US Congressman backs calls for Anderson extradition

Spin doctors in the Obama administration have projected Monday’s lame verdict in the Bhopal gas tragedy as “closure” for the Indian victims, but powerful Democratic congressman Frank Pallone Jr. broke rank by blasting the verdict as “outrageous.” He called on Wednesday for the extradition of former Union Carbide Corp CEO Warren Anderson, 90, to India to stand trial.
Pallone said it was unacceptable to allow an American company the opportunity to exploit international borders and legal jurisdictions. He said Anderson should not be allowed to evade criminal liability for UCC’s abuses committed overseas.

“All those responsible for this disaster, including Warren Anderson, should stand trial in India and receive punishment that reflects the devastation and pain they have caused people. Anderson absolutely deserves to be extradited from the US and punished for the full extent of his crimes,” added Pallone, sending a cue to Delhi that it had champions in the US.

In June 2004, the US rejected India’s Anderson extradition request saying it did not “meet requirements of certain provisions” of the extradition treaty. But can New Delhi now employ the strategy of leveraging the pro-India lobby in Washington? US industry, Indian American lobby groups and pro-India lawmaker in Congress did manage to sell the nuclear deal.

“There is a great deal at stake. India is not the country in was in 1984 when the Bhopal disaster struck. Developed economies have sunk during the 2008 financial crisis but India has kept its head above water. US companies want to be in India. India can use leverage to go after Anderson,” said an executive in a US firm looking to do nuclear business in India.

Unlike 1984, India now has serious leverage. Costing $2.5 billion per 1,000 megawatts, the 30 new reactors India will commission could mean big contracts for US companies GE Energy, Thorium Power and Westinghouse Electric.

The Bhopal tragedy has tarnished America’s corporate image. For the first time, Indians has closed ranks with environmental groups that see the US as a self-centred power which double-crosses partners and friends for its interests. The US has rarely handed over its own citizens wanted by foreign courts despite having extradition treaties with friendly countries but it has been successful in pressing extradition charges against British Enron officials and a host of other corporate offenders.

The Obama administration is keeping its fingers crossed that the
Bhopal verdict will not derail the N-deal. Assistant secretary of state Robert Blake tried to gloss over things, “I don’t expect this verdict to reopen new inquiries. On the contrary, we hope that this is going to help to bring closure to victims and their families.”

It is wishful thinking. Meanwhile, the N-liability Bill will be the first casualty. It fixes the maximum liability in case of a nuclear accident at Rs500 crore to be paid by the operator of the nuclear plant, while the total liability is pegged at Rs2,087 crore. India’s opposition members say the amount is paltry as compensation in the US for similar accidents is Rs45,000 crore. Activists say it is time for Delhi to tell global corporate marauders that life in India is
not “dirt cheap.”