South Asia Citizens Web

The Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly on 04.04.2011 was pleased to transfer the Special Leave Petition (SLP) No.12893 of 2010 filed by eight members of the Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sanghathan (BGPMUS) and the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti (BGPSSS) to the five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court for due consideration. 1989 the Settlement was hastily arrived at under the aegis of the Supreme Court on 14/15.02.1989 after grossly underestimating the actual magnitude and severity of the Bhopal disaster of 02/03 December 1984. However, while the process of adjudication uncovered the actual magnitude of the disaster in terms of numbers (final figure being 573,588 gas-victims), no attempt was made to enhance the compensation amount in accordance with the results of the adjudication process.

ACC workers ask "Is Mr. Raman Singh’s government capable of forcing this financial giant multinational Holcim to show sensitivity to the 30 year long struggle of the contract workers, whose blood wages have amassed its profits, to implement the High Court order, and to abide by the Indian Labour Standards?"

Some of the top Indian artists and photographers contributed their original works for display at a special exhibition in solidarity with Dr Binayak Sen and on the theme of human rights and freedom. The work will be on exhibit for three days from 4-6 April, 2011 at the Alliance Francaise Art Gallery and is open to all members of the public to visit. Artists include Subodh Gupta, T.V.Santosh, Bharti Kher, Probir Gupta, Gigi Scaria, Mithu Sen, Sharmila Samant, Shreyas Karle, Susanta Mondal among others; photos include those by Prashant Panjiar, Pablo Bartholomew, Parthiv Shah and Ram Rahman. The artists in a statement said, “ The Sedition Law directly attacks the freedom of expression, and is therefore impossible to reconcile with the conditions necessary for a healthy atmosphere for culture, art and intellectual life”. They go on to say, “ No civilized society sends an individual like Dr Binayak Sen to prison for doing what can only be regarded as his duty as a medical professional and as a civil rights activist. If it can happen to Binayak Sen today, it can happen to anyone tomorrow”.

We convey our very hearty congratulations to Team India for winning the World Cup 2011 and welcome the positive statements by the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan issued from Mohali on the side lines of the Cricket World Cup Semi Final played on 30th March 2011. The “Mohali Magic” has created a new spirit of conciliation and accommodation by bringing everyone from the ordinary man to the Prime Ministers together for the same cause that is dear to and in the interest of all. The challenge now is to continue and sustain this “Mohali Magic’ till the goal of “cooperative solutions” and “permanent reconciliation” through “uninterrupted and uninterruptable dialogue” is reached to enable people of both the countries “to live together in dignity and honour”.

Peace activists welcome the very positive statements of the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan issued from Mohali on the side lines of the Cricket World Cup Semi Final played on 30th March 2011. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s statement that India and Pakistan should put their "ancient animosities" behind them, work for a "permanent reconciliation" and "cooperative solutions" to their problems “to live together in dignity and honour" is historic and sets a new direction for the subcontinent. Mr. Yousuf Raza Gilani’s assertion that “our common enemy is poverty, hunger, disease, unemployment and that today the intention of both of us is to resolve these issues and both the countries should prosper” has the potential to rewrite history.