July 15 2013 Dear Sisters and Brothers of USA, We, the survivors of the world’s worst industrial disaster in Bhopal ask your help in extraditing Warren Anderson, former Chairman of Union Carbide Corporation who has jumped bail and refuses to face criminal charges related to thousands of deaths. SIGN THIS PETITION http://wh.gov/l3cJi You need to be have a address in US. If the petition gets 100,000 American signatures by 13th July 2013 then the White House will respond. Former Union Carbide Chairman / CEO Warren Anderson skipped bail in India and fled to the US more than 28 years ago. In 1992 and again in 2009 the Indian courts issued warrants for Anderson’s arrest for manslaughter. The 1984 Bhopal disaster has killed as many as 25,000 people and 120,000 continue to battle chronic illnesses. Cancer and Tuberculosis are rampant and next generation is also marked by Carbide poisons. There is abundant evidence that shows that the disaster in Bhopal was foreseeable and preventable and that it occurred because of deliberate criminal negligence by Anderson and his colleagues. Anderson lives comfortably in his three homes in the Hamptons, Florida and Connecticut. The president of USA and the US Departments of State and Justice need to stop harboring one of the world’s most wanted criminals. Extradite Anderson before he dies of old age. ANDERSON CRIMES IN BHOPAL Union Carbide Factory, Bhopal, India Anderson was part of the 11 member managerial committee that approved untested technology in the Bhopal plant to cut cost by 25%. TIMELINE On 7th December 1984, Warren Anderson along with Indian officials was arrested in Bhopal and released on bail. He promised to return back in his Bail Bond. On 1 December 1987, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed charge sheet against Warren Anderson, chairman of UCC, and eleven other accused individuals and corporations. Warren Anderson is charged under Indian Penal Code sections 304 [culpable homicide, punishable by 10 years to life imprisonment and fine], 320 [causing grievous hurt punishable by 10 years to life imprisonment and fine], 324 [causing hurt, punishable by 3 years imprisonment and/or fine] and 429 [causing death and poisoning of animals, punishable by 3 years imprisonment and/or fine] Anderson has not shown up in Bhopal Court despite several summons through Interpol. On 10th April 1992 CJM, Bhopal issues Non-Bailable Warrant of arrest against Warren Anderson and orders the Government of India to seek extradition of Anderson from the United States. May 2003: Ministry of External Affairs sends request for extradition of Warren Anderson to Department of State and Department of Justice, USA. On 24th July 2003, the Department of State, United States rejects the application for Warren Anderson’s extradition. Copy of rejection of Anderson’s extradition obtained under Freedom of Information Act. In 2004, 2005 and 2008 Government of India took up the matter again with the US Government to reconsider its decision on the basis of additional inputs. However all the requests were turned down. On 28th April 2011 Indian Government through Ministry of External Affairs sent another request for extradition of Warren Anderson. This request is still pending with the US Department of Justice and till today (March 2013) no decision has been taken by them regarding extradition of Warren Anderson. Updated presented by Indian Govt to the CJM, Bhopal. Warren Anderson is currently 92 years old. Observing Shahid Bhagat Singh Divas on 23 March, more than 250 survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster sat on a day-long fast in support of the Koodankulam struggle against the nuclear power plant. Condemning Tamilnadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s act of charging Koodankulam protestors with “Sedition,” Bhopal survivors said that Bhagat Singh’s fate would have been no different in independent India than at the hands of the white colonial masters. In December 2011, after waiting for 26 years, Bhopal victims staged a rail roko to press the Central and State Governments to submit accurate figures of dead and injured in a revised compensation claims case filed in the Supreme Court. Cases, including on serious charges of attempt to murder were registered against 2000 people, including elderly women and children. From Chattisgarh to Madhya Pradesh to Delhi to Tamilnadu, people in the Government are the same. “They see poor as objects of charity, pity, ridicule or as seditious upstarts that need to be taught a lesson for their audacity to speak out,” the survivors said. While the Governments had filed a review petition reopening the 1989 settlement on grounds that casualty and injury figures were under-estimated in 1989, their current submissions too fall far short of the real figures. Survivors have said that Dow Chemical should pay at least $8 billion to address the compensation needs of all survivors and those bereaved. The Central Government is asking only for $1.2 billion. “We’re reminders to the world that the State and Central Governments in India will only protect the rich. The residents of Koodankulam should be ready to accept that the Government will do nothing but hide any pollution from the plant, and will do nothing to rehabilitate or compensate those affected by the plant,” a group of five Bhopal organisations said. The Nuclear Liability Act is the unfortunate result of the Bhopal struggle. Pained by the plight of Union Carbide and Dow Chemical that continued to remain in the eye of legal controversy despite the passage of more than two decades, Dr. Manmohan Singh tabled the Nuclear Liability Act to shield the perpetrators of any future nuclear Bhopals from liability. The survivors have said that they will send a delegation of Bhopalis to Chennai in the coming month. The organisers of the Bhopal hunger strike included Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha, Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Manch, Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Childre Against Dow Carbide. For more information, contact To, 25 January 2012 Sub: Application for withdrawal of criminal cases against over 2000 gas victims in connection with the incident of violence on the 27th anniversary of the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal. Respected Chief Minister, We, five organisations of victims of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal and their supporters are sending this letter to you with the hope that you will consider the facts and arguments regarding the incident of violence on 27th anniversary of the gas disaster (3 December 2011) presented below and arrive at a rational and just decision and accordingly issue directions for appropriate action. 1.The following facts related to the protest action by survivors under the leadership of us, five organizations on December 3, 2011 deserve consideration A.The protest was centered on a legitimate demand We were only demanding that the governments at the centre and state act honestly towards obtaining proper compensation from the American companies and the first demonstration of this would be the presentation of correct figures in the curative petition pending before the Supreme Court because currently the figures are much lower than actual and are wrong. We were not pushing for some new figures. All we were doing was seek revisions in the curative petition on the basis of findings of the scientific institutions and medical documentation of the government’s at the center and the state. B.We had communicated this demand to the state government in July 2011, but for six months we received no reply. We had sent letters to your office on 25 July 2011, 17 October 2011 and on 19 November 2011 demanding revision in the figures of death and injury as presented in the curative petition before the Supreme Court by the state government. However we did not receive a single reply to any of the letters. Likewise, we received no response to the letters we wrote to the Chief Secretary on 28 October 2011 and 19 November 2011 and that sent to the Principal Secretary, Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department on 19 November 2011. C.This demand is being raised by us to protect the legal rights of the gas victims. All victims of the disaster of 3 December 84 in Bhopal have the legal right to be adequately compensated for the physical and mental injuries caused by the disaster. Through the Bhopal Act of 1985, the Government of India arrogated to itself sole powers to receive compensation from Union Carbide. In 1985 the Government of India sought $3.3 billion as compensation under the Act. In 1989 the central government, without consulting a single victim entered into a settlement with the American company for $470 million which was approved by the Supreme Court on 14-15 February 1989. Because of the paltry settlement amount, 93% of gas victims received only Rs 25000 as compensation. The state government also had an important role in the violation of the legal rights of Bhopal gas victims. To justify the low settlement amount, the Claims Directorate of the state government followed a faulty system of injury assessment and pronounced 93% of the gas victims as having suffered only temporary injury. At the June 2010 meeting of the Group of Ministers on Bhopal (composed of ministers from both the state and central governments) it was accepted that the legal rights to adequate compensation of the Bhopal victims had been violated. The Group of Ministers decided on presenting a curative petition before the Supreme Court to obtain additional compensation from the American companies and this decision was subsequently implemented. Regrettably, in both the curative petitions the figure of death is about four times less than the actual and 93% gas victims have been said to be only temporarily injured. It is worth mentioning that Union Carbide’s own document says that damage caused by MIC gas is permanent, not temporary. Clearly if corrections are not made in the curative petitions on the basis of scientific figures available with the government, once again Bhopal gas victims will be denied their legal rights. If correct facts are not placed before the court, even if the court is committed to justice, a correct judgment is not possible. D.Our demand is for protection of the constitutional rights of the gas victims. This decision taken by ministers of the central and state governments was clearly against the fundamental constitutional rights of 93% of the victims (Right to Equality, Right to Life, Right to Justice). In the last 27 years because of the utter failure of the central and state governments in providing medical care and economic, social and environmental rehabilitation, majority gas victims are denied their basic needs and this discrimination against them in payment of ex-gratia amounts is clearly unconstitutional. It is worth mentioning that following from the decision by the Group of Ministers on Bhopal 5,27,000 out of 5,74,000 who had earlier received only Rs 25000 as compensation were denied any ex gratia amount and the state government has not taken any steps regarding this. E.The protest action for legitimate demand on December 3, 2011 was peaceful. F.Our peaceful protest was pre announced and the administration had sufficient notice. With regard to the rail roko protest organized on December 3, 2011 we had announced it at a press conference on 17 October 2011 and we had conveyed this information in our letters to the state government on 28 October 2011 and 19 November 2011. Had the state government responded to any of our letters in the six months or discussed the matter with us in the month following the announcement of rail roko, possibly there would have been no need for a rail roko. In this regard it is indeed regrettable that the Collector invited us for a discussion on rail roko protest on December 2, 2011 but he refused to take responsibility to organize a meeting for us with the official of the state government who could take a decision on the matter. G.We had done our best to ensure that rail passengers are troubled as little as possible because of our rail roko. Three weeks prior to rail roko protest we bought Google Ads and through that and through our website publicized the proposed protest action requesting potential passengers to change their journey date or route. Over 2,00,000 people have read our announcement and advice on the internet. Additionally gas victims participating in the rail roko action reached food and water to the passengers on a large scale. 2.The following suggest that District administration and police officials are primarily responsible for the incident of violence at one out of six protest spots on December 3, 2011. A.Lack of preparation. B.Lack of Patience C.Taking away the PA system D.Cane charge without warning E.Profanities by police officials F.Stone pelting by police G.Tear gas and firing without warning H.Police setting fire to vehicles I.Police entered people’s homes, beat them and caused damage to their property after the incident of violence. J.The police arrested innocent people in an illegal manner. 3.District administration and police officials are themselves aware of their role in the incident of violence on December 3 2011. The defensive posture assumed by the District administration and police officials is further evident by the fact that despite our personal and public requests the police officials have not presented a single photographic or video evidence to support the allegation that any of the named accused (leaders of our organisations) were either involved with violence or with instigating violence. 4.Action under severe sections are being undertaken to cover up the irregularities and misdeeds of the police. Legal action is ongoing against 14 persons under 17 criminal sections including Section 307 (murderous assault) and because of the following reasons it is prima facie evident that the accused were not part of the violence. A.6 of the 14 people who are in jail for last one and a half month have got documentary evidence to establish that they were away from the scene of violence and at their workplace during the incident of violence. 1 among the 6, Pooran Vishwakarma lost his father while he was in jail and he was let out on parole for just three hours four days after his father’s death. B.Two other persons have got documentary evidence to show that they were busy in preparations for their sister’s wedding that same evening. Both of them were arrested at a petrol pump 1km away from the place of incident with their motorcycle. C.None of the 14 persons arrested have any previous criminal charge against them. 5.17 grave criminal sections against 2000 gas victims including 35 named accused are without any basis. Because of the following reasons, the criminal cases against the gas victims are prima facie baseless, faulty and ill motivated. A.The named accused include gas affected women who are sick and above 80 years of age and incapable of committing crimes described in the FIR (stone pelting, use of sticks, use of firearms and country made guns, setting fire to vehicles, using sharp edged weapons and causing destruction to public property). B.The named accused include 17 yr old Safreen who is a child of gas affected parents and is herself sick from being exposed to contaminated ground water and is unable to commit the crimes described above. C.The named accused include 8 women, many of whom are above 60 years age, who had been arrested and sent to jail prior to the incident of violence. D.The named accused includes persons who were not at the scene of violence before, during or after the incident. There is video evidence with the police that establishes that one of these persons was 4 kms away from the scene of violence. E.The First Information Report (FIR) lists weapons (sticks, sharp edged weapons, country made guns, firearems) which are not seen in any of the photos or videos while the police claims that the entire incident has been videographed. With regard to the facts and arguments presented in Para 1-4 above, we would like to clarify that we have substantial evidence and documents to substantiate each and every fact and argument presented. We have attempted to make this letter as brief as possible keeping in mind your busy schedule. However a few important documents related to the criminal cases against gas victims are being appended. Finally on behalf of the victims of the world’s worst industrial disaster we request you to set up an independent and impartial inquiry on the incident of violence on 3 December 2011 described above as per your promise. We hope that till such an inquiry is initiated you will give rational and just direction for withdrawal of criminal cases against the arrested persons and 2000 gas victims. Awaiting your reply, we remain Sincerely Rashida Bi, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh Nawab Khan, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha Balkrishna Namdeo, Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha Satinath Sarangi, Rachna Dhingra, Bhopal Group for Information and Action Safreen Khan, Children Against Dow Carbide Enclosures: 1. First Information Report of 6 cases January 26, 2012 Placing a bouquet of pink roses before a picture of Ms Alexander, Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Stationery Karmchari Sangh said. “By speaking the truth so boldly Meredith has nailed Dow Chemical’s lies that the London Olympic Committee and its Chairman, Lord Coe believed and propagated till recently. We hope this will make LOCOG dump Dow Chemical as a sponsor of the London Games.” Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action expressed hope that Ms. Alexander’s resignation will prompt the Indian government to express its opposition to Dow Chemical’s sponsorship more effectively. “To be taken seriously by the London Olympic Committee, the Indian Government has to do more than send a protest note. It is time for LOCOG to be told that India will not take part in the London Olympics if it continues to be sponsored by a corporation responsible for continuing death and suffering in Bhopal.” The felicitation of Ms. Alexander was part of the day long fast by Bhopal survivors seeking withdrawal of criminal cases on 2000 survivors and release of the 14 persons who are in jail for over six weeks in connection with the protest action on the 27th Anniversary of the disaster. “We are demanding that the Chief Minister keep his promise of setting up an independent inquiry on the incidence of violence and withdraw the false cases on the protestors till that happens.” said Balkrishna Namdeo, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha. Nawab Khan, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha said “The state government has not filed a single criminal case against Dow Chemical or Union Carbide for their ongoing crime of poisoning the ground water and over 40 thousand people and has charged 2000 victims of the corporations with offences punishable by life imprisonment for peacefully demanding adequate compensation”. Holding the district administration and the police responsible for the violence on December 3, 2011, Safreen Khan of Children against Dow Carbide said “Despite reminders from the State Human Rights Commission the district and police officials have failed to answer any one of the 13 questions on the violence during our peaceful protest. The officials hope to cover up their own misdeeds by putting people in jail and charging us under as many as 17 criminal sections.” Rashida Bi, Nawab Khan, Balkrishna Namdeo, Satinath Sarangi, Rachna Dhingra, Safreen Khan, Last month on the 27th Anniversary, Bhopal survivors during their peaceful ‘rail roko’ agitation were brutally beaten up, dragged and then detained illegally by the State Administration. Their fault was to call on the State Government to correct the historic wrong and present accurate figures on disaster related deaths and injuries before the Supreme Court that is due to hear Civil Curative Petition on compensation for Bhopal Gas Victims soon. Faced with massive public condemnation, the Chief Minister met the survivors led organisations and promised an independent and impartial investigation into the matter. CALL Chief Minister & Demand Independent Inquiry For more details stay tuned to www.bhopal.net PRESS STATEMENT Survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal today burnt an effigy of Home Minister P Chidambaram to protest against the recent decision of the Group of Ministers on Bhopal of not revising the figures of deaths and injuries caused by the disaster in the curative petition pending before the Supreme Court. Leaders of survivors’ organizations alleged that Chidambaram has a history of being devoted to Union Carbide’s owner Dow Chemical and called for his removal from the post of Chairman of the GoM. “The GoM ‘s decision not to present correct numbers of the people Union Carbide has killed and injured in Bhopal is a decision unilaterally imposed by Chidambaram on the entire group. This decision is against data from scientific studies by the government’s own apex research agency Indian Council of Medical Research” said Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh. Presenting a copy of a letter written by Chidambaram to the PMO in 2006, Nawab Khan of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha said “Chidambaram had written to the Prime Minister to let Dow Chemical walk away from its liabilities in Bhopal. His latest attempt to downplay the damage caused by the American company shows how devoted he continues to be to Dow Chemical Company”. “Chidambaram was the lawyer for Enron the most corrupt American corporation and a Board member of Vedanta the British company responsible for ecological and human devastation. He should not have been included in the GoM on Bhopal let alone be its Chairman” said Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action. Her organization is among the five that are calling for removal of Chidambaram as the Chairman of GoM on Bhopal. The organizations also sent a copy of a letter addressed to the Chief Minister by the four religious leaders seeking withdrawal of criminal cases against gas victims related to the incident of violence on the 27th Anniversary of the disaster last year. “Religious leaders of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs are jointly calling for withdrawal of the criminal cases against 2000 gas victims till the Chief Minister sets up an independent inquiry on the violence on December 3, 2011” said Balkrishna Namdeo, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha who himself has been charged with murderous assault and other grave offences. He pointed out that the district and police authorities have failed to reply to the questions raised by the State Human Rights Commission in this regard. Rashida Bi, Nawab Khan, Balkrishna Namdeo, Satinath Sarangi, Rachna Dhingra, Safreen Khan, Press Statement – FOR DETAILS OF CHARGES SEE LINKS AT THE END OF PRESS RELEASE “The Chief Minister is yet to keep his publicly stated promise of setting up an independent inquiry in to the incident of violence on the 27th anniversary of the gas disaster and innocent people are being punished without trial. It is supremely ironical that those fighting against the crimes of Union Carbide and Dow Chemical are put in jail while the perpetrators of the massacre in Bhopal remain unpunished for the last 27 years” said Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh. Balkrishna Namdeo president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha who is himself accused of murderous assault and other grave offences pointed out that several women older than 80 years and with severe health problems have been named in the First Information Report as participating in violence using swords and country made guns. “The videos and photographs produced by the police officials establish my presence 4 kilometers away from the scene of violence during, before and after the entire incident and yet I am charged under Section 307 and 16 other sections of the Indian Penal Code” said Nawab Khan, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha. Satinath Sarangi of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action pointed out that the District and police administration have failed to respond to the questions raised by the State Human Rights Commission immediately after the incident of violence. “False charges have been leveled against 2000 gas victims to cover up police brutalities on peaceful women protestors that triggered the violence. The facts can only be established through an independent inquiry.” he said. He said that 6 of the 14 persons in jail for last one and half month had documentary evidence to show that they were at their workplace before and during the incident of violence. 17 year old Safreen Khan, a member of the Children against Dow Carbide who is also charged with attempt to murder and other serious offences said that the Bhopal survivors remain undaunted by the false criminal charges and are continuing with their dharna for the last 15 days. Rashida Bi, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh 94256 88215 Nawab Khan, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha 9302792493 Balkrishna Namdeo, Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha Satinath Sarangi, Rachna Dhingra, Bhopal Group for Information and Action 9826167369 Safreen Khan, Children Against Dow Carbide Please revisit www.bhopal.net for more information on the Campaign for Justice in Bhopal. FOR DETAILS, SEE THE LINKS BELOW: SHRC complaint on violations of rights of accused FIR of Aishbag Police Station for Rail Roko As part of the international campaign “200 days to drop Dow Chemical as sponsors” five organizations of the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal today organized a protest action. Victims of the Bhopal disaster and those poisoned due to toxic waste from the abandoned factory in Bhopal, joined victims of Dow Chemical in Vietnam, Nicaragua, United States and England to demand that the organizing committee of the London Olympics, set to begin from July 27 this year, cancel Dow Chemical’s sponsorship. The survivors’ organizations said that through its purchase of Union Carbide in 2001, Dow Chemical has inherited the criminal, civil and environmental liabilities of Union Carbide in Bhopal. They said that by having this corporation as a sponsor the Olympics organizing committee was encouraging it to continue to evade its liabilities in Bhopal. “It is ironical that champion runner Sebastian Coe is helping Dow run away from its liabilities in Bhopal,” said Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Stationery Karmchari Sangh. Standing with raised fists in the shape of a diamond, that of Dow’s logo, hundreds of children with birth defects and survivors of the disaster held up a sign saying “Don’t let Dow contaminate the Olympics”. Balkrishna Namdeo of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha said “Dow Chemical has paid compensation to victims of Union Carbide in USA after it took over the company, but in the Indian Supreme Court it is refusing to honour liabilities to pay additional compensation to Bhopal victims.” In a soon to be heard curative petition survivors’ organizations are seeking $8.1 billion as additional compensation for the continuing deaths and injuries caused by the disaster. Safreen Khan of Children Against Dow-Carbide holds Dow Chemical responsible for the contamination of ground water in her community. She pointed out that because of Dow Chemical’s refusal to clean up the hazardous waste left by Union Carbide factory, 40000 people are routinely exposed to cancer and birth defect causing chemicals. She said that by allowing Dow Chemical as a sponsor Lord Coe was encouraging Dow to continue to poison the unborn. Nawab Khan, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha said that Dow Chemical was sheltering Union Carbide which is charged with culpable homicide for the disaster in Bhopal and is absconding from Indian courts. He said that Dow Chemical is also facing criminal charges for bribing Indian officials. “Sponsorship by a criminal corporation such as Dow Chemical is against the very spirit of Olympics. Lord Coe is not only doing a disservice to the Bhopal victims, he is betraying all who are part of the Olympic movement.” he charged. Meanwhile the indefinite dharna (sit in) for additional compensation from Dow Chemical by the five survivors’ organizations continued on its seventh day at the Yadgare Shahajahani park. The organizations are also demanding withdrawal of criminal cases against 2000 gas victims and release of 15 persons who continue to be in jail in connection with the incident of violence on the 27th Anniversary of the disaster. Rashida Bi, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh
Sign the Petition to Extradite former Chairman of Union Carbide Corporation, Warren Anderson for his crimes in Bhopal
Extradite Warren Anderson, fugitive and bail-jumper, to India to face charges related to thousands of deaths
Bhopal survivors support Koodankulam struggle
in Chennai: Nityanand Jayaraman, International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, nity682@gmail.com
in Bhopal: Rachna Dhingra, rachnya@gmail.comSurvivors ask Chief Minister to withdraw false cases
DOWNLOAD THE LETTER IN THE ORIGINAL HINDI
The Chief Minister
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Mantralaya, Vallabh Bhawan
Bhopal, M.P.
Through this protest, we were demanding that the governments at the centre and state carry out necessary corrections in the figures of deaths and injuries caused by Union Carbide based on figures of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and hospitals meant for gas affected people in the curative petition filed in the Supreme Court.
In the meeting of the Group of Ministers on June 2010 described above, following the admission that Bhopal gas victims have received inadequate compensation it was decided that families of the deceased and those victims with serious injury would be paid ex gratia amounts as relief.
We had called for peaceful Rail Roko on December 3 2011 in which thousands of gas victims took part at six places between Subash Nagar railway crossing and Nishatpura. In five out of these six places – Nishatpura, Kainchi Chhola, Chhola Naka, Berasia Road Crossing and Bharat Talkies overbridge there was no breach of peace at all. Only at one spot, Barkhedi-Aishbag railway crossing, there was violence that was initiated by District administration and police officials about which we will present facts later. We would like to bring to your attention that to ensure that protest on December 3, 2011 remained peaceful we had explained the method of peaceful protest to the gas victims through a video film that was screened in different communities over a period of one and a half month.
As has been said above in Para A, we five organisations have given detailed information regarding our demand to the state government since July 2011. In addition, through our rally of July 25 2011, successful Bhopal bandh on 11 October 2011 and several press conferences, we have provided detailed information related to our demand and on protest actions organized by us to secure this demand.
As has been mentioned above, because we had made prior announcement and the preparation for the protest action were all in public, the District administration and police officials had more than enough notice for adequate preparation. Despite this there was serious negligence in this respect. Lack of preparedness is a significant reason behind irregularities committed by the officials at the place of incident and this has been taken in cognizance by the State Human Rights Commission that has sought answers from concerned officials.
After the rail roko protest action began on December 3, 2011, the Collector asked one of our colleagues, Mrs. Rashida Bee to come for a meeting with the Chief Minister with 10 persons. Mrs. Rashida Bee sought ten minutes time from him so that she could discuss it with other organisation leaders. However the Collector could not wait for ten minutes and ordered cane charging in 3 to 4 minutes thus, initiating violence.
It is worth mentioning that on 3 December 2011 the means to establish communication with the protestors was the PA system which was taken away by the police following orders from the officials just before the cane charge. After police began the violence we leaders were not able to pacify those protestors who had resorted to counter violence as self protection.
As been mentioned above in Para A & B because of lack of preparation, required patience and knowledge of established rules, the Collector gave an order of cane charging without any warning. The State Human Rights Commission has asked questions in this regard that remain unanswered till date. The first protestors to be beaten up and left bleeding were the old women who were taking part in peaceful protest. The young men who came forward to save the lives of these old women were also beaten with sticks which was the reason for eruption of violence.
Before sticks started raining on the protestors the city Superintendent of Police, Mrs. Monica Shukla publicly abused the women and used humiliating language against the protestors for which there are several eye witnesses.
Following the order of cane charging a few people, in order to protect the old women and themselves, threw stones at the police. In response to this, the police resorted to stone pelting in a huge scale about which we have substantial photo and video evidence.
Following cane charging and stone pelting by the police, tear gas shells were burst without warning that lead to critical injuries to a 14 year old Daud Ansari causing grievous hurt.
Several government and public vehicles were set on fire on 3 December 2011. According to a reliable witness a policemen standing next to her handed over a piece of cloth to man who had covered his face with handkerchief and asked him to set a particular vehicle on fire. We have a photograph of the man with his face covered with a handkerchief.
We have reliable witnesses and evidence that show that one hour after peace was restored in the area, 40-50 policemen entered some 20-25 houses in Umrao Dulha Bag near Gol Kabristan and beat up people with sticks and kicked them. The policemen damaged furniture and broke doors and windows and smashed 10-15 vehicles parked outside.
Following the incident of violence, 14 persons who were gas victims themselves or children of gas affected parents were arrested by the police. They were beaten badly with sticks in presence of several eye witnesses and many of them were also beaten up at the police station. The arrested persons were not informed about the charges against them and they were not allowed to contact their family members and lawyers. They were stripped to their underwear at the police station and were not provided with any food or protection from cold.
It is worth mentioning that since the incident of December 3, 2011 the District administration and police official are busy trying to defend themselves and suppress facts. This is the reason why despite repeated questioning by the State Human Rights Commission the Collector and police officials have not responded to a single question. It is worth mentioning that in order to receive answers to these questions the Commission has sent reminders.
Thanking You
94256 88215
9302792493
9826167369
2. Information on arrested persons Bhopalis praise the honesty of Meredith Alexander
PRESS STATEMENT
Five organizations of the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal today felicitated Ms. Meredith Alexander, who resigned as Chairperson of the ethics committee of the London Olympics Committee over sponsorship of the London Olympics by Dow Chemical, current owner of Union Carbide.
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh
94256 88215
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
9302792493
Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
9826167369
Children Against Dow Carbide
Please visit www.bhopal.net for more information on the Campaign for Justice in Bhopal.Bhopal Action Alert: Please call the Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh
However subsequently,
Ø 2000 gas survivors are indicted with false charges including that of murderous assault.
Ø 14 men, with no prior criminal record, have been in jail for last six weeks. Out of these, 8 men were not even present at the blockade.
Ø Women as old as 80 years, battling severe health problems, charged with participating in violence using swords and guns.
Release those detained & Drop Charges against All the Gas Victims until inquiry is finished
CALL NOW
Ø S.K.Mishra (Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister): 91-9425185550
Ø Deepak Khandekar (PS to Chief Minister) 91-9981306364 or 91-755-2441314Bhopal survivors burn Dow’s dog
January 14, 2012
DOW’S DOG GOES UP IN FLAMES: ENJOY THE PICTURES
HIGH RES VERSIONS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh
94256 88215
BhopalGas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
9302792493
Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha
9826345423
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
9826167369
Children Against Dow CarbideSurvivors call for immediate withdrawal of false charges
January 16, 2012
Five organizations of survivors of the Union Carbide today held a demonstration today calling for immediate withdrawal of criminal cases against 35 named and 2000 unnamed gas victims in connection with their protests action on December 3, 2011. The organizations demanded immediate release of 14 persons who are in jail for the last one and half month and setting up of an independent inquiry by the government before taking any penal action.Two hundred days to drop Dow
PRESS STATEMENT
January 9 2012
94256 88215
Balkrishna Namdeo Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha
Nawab Khan,
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
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Safreen Khan, Children Against Dow-Carbide
Satinath Sarangi, Rachna Dhingra, Bhopal Group for Information and Action 9826167369
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International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
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