[IndyMedia Bombay] bhopal victims on hunger strike

[satinath sarangi]

dear friends,
two survivors of the union carbide disaster in bhopal
and one activist from bhopal are on an indefinite fast
in the dharna by the national campaign for justice in
bhopal in new delhi [jantar mantar]. dharna started on
26th, indefinite fast from 29th.
please read below for details.
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE IN BHOPAL
______________________________________________________________________________________

New Delhi, July 1st, 2002: Survivors of the December
'84 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal entered their
sixth day of demonstration in Delhi at Jantar Mantar
and the third day of indefinite fast by two survivors
and one activist from Bhopal. The National Campaign
for Justice in Bhopal which includes survivors’
organizations and supporters launched their
"Satyagraha On The Move" --- from today onwards, three
hunger strikers will be continuing with their protest
in an RTV van that says: "This is what democracy looks
like". This was their way to "reclaim space for
dissent" that they allege is denied by the rules
governing public protests in the city.

The survivors are demanding that the application
presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate [CJM],
Bhopal, recently by the CBI in the criminal case on
the disaster be withdrawn immediately.

On May 24, 2002, the CBI that works under the Home
Ministry has sought to dilute the charges against Mr.
Anderson from "culpable homicide" to "negligence".
While the former draws a penalty of 10 years
imprisonment and fines, "negligence " carries a
punishment of up to two years in prison or fine. More
significantly, "negligence" is not an extraditable
offence. So, if the CJM grants CBI its request, on
17th July - the next date of hearing, it could well be
the end of the criminal case against Warren Anderson
and Union Carbide Corporation, USA.

The survivors of Bhopal assert that there are ‘blatant
irregularities in the prosecution of prime accused
Warren Anderson’.  “The Indian government and the Home
Minister have sold themselves to the US Corporations.
This is clear from the way they are trying to let
Anderson go scot-free. Through this action, the Home
Minister is putting the health and lives of ordinary
Indians at the mercy of American corporations" alleges
Mr Namdev of Gas Peedit Nirashrit Morcha, Bhopal. 

The other immediate issue that survivors are agitated
about is the decision of the Group of Ministers on
Bhopal convened by the Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers to distribute the balance of the
compensation fund to the residents of 20 municipal
wards in Bhopal where, according to the survivors and
agencies like Indian Council of Medical Research,
"Carbide's gases never reached". 

The survivors’ organizations have responded to the
immediacy of the issue by announcing an indefinite
fast at the expiry of 24 hours of their submitting
memorandums to the Home Minister and the Minister of
Chemicals and Fertilizers. The hunger strikers living
on just water and lemon are being examined by Dr.
Mathew Verghese, Director of a renowned local
hospital.   

Tara Bai, one of the survivors on the indefinite
hunger strike had suffered a miscarriage soon after
the disaster and had not been able to conceive since
then.  Rasheeda Bee, President of Gas Peedit Mahila
Stationery Karmachari Sangh, who is also on hunger
strike, had lost five members in her family due to the
gas exposure.

They strongly demand that:

 the Home Ministry direct the CBI to withdraw
its application for dilution of charges before the
17th July hearings at the Bhopal Magistrate’s court
and take immediate steps to extradite Warren Anderson
 the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
rescind its decision of distributing to the 20
newly-added wards compensation funds that rightfully
belong to the survivors of the Carbide disaster
 the Government of India act rapidly to hold
Dow Chemicals, Carbide’s new owner, responsible for
the pending medical and environmental rehabilitation
liabilities in Bhopal.


National Campaign for Justice in Bhopal			
B 14, Second Floor,
Gulmohar Park
New Delhi 110 049
Tel: 6561743/6514847
Email: admin@del3.vsnl.net.in and othermedia@vsnl.com

PROFILES OF THE BHOPAL HUNGER STRIKERS


1. Tara Bai

Age 			35 
Address		# 2, Behind Radhakrishna Temple
			Pul-Patra, Bhopal; Ward # 38

Tara Bai was three months’ pregnant at the time of the
disaster and had to abort as she fled from the exposed
area with her husband. She was married quite young at
the age of 16, a year before the disaster. This
incidentally was her first conception.  Since the
disaster, her menstruation had stopped and
subsequently, she had been unable to conceive.  She
still suffers from breathlessness on slight exertion,
diminished vision and panic attacks. Tara Bai has been
under continuous medication through out these long
years, including being hospitalized. 

She has been a member of the Gas Peedit Niraschrit
Morcha for the last 12 years.

2. Rashida Bee

Age			46
Address		# 12, Galli NO 2, Near Naseer  Masjid
			Bagh Umrao Dulha, Bhopal; Ward # 41

She is the President and Co-Founder of Bhopal Gas
Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh.  The
organization formed in 1986 was registered as a trade
union of women workers in 1987 and is composed of
equal numbers of Hindus and Muslims severely affected
by the gas leak.  Her grit and commitment for justice
is evident from the fact that she and 100 other women
took part in a padayatra from Delhi to Bhopal in 1989.


Five persons in Rashida Bee’s immediate family had
died of cancer after the disaster. She suffers from
diminished vision, acute episodes of headache and
panic attacks. 

3. Satinath Sarangi

Age			48
Address		B 2 - 302, Sheetal Nagar,
			Berasia Road, Bhopal; Ward 

An M Tech in Metallurgical Engineering, Satinath came
to Bhopal a day after the disaster and has been
involved with relief, rehabilitation and issues of
justice for the Bhopal victims since then. He is one
of the Founder Members of the Bhopal Group for
Information and Action that carries out documentation,
research and publications.  He is also actively
involved with legal actions as well as national and
international campaigns.
 



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