US rules out new inquiries in Bhopal gas case after verdict

Lalit K Jha
Washington, June 8 (PTI) The US on Tuesday ruled out
reopening any 'new inquiries' against Union Carbide following
the Indian court verdict on Bhopal gas disaster and hoped this
case would not affect the passage of the civil nuclear
liability bill in India.
The Obama Administration also hoped that Monday's
verdict by a Bhopal court will bring "closure" to the families
of the gas leak victims and that this case will not "inhibit"
US' expanding ties with India.
The Administration refused to discuss the issue of
extradition of Warren Anderson, a former chairman of Carbide's
parent company to India. Carbide is a US multi-national firm.
The nuclear bill, which is facing opposition in India,
is currently before Parliament. The controversial Bill has
been referred to a Standing Committee of Parliament.
The American reactions by two senior officials came amid
outrage by civil rights activists over the US parent company
escaping criminal liability and Anderson being allowed to go
scot free in connection with the 1984 gas disaster in which
over 15,000 people died.
The officials were reacting to the court convicting seven
Indian employees including ex-Union Carbide India Chairman
Keshub Mahindra and sentencing them to two years in prison
each, nearly 26 years after the tragedy.
"With respect to Bhopal, obviously that was one of
the greatest industrial tragedies and industrial accidents in
human history.
And let me just say that we hope that this verdict
today helps to bring some closure to the victims and their
families," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central
Asia, Robert Blake told a news conference here.
Blake hoped the verdict will not lead to opening of new
inquiries into the role of Union Carbide in the disaster.
"But I don't expect this verdict to reopen any new,
you know, inquiries or anything like that.
On the contrary, we hope that this is going to help
to bring closure," Blake told foreign reporters in response to
a question.
On whether there was a request by India for Anderson's
extradition, Blake said "As a matter of policy, we never
discuss extradition, so I cannot comment on that."
To a similar question at another news briefing, the
State Department spokesman, P J Crowley said: "This tragedy
happened 26 years ago, and it was a terrible tragedy, one of
the worst industrial accidents in human history, and we
certainly hope that the verdict brings some closure to the
families of the victims of this tragedy."
Crowley hoped that this particular case "does not
inhibit - or the continuing expansion of economic, cultural,
and political ties between the two countries."
"We fully expect that this will not be the case."
"The Indian Parliament will have to make judgement on
the nuclear liabilities bill, but this criminal case should
have no relation to the liability legislation currently before
the parliament," Crowley said.
Blake remained declined to comment on whether the Obama
administration will consider urging Dow Chemical to compensate
the Bhopal gas tragedy victims and their families, as the
administration was pushing British Petroleum to do in the wake
of the massive Gulf oil spill off the coast of Louisiana. PTI
LKJ
MYR


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