Bhopal Action

14 May 2008

BACKGROUND
In 1984 a catastrophic gas leak from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India resulted in the deaths of more than 22,000 people and serious injury and suffering to tens of thousands more. The disaster shocked the world and raised fundamental questions about corporate and government responsibility for industrial accidents that devastate human life and local environments. Almost a quarter of a century later, in one of the world’s most appalling failures of justice, survivors and their families continue to suffer, no one has been held to account and the contaminated Bhopal factory site has not yet been properly cleaned up. Efforts by survivors’ organizations to use the US and Indian court systems to see justice done and gain adequate redress have so far been unsuccessful.

The on-going failure to adequately address the aftermath of the Bhopal gas leak has multiplied the number of victims and exacerbated their suffering. Bhopal has become emblematic of the serious human rights protection gap that exists when companies are involved in human rights abuses. This failure is now becoming part of the tragedy of Bhopal, a human rights disaster that spans generations.

Despite the overwhelming difficulties and injustices they face, the people of Bhopal continue to campaign for their human rights to be recognized.

This action is in support of their ongoing struggle for justice and an effective remedy. In March 2008 some 50 representatives of the Bhopal survivors, including children, began the long walk - more than 800km - to New Delhi to seek a meeting with the Prime Minister. They are now in New Delhi hoping for an opportunity to discuss a resolution of their major and long-standing concerns over the clean-up and remediation of the Bhopal site, and ongoing problems in relation to health, lack of clean water and lack of information.

To learn more about their journey visit their blog at: http://www.bhopal.net

In 2006 another group of survivors had also made the long journey to Delhi. Amnesty International called on the Prime Minister to meet the delegation, which he did. While Amnesty International welcomed the meeting, we are disappointed by how little action has been taken in the intervening two years to address the issues they raised: many of the demands of today’s marchers are the same as those made in 2006.

ACTION

Please write to the Prime Minister of India:

• Calling on him to agree to receive the Bhopal survivors group and inform them of the steps he intends to take to address their concerns
• Expressing concern that so little has been done since 2006 to address the problems faced by the survivors of the Bhopal tragedy
• Calling on him to:
  • ensure a regular supply of adequate safe water for the domestic use of the affected communities
  • make available adequate health care that takes into account the long-term impacts of the gas leak
  • ensure a satisfactory clean-up of the factory site in order to contain further damage to the environment
  • take all possible steps, in line with India’s international human rights obligations, to provide the victims with full information on the leak and its actual and potential impacts on their – and future generations’ - health and safety
  • take urgent and decisive action to address the outstanding problems of compensation and accountability.

Please send letters to:

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Room No. 152
South Block
New Delhi
110 001
India

THIS ACTION SHOULD BEGIN ON 22 MAY AND END AT END JUNE 2008.