Bhopal survivors burn effigy of IOC president

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The survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide disaster on Sunday burnt an effigy of International Olympics Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, who has said that Dow Chemical, the sponsor of the 2012 London Olympics, could not be held responsible for the lingering liabilities caused by the gas leak in Bhopal.

The survivors were led by five organisations fighting for the cause.

"An assessment by an agency that has received large sums of money from Dow Chemical cannot be impartial. IOC has exposed itself as a corrupt body that is willing to tarnish the spirit and name of the Games for the sake of money," said Rashida Bee, President of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh.

The survivors mentioned that, through purchase of Union Carbide in 2001, Dow Chemical has inherited the criminal, civil and environmental liabilities of Union Carbide India Ltd(UCIL). It is a fact that large quantities of toxic wastes remain strewn around the factory site in Bhopal.

India is also seeking compensation from Dow Chemical for the clean up of the toxic contamination in and around the abandoned Union Carbide's factory.

Dow has sheltered Union Carbide and even facilitated the illegal sales of its products and services in India through a number of front companies.

"The IOC has neither the authority nor the competence to address the complex matters of criminal and civil allegations leveled against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical," said Balkrishna Namdeo of Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangarsh Morcha.

The survivors strongly criticized the role of the Indian government and the IOC and has appealed to the Indian Members of Parliament, to write to government of India to boycott Olympics.

The Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udhyog Sangathan led by activist Abdul Jabbar Saturday burnt the effigy of IOC and government of India.

Jabbar said that by giving clean chit to Dow Chemical, IOC has made contempt of court and betrayed the faith of people who are fighting for justice.