No more Bhopals, fight for the right to live language that they [the local population] understand. All studies undertaken by institutions such as NIOH, CDI, ITRC, NEERI, etc. must be made accessible to
Review of existing laws: Existing laws concerning industrial zoning, indus-
The following is a statement which was issued by 16 organisations in Bombay, India on the death of an estimated ten to twenty thousand people in Bhopal in the state of Madhya-Pradesh (the official estimate of the number of deaths is about 3,000) from poisonous gases from the Union Carbide factory. The Inquilabi Communist Sangathan, Indian section of the Fourth International, is one of the supporting organisations of the Movement for a Safe Environment.
We have witnessed the worst ever industrial and environmental disaster in the history of humankind in Bhopal recently.
paid a compensation that is at least equivalent to that legally available in the parent country of Union Carbide, ie., trial health and safety, and environment should be implemented uniformly all over the country. A reexamination and thorough review of these laws must be undertaken immediately and it must be made public. All such laws must be periodically reviewed.
Current compensation laws do not adequately protect the health and safety of all sections of the population. A comprehensive law covering all compensa-
This horrendous tragedy has forced in the USA. Those who have been dispeople from all walks of life to react strongly and actively.
Industrialisation in India has taken little acount of either the appropriateness of technology, or work-related health issues, safety measures or health hazards for people at large. Hazards and accidents in industry - whether in textile, chemicals, mines, petrochemicals, railways, docks, cements or fertilizers are either hushed up, underreported or are totally ignored. And even when they are known, neither the management nor the government, nor workers' organisations nor voluntary groups have paid much attention to it. The time for passive acceptance of industrial hazards is forever past.
What happened in Bhopal is not merely a tragedy — it is a crime against people. We mourn the dead. And strongly condemn those who were responsible for it.
This incident proves to us over again that we cannot depend on industrialists or governments to ensure our health and safety. We appeal to the citizens - professional bodies, civil liberties' organisations, workers' unions, women's groups and individuals - to press for the following demands through demonstrations, mass education, signature campaigns, letters to the editor in the press, legal action and sending petitions to assemblies and to the parliament.
- Citizens' committees: Citizens' vigilance committees which can co-opt legal, medical and technical experts in the field should be constituted for supervision and effective implementation of the measures recommended here.
- Punishment of the guilty: All persons, organisations and agencies responsible for the tragedy - Union Carbide management, state and central government which sanctioned the plant, supervisory and monitoring agencies including factory and explosives inspectors - must be severly punished.
- Rehabilitation, compensation and other aid to victims: Victims should be 10 abled should be rehabilitated and provided employment. Union Carbide should be charged with the financing of the setting up of rehabilitation centres. special court must be constituted for the
Bhopal cases. Long-term monitoring of health condienvironmental studies must be instituted immediately, paying special attention to the fact that women might have been studies [should be] published in the
All arrangements must be made to provide health care facilities for those who still suffer from long-term effects of the poisoning in the years ahead.
- Right to information: All the information with Union Carbide especially with reference to details of manufacturing process, immediate, long-term, careinogenic and genetic effects of MIC (methyl isocyanate) and phosgene (chloride) must be made available to the public. The government must intervene to obtain Victim number 569. Leela, age 5 (DR)
tion issues, making payment of compensation a strict liability of the company must be brought into existence.
Environmental and health studies around existing and proposed industries: The government should finance citizen's undertake environmental and health studies around existing hazardous plants and industrial areas. These should be accessible to the publie and periodic surveys carried out to assess ill
It should be made mandatory to issue public notice adequately in advance of the setting of any new potentially hazardous plant. Health and environmental studies must be undertaken around the sites and made public.
- Rights to workers, unions and citizens' committees: Independent committees of workers and their representatives should be given the right to investigate work conditions and to make direct complaint to the court where necessary• All workers in such plants should be provided with relevant safety equipment. All workers whether temporary, permanent, badli [transfer workers] or contract - should have the right to stop working with full payment until hazardous conditions are remedied.
People unite now! No more Bhopals!
The Movement for a Safe Environment is made up of the following organisations:
People's Science Movement, India; Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights; Inquilabi Communist Sangathan; Narjuvan Bhouat Saoha; •Lok Vigyan Sanjathana Maharashtra; Medico Friends Circles, India; Doctors for Peace and Life; Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, KEM; Mazdoor Mukti Committee, Calcutta; Shramik Mukti Dal, Maharashtra; Kashtakan Sangathana; Yurkrand, Maharashtra; Krantiba Phule Sanskrutic; Khad Kangar Sangh; Forum for Science, Technology and Society; Indian Federation of Trade Unions.
International Viewpoint 28 January 1984
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