Defence asked to probe Agent Orange

Defence asked to probe Agent Orange	20.05.2008
FEDERAL Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has been asked to investigate claims Agent Orange was tested in the north Queensland town of Innisfail during the Vietnam War. The alleged testing of the toxic spray by the army was revealed yesterday after researcher Jean Williams found details of the tests in Australian War Memorial archives. The spraying allegedly happened close to Innisfail`s water supply between 1964 and 1966. Queensland Health has rejected reports cancer rates in Innisfail are 10 times the Queensland average, saying calculations made by the media are incorrect. Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson today reiterated Queensland Health`s findings, but said he had written to Mr Fitzgibbon to request further investigation by the defence department. The people of Innisfail deserve to know if Agent Orange was tested in their town, Mr Robertson said. "Clearly it`s important to address the continuing concerns of the Innisfail community and that`s why I`ve written to the department of defence which is the appropriate agency to tackle any further investigation," Mr Robertson said. Meanwhile, the local council today said it was unable to afford tests to determine whether there are any lasting effects from the alleged spraying. Cassowary Coast Council`s acting chief executive Mark Kelleher said the previous Johnstone Shire Council carried out standard water testing in Innisfail over 15 years, but the cost of testing to identify dioxins in sediment was prohibitive at $1600 per sample. "Therefore council would welcome external dioxin testing of the water supply`s sediment to alleviate residents` concerns on the Agent Orange matter," Mr Kelleher said. Mr Kelleher urged concerned residents to contact the state`s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA said it was seeking more details from the defence department about the alleged testing before it conducted tests in the area. "The EPA is checking with defence about records surrounding these reports and, if advised that chemical trials were undertaken, we will be asking for data they have available to assist with the agency`s assessment of potential risks," an EPA spokeswoman said. Share this article Digg this Post to del.icio.us Post to Newsvine Post to Facebook Add to kwoff
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Of course the requirement for journalists to to obtain accreditation in Zimbabwe is ssooo much different from the requirement for journalists to obtain permission from the local council to cover stories in Aboriginal townships in Australia.We should be outraged about what is happening in Zimbabwe but we also need to clean up our own act.
Posted by: Nigel of NSW 9:17am today

On reading through this report; when is the international community and more-so, the Sth African government go to intervene?
Posted by: Canberra Observer of Brisbane 9:01am today

Big deal, Journalists from foreign countries trying to be law missionaries in another.
Posted by: Geoff of Sydney 8:56am today

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Zimbabwe police arrest foreign journalists
Opposition offices raided, ransacked
Fears Mugabe will fight to stay in power

PARAMILITARY police in riot gear surrounded a Harare hotel early this morning arresting two foreign journalists in what is feared to be the start of a crackdown on opposition to Robert Mugabe.

Up to four journalists were removed from the building, according to a man who answered the phone at the hotel.

The Zimbabwean authorities, which barred most foreign media from covering last weekend`s polls, warned a week ago they would deal severely with any journalists who sneaked into the country and were caught operating illegally.

"I can only confirm that we have arrested two foreign journalists at York Lodge,`` national police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told Agence France-Presse.

"They are being investigated for practicing without accreditation. They were picked up early this evening and taken to police custody.``

Mr Bvudzijena gave no details on either the names or the nationality of those arrested.

New York Times correspondent Barry Bearak was one of the reporters arrested, his newspaper said.

"We do not know where he is being held, or what, if any, charges have been made against him,`` the paper`s executive editor, Bill Keller, said in a statement.

"We are making every effort to ascertain his status, to assure that he is safe and being well treated, and to secure his prompt release.``

It described Bearak as "an experienced and respected professional who has reported from many places. He won a Pulitzer prize in 2002 for his deeply affecting coverage of daily life in war-torn Afghanistan.``

Joel Simon, the executive director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said his organisation was alarmed that journalists had been detained.

"In light of the political situation, it is imperative that all journalists, foreign and domestic, be allowed to work freely."

"We call on authorities to immediately release all journalists currently being held.``

Opposition offices raided

Meanwhile, a top opposition official said police had raided their offices at a Harare hotel in what he called the start of a "crackdown``.

Opposition party secretary-general Tendai Biti told The Associated Press that police raided and ransacked several rooms used by the party at the downtown Meikles hotel. No one was arrested.

"Mugabe has started a crackdown,`` Mr Biti said. "It is quite clear he has unleashed a war.``

Mr Biti said the raid at the Meikles Hotel targeted "certain people ... including myself.``

Opposition Leader Morgan Tsvangirai was "safe`` but had cancelled plans for a news conference, Mr Biti said.

He said the clampdown was a sign of worse to follow, but that the opposition would not go into hiding.

"You can`t hide away from fascism. Zimbabwe is a small country. So we are not going into hiding. We are just going to have to be extra cautious,`` he said.

Election fallout

The situation is tense in the capital as Zimbabweans await to see if President Robert Mugabe has been defeated in his quest for a sixth term.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change claims its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won Saturday`s presidential poll outright.

There has still been no official word on the outcome five days after the ballot, but the election commission announced overnight that the MDC had won control of parliament.

Mugabe`s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front has indicated it is gearing for a second round run-off and has called a meeting of its politburo on Friday to discuss the election outcome.

With AFP / Reuters

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