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PRESS RELEASE. . . PRESS RELEASE. . . PRESS RELEASE. . .PRESS RELEASE. . .
Scottish veteran from the First Gulf War, Alexander Izett, 34, has been on hunger strike since 1 May. He demands an independent public inquiry into the causes and medical treatment of Gulf War Syndrome. As MPs are pressed to insist the government acts immediately, Mr Izett’s determination remains untouched. In February 1991 Mr Izett was due to leave for the Gulf with his regiment. In preparation, he received nine vaccinations in 24 hours. Mr Izett never went to the Gulf because the war ended two days before he was due to go. In 1993 at the age of 23, he became ill and has since suffered auto-immune osteoporosis, depression and stomach ulcers. He holds the multiple vaccinations directly responsible for these illnesses. Information about what is in some of these vaccines is still classified and as a result Mr Izett cannot get proper treatment. In May 2003, after five years of campaigning, Mr Izett won a court ruling which acknowledged the connection between the vaccinations and his ill health: "The tribunal finds that the appellant was vaccinated with a concoction of drugs prior to planned deployment in the Gulf War. The concoction of drugs caused osteoporosis". Yet in December 2003, a war pensions tribunal ruled that Mr Izett was only 50% disabled and granted him just 50% of a war pension. As a result of his illnesses Mr Izett is unable to do waged work and now lives in Germany on £61.50 a week. He is the father of two teen-age children. His wife is looking after him. On 14 March 2004, Mr Izett testified to the Scottish Parliament and as a result members agreed to write to central government about his case. But Mr Izett has received no reply and in desperation, he has decided to go on hunger strike. Mr Izett is one of 47,000 troops who were compulsorily vaccinated in preparation for the First Gulf War; 45,000 for the Second Gulf War. It is shocking that 72% of the medical records of soldiers who served in the First Gulf War have been lost, so in most cases it is impossible for the person to find out what s/he has been injected with. There are now many medical studies showing that veterans have died or suffered severe illnesses as a result, and have babies who are still-born or children with disabilities. Yet the government continues to insist that Gulf War Syndrome does not exist. Hundreds of veterans (estimated at two a week since the First Gulf War) have died due to the Gulf War Syndrome. Those who authorised these injections have shown such disregard for human life that they don’t even count the number of Iraqi deaths caused by the present war and occupation. They run the same institutions which have ordered and committed torture, rape and murder of civilians. In opposing the disregard for human life that these injections represent, we affirm our respect for every life, and our determination to uphold humane values. The public is invited to contact their MP as a matter of urgency to press the government to establish an independent public inquiry into all aspects of Gulf War Syndrome and prevent the loss of Mr Izett's young life. Early Day Motion 1289 tabled by John McDonnell MP “calls on the Government to set up an independent public inquiry into all aspects of Gulf War Syndrome”. Alexander Izett
who lives in Germany can be contacted at: CONTACT
in London: |
