Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, December 03 2009:
To register its anger over the 1984 Bhopal tragedy and placing four-point demand before the Government of India to carry out befitting action against the chemical company responsible for the tragedy, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights-South (NPMHR) staged a "mass die-in" at Senapati Bazaar today at 11 am.
"This December 3 marks the 25 years of corporate irresponsibility.
Since the Bhopal disaster occurred in 1984, more than 23,000 people have died and more 100,000 people have been left chronically ill either because they were directly exposed to the toxic gas or because they continue to live with contaminated groundwater.
But Dow chemical company, which took ownership of the Union Carbide, refuses to take responsibility.
"This issue is crucial because it has huge implications for the chemical industry globalisation and human rights.
As a human rights organisation the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) joined the 'Struggles for Justice' in Bhopal," stated the Naga based rights body.
The NPMHR-South's one point demand states that the Dow's subsidiary, union carbide, must show up in the court to face trial in the ongoing criminal proceedings against them in India.
Another demand has been that the Dow must give the Indian Government their requested 23 million deposit now to start cleaning up Bhopal and prevent further spread of the toxins.
"The Indian Government needs to fulfil its August 2008 promise to establish an empowered commission addressing the health, environmental, and economic issues in Bhopal," the third point of demand says.
The NPMHR-South then demanded that the Government of India needs to fulfil it's promise to build pipelines to bring clean water to the communities that have been drinking, eating, and washing with contaminated water for 25 years.
Construction was started, but has been stalled, and needs to be completed urgently, asserted the rights group.