The unfolding story

The press is far from being in a position to bring out the full story of the Bhopal disaster. It will be many months, if not years, before a truly definitive account can be given. "Official" inquiries into the incident are as yet incomplete. Officers and managers of Union Carbide India Ltd. (UCIL) charged with various offenses in connection with the deadly leak of methyl isocyanate from the company's pesticide plant have yet to come to trial. Even the mechanism for resolving the compensation issue—U.S. courts, Indian courts, or out of court—has yet to be finally settled. And probes and re-evaluations of government regulatory procedures are just getting under way in both India and the U.S. In this interim period of discovery the press must avoid any temptation to take on the role of the judiciary. There's no denying the temptation is great. The story of the tragedy and its aftermath is continuing to unfold ...