HOME OFFICE MAY FACE INQUIRY OVER DIARIES OF DESPAIR
The Guardian reports a major breakthrough
in the Diaries of Despair campaign. MPs from Parliament's Home Affairs
Committee have written to the Home Office to demand answers about
the Diaries of Despair scandal. Uncaged supporters have lobbied
the Committee to great effect, asking the MPs to launch a full inquiry
into damning evidence of biased and illegitimate conduct by the
Home Office, leading to the horrific Imutran experiments at HLS.
The disturbing evidence has inspired the Committee to raise massive
policy issues with the Home Office. For the first time in almost
three years, an official body is embarking on a process that could
see the Home Office's appalling conduct brought to account. The
Committee's letter and questions are based heavily on a memorandum
produced by Dan Lyons, director of Uncaged Campaigns and co-Defendant
in the historic Imutran/Novartis proceedings. The
memorandum sets out the main charges against the Home Office.
Dan Lyons comments:
"We have finally set a process in motion that
could lead to historic changes in how decisions are made over
whether to allow experiments on animals. The lies, collusion and
contempt for the law that lead to terrible suffering in futile
experiments may now be properly investigated.
"For three years we have fought for an independent
inquiry into the damning Diaries of Despair evidence. Now we have
won our legal battle and placed this important information into
the public domain, we have created a unique window of opportunity
for positive change."
The Home Office is expected to respond in the next few months,
and the Committee will decide whether to initiate a full inquiry
once it has considered the Home Office reply, in conjunction with
other relevant evidence.
Action
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94 MPs have already signed EDM 1340, which calls for an independent
inquiry into the Diaries of despair scandal. Please contact
your MP to ask them to sign EDM 1340.
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20 September 2003 is Diaries of Despair Day of Action. Click
here to find out how you can help make a historic impact
in defence of the defenceless...
Uncaged Campaigns, 31 July 2003 |
