Bhopal: 25 years of injustice

In some quarters of the world, 25 years would already mean a lifetime. Others would call your vehicle vintage if it lasts that long: movies would be dubbed as a classic if it was created quarter of a century ago. But for the Bhopalis, 25 years seems like yesterday.

The date December 3, 2009 marked the 25th year of that dreaded night in Bhopal, where deadly gas engulfed the whole city and choked the life out of every living being, including more than 22,000 citizens. At midnight of the 3rd of December, 1984, holding tanks of the Union Carbide Pesticide factory in Bhopal exploded, releasing 40 tonnes of deadly chemicals. Time seemed to stop while the death cloud silently marched through the city, its pace blinding, stopping for nothing. Most of the Bhopalis were fast asleep, making any attempt to elude the deadly gas impossible. When morning broke, death and destruction gripped the city. Horrific images of dead children, men and women - many caught in their sleep - shocked the whole world. Screams and wails of the survivors filled all corners of the city.

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy has been dubbed the worst industrial disaster of all time, not only because of the sheer number of victims on December 3, but also on how it continues to poison – after more than 2 decades - the lives and future of the Bhopalis: on how justice for all the Bhopalis – women and children – have up until now been elusive.

According to environmental reports from various organizations working on Bhopal Gas Tragedy, 10 million tonnes of deadly and toxic chemicals are still inside the Union Carbide factory waiting to be cleaned. The chemicals continue to seep to groundwater, providing the vector to further the poisoning of the populace. The most recent study conducted showed the contamination of ground water reached out to radius of 3 kilometer from the Union Carbide factory. The decades of poisoning are producing children with lifelong deformities, making the tragedy both then and now.

The Chief Executive Officer of Union Carbide then was Warren Anderson. He was immediately arrested by the authorities, detained but was able to post bail. This gave him the chance to leave India and escaped to the United States of America, where to this day he remains. Many attempt of the people to ask for his extradition back to India have felled on deaf ears.

Solidarity

The Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational Accident Victims (ANROAV) have place the Justice for Bhopal as one of its major campaigns. The Network continues to work and build stronger solidarity with various grassroots organization working on the same issue. A small contingent of members of the network – Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines - went to Bhopal this year to show solidarity, along with other activists from around the world.

There were hundreds of activities and action inside India and across the globe to commemorate the 25th year of the tragedy. The ANROAV contingent joined the candle light vigil held on December 2, 2009 by women and children from the Sambhavna Trust and the torch rally lighting the road leading to the Union Carbide factory.

The next day saw more activities to commemorate the tragedy. Various groups were holding their actions on the streets of Bhopal. A 5,000 strong rally, led by the women of Bhopal marched through the busy streets, calling for justice for the victims of the tragedy. The marchers proceeded to the Union Carbide factory were various activists made their speeches. The march and speeches highlighted the will - both intense and contagious - of the Bhopalis to carry on fight. Many of those who have continued to fight for justice in Bhopal were recognized.

And after 25 years, memories of the events that transpired are still crisp, the anger still seething, the call for justice remains fever-pitch and the spirit of struggle of the people of Bhopal remains steadfast. An inspiration to all of us now and for the future.