Category: Global
News
Date: 03.12.2004
Printable version
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has moved swiftly to retract a live interview with an individual
claiming to be a spokesman for Dow Chemicals.
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In the interview the individual admitted responsibility for the Bhopal
disaster.
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The interview, an elaborate deception, was carried live on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World
and subsequently on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News 24 and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio.
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The individual was contacted by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and, during a series of phone
calls, claimed that there would be a significant announcement to be
made on behalf of the Dow Chemical company.
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He gave no further detail until the live interview, broadcast from
the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Paris bureau this morning.
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Following further internal enquiries, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ realised that the interview
was a deception and broadcast the following statement:
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"This morning at 9.00 and 10.00am (GMT), ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World ran an interview
with someone purporting to be from the Dow Chemical company about Bhopal.
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"This interview was inaccurate, part of an elaborate deception.
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"The person did not represent the company and we want to make
clear that the information he gave was entirely inaccurate."
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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ also immediately contacted Dow Chemicals and apologised to
them.
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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is looking into the incident to establish the background and
how the interview got to air.
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A report will be made to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Deputy Director-General, Mark Byford.
