U.S. Exec Arrest Sought in Bhopal Disaster
An Indian court issued a warrant Friday for the arrest of the former head of the American chemical company responsible for a gas leak that killed at least 10,000 people in Bhopal 25 years ago.
Warren Anderson was the head of Union Carbide Corp. when its factory in the central Indian city leaked 40 tons of poisonous gas on Dec. 3, 1984 - the world's worst industrial disaster.
More than 555,000 people who survived the initial disaster are thought to have suffered aftereffects, though the exact number of victims has never been determined. Many have died over the years from gas-related illnesses, like lung cancer, kidney failure and liver disease.
On Friday, in response to a recent appeal by a victims' group, Prakash Mohan Tiwari ordered the arrest of Anderson, who is reportedly living in the U.S. Tiwari, who is the chief judicial magistrate of Bhopal, also ordered the federal government to press Washington for the American's extradition.
Anderson was arrested immediately after the disaster, but he left the country soon after.
The Indian government has since said that it did not know where he was, but CNN-IBN television recently reported he is in the Hamptons - a wealthy area outside New York.
In Bhopal, victims and civil rights activists who gathered outside the court cheered at the news of the order. They threw slippers at an effigy of Anderson and hit it with brooms, as they danced in the streets.
In 1989, Union Carbide paid $470 million in compensation to the Indian government and said officials were responsible for the cleanup. Victims accuse New Delhi of delaying distribution of the funds.
The government says its efforts were slowed when Midland, Mich.-based Dow Chemical Co. took over Union Carbide in 2001, seven years after Union Carbide sold its interest in the Bhopal plant. Meanwhile, Dow maintains that the 1989 settlement resolved the legal case.
By Associated Press Writer Nirmala George
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Warren Anderson was the head of Union Carbide Corp. when its factory in the central Indian city leaked 40 tons of poisonous gas on Dec. 3, 1984 - the world's worst industrial disaster.
More than 555,000 people who survived the initial disaster are thought to have suffered aftereffects, though the exact number of victims has never been determined. Many have died over the years from gas-related illnesses, like lung cancer, kidney failure and liver disease.
On Friday, in response to a recent appeal by a victims' group, Prakash Mohan Tiwari ordered the arrest of Anderson, who is reportedly living in the U.S. Tiwari, who is the chief judicial magistrate of Bhopal, also ordered the federal government to press Washington for the American's extradition.
Anderson was arrested immediately after the disaster, but he left the country soon after.
The Indian government has since said that it did not know where he was, but CNN-IBN television recently reported he is in the Hamptons - a wealthy area outside New York.
In Bhopal, victims and civil rights activists who gathered outside the court cheered at the news of the order. They threw slippers at an effigy of Anderson and hit it with brooms, as they danced in the streets.
In 1989, Union Carbide paid $470 million in compensation to the Indian government and said officials were responsible for the cleanup. Victims accuse New Delhi of delaying distribution of the funds.
The government says its efforts were slowed when Midland, Mich.-based Dow Chemical Co. took over Union Carbide in 2001, seven years after Union Carbide sold its interest in the Bhopal plant. Meanwhile, Dow maintains that the 1989 settlement resolved the legal case.
By Associated Press Writer Nirmala George
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Dow had best be quiet on this, it presumes to dictate law in other countries. The deaths were the responsibility of Union Carbide, and happened in the sovereign nation of India and as such, Dow has no say in the matter.
Anderson should have been held personally responsible, but as usual in countries like india (and the US, truth be told) a little cash to grease the right palms, and he walks away, to live like a king for 25 more years, until a new power decides to charge him as they should have long ago.
Anderson should understand what is happening, the 147 million bucks (divided by at least 10,000 people = $14,700 per death, does Anderson regard his own life so cheaply?) didn't make it to the people who lost their loved ones, UC thought they could bribe their way out, they should have immediately made a list of the dead and injured, and payed the $14,700 each to their families directly, but decided it would be cheaper just to bribe the politicians to make it "go away"
The problem with that is that it does not "go away", it simply opens the door to further demands for money.
Let this be a lesson to multinationals, the days of corrupt colonialism are almost over, more and more countries are refusing to treat you as royalty, who can exploit with impunity.
I hope Anderson is finally brought to bear responsibility for that tragedy