Remembering Bhopal

Des Turner MP has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling for action against those responsible for the Bhopal disaster in 1984 in which 23,000 people died.

It follows an Amnesty International report criticizing ongoing human rights abuses and highlighting the fact that 15 people a month a dying as a result of the leak from the Union Carbide plant. Local people continue to protest for action 23 years on.

Des said "It is important that this tragedy is not forgotten, that the people who died, their families and those who continue to suffer as a result of the disaster are not forgotten, and that we support efforts to help them and bring those responsible to justice."

The full text of EDM 1266, which has gained the support of more than 60 MPs, states:

That this House deplores the continuing suffering of the people of Bhopal 23 years after the world's worst industrial disaster; notes that Amnesty International has reported ongoing violations of human rights, that contaminated factory land is still not properly cleaned up, that high quantities of organochlorines and lead pollute local water supplies, that there are continuing occurrences of birth deformities and ill health and that 15 people die each month as a result; congratulates the work of the Sambhavna medical clinic in treating victims of gas and water poisoning and that of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal in trying to make the government of India meet its obligations to provide clean water and adequate medical, social and economic rehabilitation; and further applauds the campaign for pursuing polluter pays principles against Dow Chemical and extradition of its fugitive subsidiary Union Carbide, which refuses to face charges in India of culpable homicide in connection with the deaths of 23,000 people.