Euro-MP Calls For End Of Suffering For Bhopal People

5.31.39pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 16th Dec 2004

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne today called on the Indian Government Dow Chemical and the International Community to stop the suffering in Bhopal.

The Liberal Democrat MEP was speaking in a debate in the European Parliament which condemned the conditions the people of Bhopal have to suffer twenty years after the disaster.

Liz Lynne MEP said:

"While Dow Chemical and the Indian Government argue over who is to blame for the Bhopal disaster, the people continue to suffer and die from their two decade legacy.

"More than 7,000 people died within days of the Gas leak but inaction has seen 15,000 further deaths which could have been avoided. Even now as many as 100,000 people are suffering chronic and debilitating illnesses with 10 to 15 people a month continuing to die. The survivors still await justice, compensation and medical assistance.

"The plant site which continues to pollute would cost an estimated £15million to decommission. This is in contrast to Dow's yearly sales of £16Bn and India's GDP of £320Bn.

"How can the international community, a multinational company and one of the worlds main countries stand by and watch this happen.

"Just now it shouldn't be about who is to blame but who is going to stop the suffering."

ENDS