France Pressuring India Over Asbestos Ship
Article Added February 11th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
The fate of the Clemenceau has taken a drastic turn; anti-asbestos campaigners are pointing to the French, saying that they are pressuring India to accept and break up the asbestos-laden ship.
The demand has been described as “accept all demolitions or say goodbye to all shipyards,” an unacceptable dilemma for the New Delhi government. This would turn the debate from being a health or legal problem to being a political problem, with Greenpeace adding that the case will not be settled in court, but rather between the French and Indian defense ministries. The Defense Minister and President of France are headed to India on Saturday for a high-level meeting which will probably focus on the decommissioned warship.
A recommendation has been made to the State Council by a leading French magistrate, however, to recall the ship to France. There has been speculation that the ship contains more than double the amount of asbestos than what France had noted to the Indian government. The State Council is also to rule this week on a suit brought forward by three anti-asbestos groups, along with Greenpeace, who are opposed to sending the asbestos ship to India. The Indian Supreme Court has asked an expert panel to determine exactly how much asbestos is on the ship before the council will decide whether or not to accept the ship into Indian waters.
Article Added February 11th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
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