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Support Scottish Gulf War Syndrome veteran Alex Izett, on 28th day of hunger strike |
May 28, 2004
Scottish veteran from the first Gulf War, Alexander Izett, age 34, is affected by the Gulf War Syndrome caused by the injection of multiple vaccinations. He is on the 28th day of a hunger strike demanding an independent public inquiry into the causes and medical treatment of the Gulf War Syndrome. The hunger strike is reaching a critical point.
Born on the 4th of July author and Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, adding his voice to the growing international support for Mr. Izett, said, "I and many American veterans support and admire you for your firm stand and courageous commitment to peace and justice."
Payday, a network of men working with the Global Women's Strike, is coordinating support internationally. On this Memorial Day weekend, we support the demands of Alex Izett and other living victims of war - civilians, family members as well as soldiers. We are urging everyone to contact British embassies, high commissions, and consulates to press the British government to establish an independent public inquiry into all aspects of Gulf War Syndrome and prevent the loss of Mr. Izett's young life. (See contact info below.) The British government refuses to recognize the existence of Gulf War Syndrome although the Minister for Veterans, Ivor Caplin, admits that "there are illnesses connected to service in the Gulf".
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 ($110.70) a week. He is the father of two teen-age children. His wife is looking after him.
On March 14, 2004, Mr. Izett testified to the Scottish Parliament and as a result members agreed to write to the central government about his case. But Mr. Izett has received no reply and in desperation decided to go on hunger strike.
Mr. Izett is one of 47,000 UK troops who were compulsorily vaccinated in preparation for the First Gulf War; 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. It is shocking that 72% of the medical records of UK 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. Since the US-led invasion of Iraq began last March, 10 to 20 US soldiers per month have been hospitalized with pneumonia-like illnesses, and some have died. Yet both the UK and US governments continue to insist that Gulf War Syndrome does not exist.
Hundreds of UK veterans (estimated at two a week since the First Gulf War) have died due to the Gulf War Syndrome. In the US thousands of Gulf War vets have died and over 200,000 were on medical disability as of 2002. Those who authorized 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.
Member of Parliament John McDonnell tabled "Early Day Motion 1289" which "calls on the [UK] 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:
00
49 170 803 1398 Email:
UK Embassy in the US:
British Embassy
3100 Massachusetts Avenue
Washington DC 20008
Tel: (202) 588 7800
Fax: (202) 588 7870
You can find the consulate in the US nearest you on the following webpage:
http://www.britainusa.com/consular/cnsl_loc.aspUK High Commission in Canada:
80 Elgin Street
Ottawa K1P 5K7
Tel: (613) 237 1530
Fax: (613) 237 7980 or (613) 567 8045
Email: generalenquiries@BritaininCanada.org
You can find the consulate in Canada nearest you on the following webpage:
http://www.britainincanada.org/News/BritaininCanada/index.htm
Payday
, a network of men working with the Global Women’s StrikeCONTACT in US:
Eric Gjertsen Tel 215-848-1120
CONTACT in London:
Tel 020 209 4751
Giorgio Riva 07803 789 699
Ben Martin 07957 733 106
28 May 2004