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PRESS RELEASE . . . PRESS RELEASE . . . PRESS RELEASE… GULF
WAR SYNDROME SURVIVOR ALEXANDER IZETT Alexander Izett, Scottish veteran of the first Gulf War, is today suspending his 40-day hunger strike following unprecedented support for his demand for an independent public inquiry into all aspects of Gulf War Syndrome. Vietnam veteran and author of Born on the 4th of July, Ron Kovic, recently sent his support: "I and many American veterans support and admire your firm stand and courageous commitment to peace and justice.” Mr Izett, through his hunger strike, has drawn public, political and media attention to the plight of the many veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome. Although he has lost over two stones, is looking gaunt, and has suffered periods of unconsciousness, he is even more determined to carry on fighting for a public inquiry. Many politicians have now rallied behind Mr Izett. Members of Parliament in Westminster * and Members of the Scottish Parliament** are calling on the government to “set up an independent public inquiry into all aspects of Gulf War Syndrome”. This dramatic suspension of Mr Izett’s hunger strike comes just days after D-Day celebrations highlighted the devastating loss of life as well as long-term physical and psychological disabilities suffered by soldiers and civilians during World War II. Mr Izett strongly identifies with the many veterans who are suffering, more than half a century after their war service ended. In 1991, in preparation for being sent to the Gulf War, Mr Izett received nine vaccinations in 24 hours. He never went to the Gulf, but since 1993, aged 23, has suffered auto-immune osteoporosis, depression and stomach ulcers. He holds the military, which imposed multiple vaccinations, directly responsible for these illnesses. In May 2003, after five years of campaigning, Mr Izett won a war pension tribunal ruling which acknowledged the connection between the vaccinations and his ill health. Despite this, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to deny the existence of Gulf War Syndrome and Mr Izett began his hunger strike on 1 May, because, he said, “only a truly independent public inquiry will get to the truth.” Forced to respond to Mr Izett’s hunger strike, Ivor Caplan MP, Minister for Veterans, claims that, even though he “does not rule out a public inquiry”, the government must wait for research by the Medical Research Council to identify why veterans are ill. Mr Izett disputes the independence of such research: “What’s happening is that the MoD is involved in this medical work. Someone from the MoD always looks at what work is being done and decides which tests should be done. The MoD cannot be trusted as it has already destroyed data showing the danger of multiple vaccinations.” On the Today programme (8 June 2004), the BBC revealed that in 1990, the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control told the MoD that the combination of anthrax and pertussis vaccines led to “severe loss of condition and weight loss” in mice. Subsequently, the BBC reported, “data relating to the study were destroyed, at the request of the MoD, because of national security. However, a recent report which repeated the study, broadly confirmed the previous observation.” It is hardly surprising that Mr Caplan, who denies the existence of Gulf War Syndrome, claims not to know about this later report. Such evidence strengthens the urgent case for a genuinely independent public inquiry to investigate all aspects of Gulf War Syndrome. Mr Izett and countless other veterans are even more determined to get to the truth – for all of them it is a matter of life and death. Speaking for Payday which is supporting Mr Izett’s battle, Ben Martin said: “Not only are soldiers used as cannon-fodder during wars, they are also used as guinea pigs to try out drugs, vaccines and even (as with nuclear bombs and depleted uranium) the full effects of weapons. Those who survive these trials are discarded when they are no longer needed for fighting or become too ill to fight. By opposing this disregard for human life, we affirm our respect for every life on both sides of wars, and our absolute opposition to the killing machines in every country.” CONTACTAlexander
Izett who lives in Germany can be contacted at: Payday, a multiracial network of men working with the Global Women’s Strike has co-ordinated international support for Mr Izett’s hunger strike London:
Tel 020 209 4751 payday@paydaynet.org Website:www.refusingtokill.net 10 June 2004 NOTES*
Signatories to EDM 1289 initiated by John McDonnell MP on 26 May 2004
include: **
Signatories to motion S2M-1397
initiated by MSP Rosie Kane on 6 June include:
Mr Izett is one of 47,000 UK troops who were compulsorily vaccinated in preparation for the First Gulf War in 1991; 45,000 for the Second Gulf War. In the US, at least 150,000 troops were vaccinated for the First Gulf War, and millions of troops have been vaccinated since 1998 when the anthrax vaccination was made compulsory. Many studies show how veterans from both Gulf wars have died or suffered severe illnesses and have babies who are still-born or children with disabilities:
To listen to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme interview with Mr Izett , 8 June 2004 www.bbc.co.uk/radio |