Bhopal Gas Tragedy - Travesty of Justice

Too little, too late! This is what most Bhopal gas victims would say to the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) of Bhopal - the 12th CJM to hear a case which was brought to the level of a mere fatal road accident - who delivered an order which can at best give the accused 2 years. After 26 years the trial court in India has given the verdict – 2 year jail terms to eight accused. This verdict has done nothing but made a mockery of justice in a case that is the world’s biggest man made industrial disaster ever that killed more than 15000 people and maimed thousands more both physically and mentally.

Just hearing in the media the fact that the Chairman of the then Union Carbide, Warren Anderson was arrested immediately after the disaster and then released on the behest of someone in the Govt and allow to go back to USA makes you feel sick in the gut. Tune in to the recent BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico around a month and a half back and then you can contrast the way New Delhi and Washington works in putting the responsible party’s feet to the fire for the disaster. Think of these two contrast; on the one hand – New Delhi facilitated the escape of Warren Anderson, the chairman of Union Carbide and on the other hand, Washington is gunning for the throat of BP and its CEO, Tony Hayward, for the oil disaster (for the 11 people killed on the rig and the environmental damage) who is based out of UK.

Shame on the politicians of India to help the escape of Warren Anderson, the merchant of Death for thousands of poor inhabitants of Bhopal and a bigger shame on the Indian bureaucracy to allow implementation of such reprehensible political order. Wish someone in the chain of command should have the spine to revolt and refuse to release Warren Anderson. This entire thing including the verdict on the case coming after 26 years has indeed made the proverb “justice delayed is justice denied” completely true; except in this case, the justice delivered is laughable compared to the crime committed. Even the experts in US are scratching their head for this 2 year jail sentence awarded to the accused

I am relatively sure that if members of political class or the neo-rich would have died in this accident, Warren Anderson would have still been cooling his heel in the Indian jail rather than currently sitting behind the protection of his company in US and American laws. Who cares for the poors who dies - there is plenty of supply of this class in India. Though the mind doesn’t agree but the fact is so chilling to ignore – has this been a class war, obviously going against the poor who succumbed in this man made disaster.

US Govt does not work to ensure justice for the Indian victim. White House protects American business, and American interest in international relations, whether in war or peace. When 11 American workers were killed in an oil rig (owned by a British company) blow-up in the Gulf of Mexico and some millions of oil gushing into the ocean, Washington is demanding from BP to set up an escrow account with possibly billions of dollars. Nearly 15,000 dead in Bhopal, half a million affected, and the total compensation is $470 million. Do the math. US Govt. has promised to penalize BP for the current oil spill to the extent of billions of dollars that might send the company into bankruptcy. The Indian trial court magistrate Manoj Tiwari wants only Rs 5 lakh as penalty from Union Carbide for mass slaughter.

When Exxon was fined $5 billion for the Alaska oil spill, nearly $40,000 was spent on the rehabilitation of every affected sea otter. The victims of Bhopal are, so far, entitled to $200 each.

Don’t do the math. It may turn you into a cynic.