Gulf War veteran on hunger strike

by: Caroline Lauer

Britain: Alexander Izett has reached 40 days of hunger strike to protest against the denial of the Gulf War Syndrome by the British Minister of Defence.But despite his frail health conditions, he has come to testify at the Inquiry into Gulf War Syndrome about its ill health following vaccinations. The inquiry takes place on 12 July 2004 in London.
In 1991, Mr. Izett was given nine vaccinations in 24 hours prior to the Gulf War. Although he never went to the Gulf War, since 1993, aged 23, he has suffered from auto-immune osteoporosis, depression and stomach ulcers. In May 2003, after five years of legal battle he won a war pension ruling, which recognised the link between the vaccinations and his deteriorating health. However, the Ministry of Defence refuses to acknowledge the existence of Gulf War Syndrome.
The inquiry has been criticised for devoting too much time to ‘medical experts’ compared to the time given to veterans and their carers to tell their stories. Mr Izett will testify between 11.30 and 11.50am, a ridiculously short time to give an account of the history of his illnesses and his struggle to get justice.

Source: Refusing to Kil