an act by a few rowdy cops, but something that has a higher sanction," said Dhingra of Bhopal Group for Information and Action.
When confronted with news about children being beaten up at the police station, Director of Public Relations at the Prime Minister's Office, Mr. Muthukumaran said "I have heard about it. It is shameful. I have informed the authorities, and we'll see what can be done." Bhopal survivors have said that Muthuraman's statement is as vague and insincere as last month's statement by the Prime Minister's emissary Prthviraj Chavan that seemed to partially concede to the demands. The statement by Minister of State in the PMO made no mention of the powers, funds and the number of years the Bhopal Commission will function and was silent on the issue of legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical. Bhopalis are refusing to accept a toothless Commission and insist that the Commission on Bhopal be enacted by the Parliament to get the powers it needs to function.
The demands for legal action against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide, they said, merely require the Government to do what it is mandated under law to do. The pesticides that were registered by paying bribes have to be deregistered. Warren Anderson and Union Carbide's legal representative need to be extradited in line with the orders of the Bhopal Chief Judicial Magistrate. Bhopalis have also called for revocation of an approval given by the Industry and Commerce Ministry to Reliance to purchase Union Carbide's Unipol technology. The Bhopal CJM had ordered attachment of Union Carbide's property in 1992. Unipol by virtue of its ownership is a confiscable property.
The persons fasting include Irshad Khan (20), Gabbar Singh (29), Meera More (27), Iqbal Khan Khokhar (54), Jabbar Khan (45), Sanjay Verma (24), Abdul Rafiq (38), Rachna Dhingra (28) and Satinath Sarangi (54). Barring the last two, all others are either affected by the gas disaster or by ground water contamination from Union Carbide's chemical wastes.
Rashida Bee, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh
Syed M Irfan
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Rachna Dhingra,Satinath Sarangi
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
For more information, contact:
Satinath Sarangi: 09717516003
Posted by tim at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)
June 09, 2008
Bhopal protestors stage die-in at PMO: Announce global hunger strike
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationary Karamchari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
**LATEST NEWS**
Thirty six Bhopalis, including 13 children and 20 women, were arrested today at 345 p.m. after they staged a die-in in front of the Prime Minister's Office in South Block. Arriving by walk, the Bhopalis took the security guards by surprise, and staged a silent but visual protest, where the women and children lay along the entrance to Gate 5 that leads to the Prime Minister's Office, with shrouds covering their bodies. They are currently being detained at the Parliament Street Police station.
Sincerely,
Nityanand Jayaraman
For more information, call Satinath Sarangi. 9717516003. Nityanand: 09444082401
June 9th, 2008
For immediate release
40 survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal and victims of water contamination staged a die-in outside the Prime Minister's Office in South Block today. The protestors demanded that the Indian government commit to empowering the Commission on Bhopal for long term rehabilitation of the Bhopal victims and take appropriate legal actions against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.
The three organizations of Bhopal survivors leading the 111 days long campaign including today’s die-in announced the launching of a global hunger strike from tomorrow with participation from more than 18 countries. 9 survivors and their supporters will begin their indefinite fast tomorrow from 12 noon at Jantar Mantar and will be joined by Booker shortlisted author Indra Sinha who will begin "at least a weeklong fast" from France. The organizations had informed the Prime Minister of their decision to go on an indefinite fast on June 2.
The decision to undertake a hunger strike was taken after tiring of waiting for a response from the PMO regarding their demands, the organizations said. A statement partially conceding to the demands issued by the Minister of State for PMO Mr. Chavan last month made no mention of the powers, funds and the number of years the Commission on Bhopal will function and was silent on the issue of legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.
"We came here to get all of our demands met. So far, we have got nothing – not even a drop of clean water. On supply of water, the Prime Minister has told us that we can continue drinking poisoned water at least until November after which clean water would be given to only those who can pay user fees," said Meera More, a young woman survivor who will be part of the indefinite fast.
The organizations have pointed out to the Prime Minister that for the Commission to carry out its tasks of rehabilitation in Bhopal, it needs to have powers to summon and enforce attendance of persons, inspect documents and requisition official records. Given that these powers can only be accorded by the Parliament, the organizations have sent a draft bill for the Commission on Bhopal for endorsement by the Indian government. Several Members of Parliament from different parties have already lent their support to the bill.
Survivors say that the demands for legal action against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide merely ask the Government to do what it is required under law to do. Survivors have asked for deregistering three Dow pesticides whose licenses were obtained through bribe. They are pressing for extradition of Warren Anderson and Union Carbide's legal representative in line with the orders of the Bhopal Chief Judicial Magistrate. They have also called for revocation of an approval given by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to Reliance Petroleum to purchase Union Carbide's Unipol technology. The Bhopal CJM had ordered attachment of Union Carbide's property in 1992. Unipol by virtue of its ownership is a confiscable property.
Although a high-level bureaucrats’ meeting was held on 3 June to discuss appropriate legal actions against the American corporations, no decision seems to have been taken on the matter. A section of the Government, notably Minister of Commerce and Industry; Kamalnath and Minister of Finance P. Chidambaram, are reported to have thrown their weight behind Dow Chemical and the cause of American investors who have issued a veiled threat to reconsider investments in India if Dow is pinned with Union Carbide's liabilities.
Rashida Bee, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh
Syed M Irfan
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Rachna Dhingra, Satinath Sarangi
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
For More Information Contact:
Rachna Dhingra: 9717516003
Posted by tim at 11:48 AM | Comments (0)
June 05, 2008
Take Dow to Task on Bhopal: TN Leaders Tell PM
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
Press Release
5 June, 2008. CHENNAI – Dalit Panthers of India general secretary Ravikumar, and CPI National Council Member A.M. Gopu today addressed a press conference urging the Prime Minister to take firm legal action against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide for their pending liabilities in Bhopal and other crimes. Speaking for their respective parties on the World Environment Day, the political personalities joined others from CPM, MDMK and Congress who expressed their support for legal action against Dow-Carbide through letters written by their representatives to the Prime Minister. DMK MP Kanimozhi was unable to attend, but issued a telephone statement in which she said: "I support both the demands of the Bhopalis -- for a special commission and for legal action against Dow and Carbide. I urge the Prime Minister to meet the demands of the Bhopalis urgently."
Bowing to pressure from Dow Chemical and the US Government, the Government of India has been reluctant to pursue legal action against the corporations. Political leaders warned that any attempt to exempt Dow from the due course of law will be unpopular and send a dangerous signal to investors that the Indian Government does not care for its people or environment. They said, we must send “a strong message that India is open for investments but not at the cost of its sovereignty, or the welfare of its people and environment.”
The party leaders extended their support to the 70-day old strike by Bhopal survivors in New Delhi. They urged the Prime Minister to meet the demands of the Bhopalis soon so that the Bhopalis can return home. The Bhopalis reached New Delhi on 28 March after walking 800 km from Bhopal. They have been sitting on strike at Jantar Mantar since then pushing for their two-pronged charter of demands to be met.
On 30 May, the Prime Minister’s Office conveyed its in principle agreement to a special commission to execute economic, medical and social rehabilitation and oversee environmental clean-up and provision of clean drinking water. However, the demand for legal action against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide remains totally unaddressed. Bhopal activists have said they will not lift the strike, and will intensify the struggle until the Government agrees to their crucial demand that the guilty corporations must be made to pay. They have said that Dow must pay for clean-up of contamination, and damages to affected persons. They have also demanded the deregistering of three pesticides whose licenses were obtained by Dow through payment of bribes to agriculture ministry officials. Additionally, they have sought extradition of Warren Anderson and Union Carbide’s legal representative to face trial in the ongoing criminal case in Bhopal, and revocation of approval given to Reliance to purchase Union Carbide’s Unipol technology.
The Bhopalis’ demands are all for actions that the Government is required to fulfill under law. “All that is being asked by the Bhopalis is for the Government to help law take its course,” the PM was told through a letter signed by several political parties, including MDMK and DPI.
“We will expose the Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram and Commerce Minister Mr. Kamalnath for their roles in advocating the interests of Dow and Union Carbide over that of the Bhopal survivors,” said the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal. The Campaign charged the two ministers with betraying the people of Bhopal and condemned their shameless bargaining for investments by offering legal immunity to Dow Chemical. The Bhopalis have said they will visit Chindwara and Sivagangai, the constituencies of the two ministers, to educate people that their MPs are prepared to even sacrifice justice and the interests the victims of the world’s worst disaster to promote the interests of multinational corporations.
Excerpt of statements by Ravikumar MLA and Com. A.M. Gopu, CPI.
Ravikumar, MLA,DPI
“Be it any disaster, the worst affected are always people from oppressed communities. The situation is no different in Bhopal. The Courts act with remarkable alacrity when it comes to giving out anti-people judgements. The order for raising the dam height in Narmada is one instance. And when people question or criticize this, they jail them under contempt of court proceedings. If they can act so decisively in some cases, why is the judiciary taking so much time to decide who is responsible for the pollution in Bhopal? The case was filed in 2004. While there are many Ministers who are working against the people and on behalf of multinational companies, but I feel we must also highlight the positive role played by some Ministers. Chemicals Minister Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan has been consistent in supporting the cause of the Bhopalis and has been firm in insisting that Dow Chemical should pay for clean-up. Multi- national companies are making a habit of polluting our country. In richer countries, mobile phone operators follow stringent guidelines to identify sites for locating transmission towers. India too has such guidelines. But contrary to guidelines endorsed by World Health Organisation that mobile phone towers should not be located in residential areas, multinational companies are locating these towers everywhere. The victims of the Bhopal gas Disaster have been sitting on a dharna in Delhi waiting for their 2 demands to be fulfilled. My party, Dalit Panthers of India, has already written a letter urging the Prime Minister to meet the demands of the Bhopal Survivors immediately. Our party will continue to support them.”
Com. Gopu Communist Party India
“My party has always been supportive of the Bhopal campaign. We may be extending support to the UPA Government from the outside. But that doesn’t mean we have given them a clean chit to do as they please. We are not happy with the way they are dealing with the Bhopal issue, and we have told them so. Our national secretary has made a strong statement on behalf of the Bhopalis demands in the parliament. We will not hesitate to show our displeasure to the Government. They cannot take us for granted. My party will be 100 percent behind the struggle of the Bhopalis and will extend all the support that we can to ensure that their struggle succeeds. We need investments, but not in dirty industries that are not wanted elsewhere. We have to promote good, clean industries that give jobs to our people. The objective of such industrialization is not making profits but providing jobs and spurring the growth of the economy as a whole.”
For more information, contact:
Venkat. 9884706531.
42A, 1st Floor, 5th Avenue, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600090
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June 03, 2008
Kamalnath: collaboration with Dow exposes him as a Mir Zafar, say Bhopal survivors
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
June 3, 2008
Press Statement
Leaders of two organizations of Bhopal survivors today announced the launching of a public awareness campaign in the state to expose central Commerce and Industries Minister Kamalnath's role in helping Dow Chemical and Union Carbide escape their liabilities in Bhopal. They said that the Minister approved the sale of Union Carbide's Unipol technology to Reliance Industries in 2006 knowing fully well that it was approving the sale of intellectual property of an absconding criminal. They pointed out that in March 1992 the Bhopal District Court directed the government to confiscate all property belonging to Union Carbide in India.
The leaders of the organization said that they will visit the Minister's constituency in Chhindwara and expose him as a modern Mir Zafar. They said just as Mir Zafar, the army chief of Bengal, sold himself to the East India Company in 1757, Kamalnath was selling himself to American corporations that have killed more than 23 thousand people of his state. "By helping Union Carbide's business in India Kamalnath is helping Union Carbide abscond from Indian courts. He has joined hands with the killer of Bhopal." said Rashida Bee President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh.
The organizations said that on June 28, 2007, Mr. Kamalnath addressed a press conference at Washington, D.C. defending Dow Chemical. "Dow, by integration, inherited Union Carbide. Dow themselves had no status in this, so Dow's investment is not affected by that," he is reported to have said.
Presenting a copy of a briefing note unearthed under RTI from the PMO the organizations charged Kamalnath with presenting an opinion before the US media that was contrary to the opinion of the Indian government. According to the note dated 7 February, 2008, the Law Ministry has opined that "Irrespective of the manner in which [Union Carbide] has merged or been acquired by Dow Chemicals, if there is any legal liability, it would have to be borne by Dow Chemicals." The note further asserts that "it cannot also be said that the investment proposed to be made by the Dow Chemicals will be immune from the orders of the court".
The leaders of the organizations who had a meeting with the Group of Ministers on Bhopal on April 17 said that in that meeting in the presence of other Ministers and senior bureaucrats, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan had said that the Unipol approval was given despite his Ministries opposition.
Syed M Irfan, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha Bhopal said that Kamalnath has long been trying to impede the course of law by shielding Dow Chemical from inheriting any of Carbide's liabilities. They presented a document obtained from the PMO under the RTI Act that shows that on 7 February 2007, Kamalnath wrote to the Prime Minister stating ". . .with a view to sending an appropriate signal to Dow Chemicals, which is exploring investing substantially in India and to the American business community, I would urge that a group. . . be formed to look at this matter in a holistic manner, in a similar manner as was done with respect to the Enron Corporation with respect to Dabhol Power Corporation." Enron disappeared without paying its dues to the Maharashtra Government and many Indian lenders.
The organizations said that despite Mir Zafars like Kamalnath they will make Dow Chemical pay not only for clean-up of contaminated soil and groundwater, but also for damage to health of people consuming the contaminated water.
Rashida Bee, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh
Syed M Irfan
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Rachna Dhingra, Satinath Sarangi
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
*CONTACT*:
Rashida Bee: 9425688215
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