nuclear-news

NZ Mururoa veterans want compensation

NZ Mururoa veterans want compensation STUFF.CO.NZ 7 jUNE 09 New Zealand veterans exposed to radiation from French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll are hoping the Government will take a lead from a British court judgment and pay them compensation.

Last week the High Court in London announced veterans from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Britain could sue the British Ministry of Defence for compensation for radiation exposure from British nuclear testing in the 1950s.

The High Court clearance came about because of cutting-edge research by New Zealand scientist Dr Al Rowland, who proved the radiation New Zealand sailors were exposed to in the South Pacific and Australia between 1952 and 1958 caused illnesses including cancer and chromosome damage.

Mururoa Veterans Society president Peter Mitchell said today the New Zealand Government should also allow compensation for the New Zealand sailors affected by radiation exposure in 1973.

He said 500 New Zealand sailors were exposed to radiation when the Government sent the frigates Otago and Canterbury to Mururoa to draw world attention to French atmospheric nuclear testing.

The exposure has had lasting effects because they were not told the dangers of being so close to the nuclear explosions he said.

“Nobody told us that many of us, and our children and grandchildren, would subsequently suffer radiation effects”………………………….

The veterans took part in the programme on the Australian mainland, Monte Bello islands and Christmas Island between 1952 and 1958 and have claimed that is the reason they suffer cancer, skin defects and fertility problems………………

Many of them are terminally ill and seven have died since the hearing at London’s High Court in January.

NZ Mururoa veterans want compensation | Stuff.co.nz

June 10, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized