Take action now by sending a letter to the Department of Justice! Ensure that the DOJ Stop Shielding Dow Chemical from Accountability for Corporate Crimes in Bhopal, India

As the 35th Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Disaster approaches, we want to ensure justice for survivors. Indian courts have summoned Dow Chemical to face criminal charges for Union Carbide's role in the Bhopal Gas Disaster, with an recent court date on November 13, 2019. Dow Chemical did not appear in court. Since 2014, the Department of Justice (DOJ) (USA) has not served the summons to Dow Chemical Company, USA, violating international treaties. The Government of India has sent at least two reminders asking them to serve the summons, which was issued by Bhopal court in May 2019.

The court was asked to summon a representative of the Ministry of Home Affairs to next hearing. This ministry has so far sent six requests for legal assistance to the US Justice department under the mutually agreed terms of a bilteral treaty between India and the US, a treaty that is governed by international law. The DOJ, which is being asked to serve notice papers upon Dow, has ignored or obstructed every request made on this matter by its treaty partner. The Judge agreed to the summons request. The ministry's under secretary has therefore been asked to appear and apprise the court of the reasons for its inability to serve summons on Dow. The next hearing has been posted for January 20th, 2020.

Please support the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal by circulating this letter to your local representatives. We are then asking your representatives to email the DOJ (email template provided). The DOJ is required to respond to queries from representatives, but not necessarily from citizens.