Gas victims felicitate ex- chairperson of LOC ethics committee
Withdrawal of cases against protesters demanded
OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL
Gas victims felicitated Ms.
Meredith Alexander, who resign
ed as chairperson of the ethics committee of the London Olympics Committee over sponsorship of the London Olympics by Dow Chemical, current owner of Union Carbide.
The felicitation of Ms.
Alexander was part of the daylong fast by Bhopal Gas survivors seeking withdrawal of criminal cases filed against 2000 survivors and release of the 14 persons who are in jail for over six weeks in connection with the protest staged on the 27th anniversary of the disaster.
Placing a bouquet of pink roses before a picture of Ms Alexander, Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Stationery Karamchari Sangh said, ” By speaking the truth so boldly Meredith has nailed Dow Chemicals lies that the London Olympic Committee and its Chairman, Lord Coe believed and propagated till recently. We hope this will make LOCOG dump Dow Chemical as a sponsor of the London Games.” Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said, ” Ms.
Alexanders resignation will prompt the Indian government to express its opposition to Dow Chemicals sponsorship more effectively.
To be taken seriously by the London Olympic Committee, the Indian Government has to do much more than sending a protest note.
It is time for LOCOG to be told that India would not take part in the London Olympics if it continues to be sponsored by a corporation responsible for continuing death and suffering in Bhopal.” ” We are demanding that the Chief Minister keep his promise of setting up an independent inquiry on the incidence of violence and withdraw the false cases filed against the protestors.” said Balkrishna Namdeo, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha.
