Stockholm, Sweden, 05 October 2008

Stockholm, Sweden, 21/10/2008

To His Excellency, the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Shivraj V. Patil, New Delhi, India, Fax 00 91 11 237 948 33 (3 pages including this)

Regarding my application for tourist visa to India dated September 29, 2008

From the Embassy of India in Sweden, I have been told that my visa application is with the Ministry of Home Affairs. I also understand that this ministry is dealing with internal security. So I suppose my engagement for the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal is the reason that I have not received my visa.

The Swedish Doctors for the Environment

I have been a board member of the Swedish Doctors for the Environment (LfM, www.dnsy.se/lfm) since start and am now vice president. LfM is one of the professional networks within The Natural Step (DNS, www.thenaturalstep.org), a foundation under the King of Sweden. The purpose of LfM, which is a non governmental non political organisation, is to promote a development of society that leads to good living conditions and health for today’s and tomorrow’s generations, nationally as well as globally. Internationally, we cooperate with International Doctors for the Environment (ISDE, www.isde.org) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH, www.hcwh.org). In India, we have cooperated with The Other Media, Toxics Links and Sambhavna Trust.

Following up the Union Carbide Gas Disaster

In 1993, ISDE was invited to take part in an International Medical Commission on Bhopal. When it came to realisation in January, 1994, I was the representative of ISDE. Ten years later, I published my book “The Bhopal Saga – Causes and Consequences of the World’s Largest Industrial Disaster”, based on material that already was published.

When the Sambhavna Trust and Clinic was founded, I was appointed as a medical advisor. Since Sambhavna inaugurated its new building, I stay in the guestrooms during my visits in Bhopal. Here it is clean and silent, with a garden, better than the hotels in Old Bhopal. Also, this gives me a reason to support Sambhavna economically. The royalty for “The Bhopal Saga” goes to Sambhavna Clinic.

Läkare för Miljön LfM Ingrid Eckerman Tel +46 (0)8 600 15 56 Swedish Doctors for the Environment Statsrådsvägen 11 Mobile +46 (0)70-55 73 193 [email protected] SE 128 38 Skarpnäck [email protected] www.dnsy.se/lfm Stockholm www.eckerman.nu 1 Sweden

The Siddiqui family, Bhopal

The Bhopal disaster is not the reason why I have returned so many times to Bhopal. During my frequent stays in Bhopal, I have become a close friend of this family, including the daughters, who are now married but live in the neighbourhood. I am regarded as a family member, and I regard them as my extended family. We use to say that they have adopted me as a “grandmother”. The grown up members of the family are gas victims, but they have not taken part in any activities against Union Carbide, Dow or the Government of India or Madhya Pradesh.

When I first met them, in 1994, there was only one grandchild. Now there are eight. For two of the children, I pay the school fees so they can attain a good school. The eldest grandchild, a girl now 14, visited me here in Sweden for five weeks in May this year. I hope being able to support her through university.

My stay in Bhopal in February this year was my ordinary yearly visit. At this time, we also arranged the visa application for the girl. As she is not used to travelling, I came back in May to bring her here. Back she went by herself.

My planned third visit this year was because the girl’s grandmother suddenly died in September. She was the family’s strong person, and she was also the one with the steady income. The two daughters have now appointed me as their “mother”. I wanted to take part in the mourning, and I wanted to see in what way (except economically) I can support them.

About the visa application

Never before, during these 14 years, have I had any difficulties to get my visa. The last time I got it was in January this year. Since then, I have done the following three things: In February, I joined the protest march to Delhi for the first couple of kilometres. Then I signed a list to show my support to those who marched. In May, I visited their camp in Delhi for ten minutes.

To me, it seems very strange that my activities this year would be the basis of denying me a visa to India. India is the world’s largest democracy. As far as I know, demonstrations are allowed, like in Sweden.

In November, I expect Swedish media to contact me on behalf of the Bhopal disaster. The fact that I might be denied a visa will of course draw some extra attention.

Yours sincerely,

Dr (Ms) Ingrid Eckerman Vice President Swedish Doctors for the Environment

REFERENCES

References in India

Mr Sathyu Sarangi, Executive Director, Sambhavna Trust, Bafna Colony, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 001, Madhya Pradesh, India. Tel : + 91 (0)755-2730914 / 2743157. [email protected]

Mr Pragya Majumder, Sr. Programme Coordinator, Toxics Link, H-2, Jangpura Extension, New Delhi-110014. Phone: + 91-11-24328006/24320711. [email protected]

Mr Ravi Hemadri, Executive Director, The Other Media, B-5/136 (F.F.), Safdarjung Enclave New Delhi 10 029. Tel +91-11-26195534/35/ 26105472. Fax: +91-11-26195536 [email protected] [email protected]

Mr Ishrat Siddiqui, Q.no. 18/3, Nagar Nigam Colony, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 018. +91 982 687 52 72

References in Sweden

Dr Tryggve Årman, MD, president, Swedish Doctors for the Environment, Majrovägen 13, SE 122 45 Enskede, Sweden [email protected]

Prof Bertil Egerö, associate professor (emer.), Department of Sociology, Lund University, Box 114, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden [email protected]

Mr Christer von Malmborg, chief economist, retired from Ericsson. Holmögaddsvägen 22, SE 121 56 Johanneshov, Stockholm, Sweden [email protected]

Organisations working in India

Pakkam-group of Sweden. Website www.pakkam.se. Supporting micro-loans and ecological farming in Pakkam, Kerala. I was earlier member of the board.

TUFF (Tyresö development and peace organisation). Website http://tuff.fred.se . Supporting schools, irrigation projects etc in Dharampur district, Gujarat. In 2000, I visited some of the schools.

Curriculum vitae

At my website www.eckerman.nu you find my CV, including non-governmental and professional organisations of which I am a member.