Bhopal
Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas
Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
Bhopal ki
Aawaaz
January 31,
2006
Press Statement
150 survivors of the December '84 Union
Carbide disaster in Bhopal will march on foot to New Delhi from February 20,
2006 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
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 900 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 have a
six-point charter of demands to present to the Prime
Minister.
The first demand of the marchers is that of
setting up of a National Commission on
Bhopal with the necessary authority
and funds to provide facilities for health care, economic rehabilitation,
medical research and social support. They are calling for active participation
of non-government doctors and scientists and representatives of survivors'
organization in the National Commission that they say should function for at
least the next thirty years. The most urgent demand in their 6- point charter is
the supply of piped water from Kolar reservoir in the 16 communities affected by
toxic contamination of ground water.
In their meeting with the Prime
Minister the marchers will demand the setting up of a Special Cell in the
Central Investigation Bureau for speedy prosecution of Union Carbide
Corporation, Warren Anderson and other absconding accused in the criminal case
on the December '84 disaster. They will also call upon the central government to
ensure scientific assessment of the depth and spread of toxic contamination and
make Union Carbide's current owner The Dow Chemical Company pay compensation for
the health and environmental damage caused due to reckless dumping of chemical
wastes.
The
Bhopal campaigners are demanding
that the government stop purchasing Dow Chemical's Dursban brand insecticide and
other products till it accepts the pending liabilities of
Bhopal. The survivors are also
marching to demand that the central government declare December 3rd
as a National Day of Mourning for victims of industrial disasters and include
the disaster in educational curricula. .
New
Delhi based supporters of the
Bhopal survivors will convey the
demands of the marchers to the Central government on a daily basis. Nationwide
supporters of the Bhopal campaign
will organize rallies, meetings and signature campaigns in solidarity with the
Delhi Padyatra. International supporters in
USA,
Europe,
Japan and other
countries will take part in fax actions and demonstrations before Indian
embassies abroad.
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.
For latest information on
Bhopal disaster please visit
www.bhopal.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world;
indeed it's the only thing that ever has" - Margaret Mead
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAVAD RAHMAN
subeditor,MADHYAMAM daily,
pooppalam, perinthalmanna,kerala,
india
cell:(91)-9846085873
