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A cloud lifts

A cloud lifts The Age Nic Maclellan. 15 June 09 “……………..

On June 5, Fijians like Paul Ah Poy joined British and New Zealand veterans of Britain’s nuclear tests to celebrate an important victory. The High Court in London ruled that their case seeking compensation for health effects from the nuclear tests of the 1950s could proceed against Britain’s Ministry of Defence.

Many soldiers and sailors who witnessed the tests believe they were used as guinea pigs, being exposed to hazardous levels of ionising radiation. Their claim has been ridiculed by the British authorities, who have long played down possible health impacts from the 1950s tests.

Between 1952 and 1957, with the consent of Australian prime minister Robert Menzies, the British government held

12 atomic tests in Australia at the Monte Bello islands, Maralinga and Emu Field.

Then in 1957-58, the tests moved to the central Pacific to develop the British hydrogen bomb……………………………….

While the June 5 High Court ruling was an important victory for the veterans, there is still a long way to go before Britain accepts its responsibility to the survivors of the tests. The Ministry of Defence may appeal against the ruling to delay proceedings further.

High Court Justice David Foskett noted that the claimants were men in their 70s and that further delay would make the trial even more difficult — the ageing cohort of witnesses are slowly dying………………………Justice Foskett’s ruling affects thousands of survivors……………………….documents from the British archives show that one of the purposes of the tests in Australia and the Pacific was to study the human effects of nuclear detonations……………….governments are continually seeking more time to study the matter. For men who were exposed to ionising radiation in the 1950s, time is the one thing that they don’t have……………………..1955-63: Seven major nuclear tests are performed at Maralinga, with yields ranging from one to 27 kilotons.

■ Maralinga site was inhabited by the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara before testing.

A cloud lifts

June 15, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized