Support the March for Justice in Bhopal

The Prime Minister of India
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi 110 014
Fax: 011 23016857

Sir:
Im writing to support the 800-km walk undertaken by survivors of the Bhopal disaster. Your Government and your predecessors have let down the survivors of the worlds worst industrial disaster. Far from addressing Bhopalis demands, your Government has openly made moves to facilitate the business of Union Carbides new owner Dow Chemical. Union Carbide, the perpetrator of the disaster is at large, even while it and its owner Dow Chemicals continue to profit from doing business in India. More than 20,000 people in Bhopal are forced to consume poisoned water. Medical facilities for survivors is virtually non-existent, and survivors have to beg and bribe to access health care. Unemployment and desperation are at an all-time high. And toxic wastes abandoned by Union Carbide continue to poison people, and create a new generation of victims.

Im writing in the hope that news about the 800 km march by 150 gas-affected people will move you sufficiently to give them a hearing upon their arrival in New Delhi, and allow them to return to Bhopal with dignity and a sense of accomplishment that their 22-year old struggle was not in vain. I whole-heartedly support the 6-point charter of demands of the Bhopalis:

1. National Commission on Bhopal: Set up National Commission on Bhopal with the necessary authority and funds to provide facilities for health care, medical research, social support and economic rehabilitation of survivors and their children for at least next 30 years. This commission must have active participation of non-government doctors, scientists and representatives of survivor's organizations.
2. Provide Safe Drinking Water: Commit funds for and agree to time-bound plan for delivery of piped Kolar water to communities affected by Union Carbide's contamination.
3. Prosecute Union Carbide and Anderson: Set up a Special Prosecution Cell in the Central Bureau of Investigation with representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs for speedy prosecution of Union Carbide Corporation, Warren Anderson and other accused in the criminal case of the December '84 disaster.
4. Make Dow Clean Up and Pay: Ensure scientific assessment of depth and spread of contamination in and around the Union Carbide factory and make Union Carbide's current owner The Dow Chemical Company pay for clean up of contamination and compensation for related health and environmental damages.
5. Blacklist Dow and Union Carbide: Stop government purchase of Dursban and other Dow products and halt any expansion of Dow's business in India till it accepts the pending liabilities of Bhopal.
6. Remember Bhopal: Include representatives of survivors organizations in the creation of a memorial to the disaster; declare December 3 rd as a National Day of Mourning for Victims of Industrial Disasters and Pollution and ensure that the Bhopal disaster and its aftermath are included school and college curricula.