Press Statementfrom International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
Hundreds of Bhopal survivors today demonstrated before the State Headquarters of Indian Oil Corporation denouncing its proposed purchasing of Union Carbide’s technology from its new owner Dow Chemical. Supporters of the Bhopal protestors in different parts of the country have resolved to target Indian Oil Corporation with their campaigns.
According to the representatives of survivors’ organizations IOC’s board has recently approved Union Carbide’s new owner Dow Chemical as a technology supplier for its Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) unit at the proposed Naptha cracker complex in Panipat, Haryana. Given the secretive manner in which the deal was being conducted, full details about the proposed tie-up are not available.
Union Carbide’s METEOR EO 180 catalyst based technology for production of Ethylene Glycol is licensed by Dow. The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) believes it is quite likely that it is a Carbide technology that is being marketed here. “This exposes how Dow and Indian Oil are facilitating a back-door entry for Union Carbide even while shielding it from criminal liability,” said Satinath Sarangi of the ICJB.
“This demonstrates the abysmal lack of screening of international business by the Ministry of Industry. While the CBI is pursuing Union Carbide as an absconding accused in the criminal case on the disaster, the Ministry of Industry is approving business deals with it and its parent company,” said Syed M Irfan of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha. “It is because of this lax attitude that the Bhopal disaster happened in the first place.”
“Rather than take steps to force Dow to produce Union Carbide, the Government is sitting by while this premier public sector unit makes Dow richer by buying Carbide technology,” said Shahid Noor of Bhopal ki Aawaaz. “We’re totally opposed to any Indian company doing business with Dow Chemical, and want an immediate enquiry into how the Government is allowing this to happen.”
“We will expose and break the collusion between the Indian government and Dow Chemical and Union Carbide. Until now,
Dow and Carbide were the only corporate target of our protests now if Indian Oil buys Carbide technology they will face our wrath and our brooms. ” said Rashida Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh.
Rashida Bi, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh
Tel: 9329026319
Syed M Irfan,
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
9302371456
Shahid Noor
Bhopal ki Aawaaz
9303122784
Satinath Sarangi
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
House No. 12, Galli No. 2, Near Naseer Masjid, Bag Umrao Dulha, Bhopal
For more information please visit www.bhopal.net
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