It’s ‘mockery of justice’ for Bhopal victims, activists (Second Lead)

BHOPAL - Victims and activists were furious that seven officials of Union Carbide were Monday convicted only for criminal negligence, which is punishable with a maximum of two years in jail, despite the enormity of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

“Today’s verdict is a disaster… They’ve made it look like a traffic accident,” said Satinath Sarangi of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, an NGO representing the survivors and an activist who has been involved with the victims since the 1984 disaster.

“The charges have been diluted. The victims are disappointed,” Sarangi said.

A trial court here held seven former officials of Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) guilty of criminal negligence in the world’s worst industrial disaster and sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment. It also imposed a fine of Rs.100,000 on the eight.

The seven convicted include Keshub Mahindra, who then headed UCIL, from whose pesticide plant here tonnes of lethal gas leaked Dec 2-3, 1984 night, killing thousands instantly and many more later.

The anger was palpable among the survivors of the horrific industrial disaster that grabbed worldwide attention.

Nupur Dhimya, 62, who lost her two children and husband in the disaster, said: “Twenty-five years have passed since the disaster……look what we have got. The accused were convicted only for name’s sake and bailed out within minutes.”

Ramesh Baghel, 50, who claimed he could not marry because of ailments caused due to exposure to the gases, said: “We have been waiting for 25 years to see that some day those guilty of ruining our lives would be punished but these men have effectively been set free.”

Sarangi accused the Indian authorities of lacking the political will to go after Warren Anderson, who headed Union Carbide Corp, the parent company in the US.

“The message is going out that peoples’ lives don’t matter, what matters is foreign direct investment (FDI). You can kill people, maim them for life and get away almost scot-free,” he said.

The charges against the executives were reduced by the Supreme Court in 1996 from culpable homicide not amounting to murder to causing death by negligence.

Said an angry survivor of the tragedy: “We have lost our kith and kin… our land, water and air remain polluted. Our kids have multiple health disorders. But the accused will manage to get away with a mere two years in jail. Do you call this justice?”

“The prime minister and the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) should be ashamed of themselves… The government and Union Carbide are hand in glove in this disaster. This is absolute injustice,” she fumed.

D. Rukmani, who continues to shuttle from one hospital to the other for her 52-year-old husband’s treatment, lamented that the compensation they got also was too little “like the punishment to these people now”.

“We are suffering from the after-effects of the leak. Whatever little we earn is spent in treatment… we got two instalments of Rs.2,500… it was nothing,” Rukmani told IANS.

Rashida Bi of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karamchari Sangh told IANS: “This is complete injustice done to the 25,000 dead. It is a shameful verdict. We are extremely disappointed.”

She alleged that the fundamental rights of the families of those who have suffered because of Union Carbide were violated by keeping them away from the court room.

“We will definitely appeal to the higher courts. If the prime minister is even a little concerned about our welfare, he should take action,” said Rashida, herself a survivor of the tragedy.

“Warren Anderson should be brought to India and imprisoned for at least 20 years,” she added.

Said Sayed M. Irfan of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha: “We were eager to know the verdict. But as usual our expectations were futile.”

“We have become like footballs… being kicked from Bhopal to Delhi and Delhi to Bhopal.”

Ramesh Dixit, 44, who lost his parents and a sister in the accident said that the court decision was an insult adding to the injury.

“It seems as if the culprits were laughing at us and making us realise that how helpless we were.”

Another victim, Abdul Sattar said: “Rich and mighty people always get away. There is nothing new in it.”