Saturday, June 12, 2010

The tragedy so far!

Jun12, 1:15 pm: Former CJI Ahmadi has said that he doesn’t want to be drawn in to a blame game now.

Jun12, 1:09 pm: Law Minister Veerappa Moily blames the judiciary in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy case.

Jun12, 12:30 pm: The U.S. has offered to “carefully evaluate” India’s request on Warren Anderson’sextradition. In the meantime, Anderson’s wife Lillian Anderson has also broken her silence on the issue.

Jun12, 12:00 pm: In the latest fallout of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy verdict, reports suggest that the central government at that time headed by Rajiv Gandhi may be responsible for Anderson’s release. The Congress in turn is trying to defend its position and is looking at legal options to reopen the case.

Jun12, 11:30 pm: Facing severe criticism for the 1996 Bhopal Gas Tragedy verdict, Justice Ahmadi has offered his resignation.

Jun8,12.08p.m: The US today ruled out a probe against Union Carbide for the Bhopal gas tragedy, but hopes the judgement will not affect its ties with India.

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy verdict is out. It took 25 years to convict eight persons, with a possible jail sentence of a maximum of just two years. In the judgement delivered by Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohan P Tiwari, pronounced the verdict in a packed court room convicting 85-year-old Mahindra, the non-executive former Chairman of UCIL, and seven others including Vijay Gokhle, the then Managing Director of UCIL, Kishore Kamdar, the then Vice President, J N Mukund, the then Works Manager, S P Choudhary, the then Production Manager, K V Shetty, the then Plant Superintendent and S I Quereshi, the then Production Assistant.

They were held guilty under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence), 304-II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 336, 337 and 338 (gross negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. Former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan who just took over as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) believes the verdict on the Bhopal gas tragedy has “come late“.

Here’s UCIL’s statement on the court decision.

On December 3, 1984, the extremely toxic methyl isocyanate started leaking from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, from the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Close to 800,000 people were exposed to the deadly gas with Union Carbide saying that 3,800 people died and thousands other became disabled, with many dying thereafter.

The Bhopal gas leak is one of the worst industrial disasters in history. It demonstrates what can happen when safety measures are overlooked. The prime accused, the Union Carbide Corporation CEO Warren Anderson has however not been convicted and named an absconder. Warren was arrested in 1984 after the tragedy but bailed himself out and fled the country. There has been no effort to extradite him. Here’s what the Attorney general of India, Soli Sorabjee had to say on Warren’s extradition. Reports now say the former CBI officer BR Lall got a letter from the government asking him not to pursue Warren.

Twenty five years on, this lethal disaster still sees protests, even with people pouring into Delhi on hunger strikes but with no one to help them; after all, these are people with no real power. Despite the years having passed by and the convictions, Bhopal still remains a continuing tragedy. Recent soil and groundwater samples taken near the Union Carbide India Limited site and in the surrounding areas still show a plethora of poison. In fact, the then repository of chemical sludge from the pesticide plant is now a pond where slum children play and dogs swim on hot afternoons.

Two photographers, Pablo Bartholomew and Raghu Rai were present and took photos of this disaster; including one where someone was burying their loved one that went on to win the 1984 World Press Photoof the Year. Narrating the incident, Aziza Sultan, a Bhopal resident remembers the following “At about 12.30 am I woke to the sound of Ruby coughing badly. The room was not dark, there was a street light nearby. In the half light I saw that the room was filled with a white cloud. I heard a great noise of people shouting. They were yelling ‘bhaago, bhaago’ (run, run). Mohsin started coughing too and then I started coughing with each breath seeming as if we were breathing in fire…”

The harrowing and grim stories of survivors and activists have been told across the world, even as the government and industry continue to fight over who the onus lies on, how much was enough compensation and how the same would be disbursed. The victims continued to suffer and have not been duly compensated for till date. Demands for rehabilitation and medical care have also fallen on deaf ears as dida review of their problems.

The Bhopal gas tragedy has turned out to be a study in contrast between humanity and human rights. Here’s what’s happened till date:

June 7, 2010: The verdict: Eight persons comprising the Indian management of UCIL convicted; Warren Anderson not named.

June 7, 2010: After more than 25 years, the judgement against the nine accused in the Bhopal gas tragedy is due.

2004: Supreme Court orders government to pay out rest of $ 470 million paid by Union Carbide as compensation.

2001: Union Carbide refuses to take responsibility for former Indian arm’s liabilities.

1992: Part of $ 470 million disbursed among victims. Anderson declared fugitive from law for ignoring court summons.

1989: Indian government and Union Carbide strike out-of-court deal, Union Carbide gives $ 470 million.

1985: India claims $3.3 billion from Union Carbide in an American court.

Dec 4, 1984: A case is registered against Union Carbide. The chairman Warren Anderson is arrested but later released on bail by the Madhya Pradesh police.

Dec 3, 1984: Union Carbide India Ltd’s (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal releases Methyl isocyanate. Around 800, 000 people exposed to the gas. According to government estimates, 15000 people died. Others passed on the harmful effects of the gas, genetically.

A more detailed timeline here.

Many books, including Five Past Midnight in Bhopal have been written about this tragedy; there are severalreports and studies on it; events being undertaken like this bus tour to focus attention on the magnitude of suffering and even a film featuring Mischa Barton, Kal Penn and Martin Sheen who plays the role of the ex-CEO of the Union Carbide plant, Warren Anderson. But the question is, has Indian learnt any lessons? And does the verdict do any justice to the ill-fated victims, those nameless and voiceless thousands, who are no more? These and several other frequently asked questions.

Source:

http://in.yfittopostblog.com/2010/06/07/the-big-story-bhopal-tragedy-verdict/

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