Suppressed WHO Reports on Rise of Cancer and Birth Defects in Iraq. Cover-Up of War Crimes Committed against the Iraqi People

Global Research, Michel Chossudovsky - BMJ, September 14, 2013

An initial WHO study completed in 2004 had documented the impacts of depleted uranium.It was suppressed.

The WHO  has now suppressed a second report undertaken jointly with Iraq’s Ministry of Health.  The joint WHO-MoH study pertained to the prevalence of congenital birth defects. It was scheduled to be released in November 2012.

In suppressing these reports, the WHO is complicit in covering up extensive war crimes committed against the people of Iraq.

Poor reproductive and birth outcomes in Iraq, since the U.S. invasion, have received much global attention (1, 2). A joint study by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Iraqi Ministry of Health (MoH) began in May-June 2012 to look at the prevalence of congenital birth defects in several governorates of Iraq (3) and was scheduled to be released in November 2012 (4).

In March 2013, a BBC documentary, (“Born under a bad sign”), offered a glimpse at the results of the WHO report. A MoH official told the BBC that “All studies done by the Ministry of Health prove with damning evidence that there has been a rise in birth defects and cancers”. Other MoH researchers confirmed that the situation with birth defects constitute a “big crisis” for the “next generation” of Iraqi children (5).

In May and July 2013, researchers petitioned the WHO and MoH to release their report (6, 7). In response, the WHO indefinitely postponed the release of that report.

This turn of events has bewildered many, especially in light of the WHO’s past failure to report similar data adequately. In November 2006 the British Medical Journal published an article entitled “WHO suppressed evidence on effects of depleted uranium (DU), expert says”. (8).

Furthermore, recent revelations by Hans von Sponeck, the former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, suggest that WHO may be susceptible to pressure from its member states. Mr. von Sponeck said that “The US government sought to prevent WHO from surveying areas in southern Iraq where DU had been used and caused serious health and environmental dangers” (9).

Serious study design flaws, principally the WHO’s avoidance of any inquiry into causation of Iraqi birth defects, is also alarming (10). Nevertheless, saving Iraqi children’s lives requires the immediate release of this indefinitely postponed WHO report.

References:

1- Al-Sabbak M, Sadik Ali S, Savabi O, Savabi G, Dastgiri S, Savabieasfahani M. 2012, Metal Contamination and the Epidemic of Congenital Birth Defects in Iraqi Cities. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 89(5): 937–944.

2-Human Rights Now, 2013, “Innocent New Lives are Still Dying and Suffering Report of a Fact Finding Mission on congenital birth defects in Fallujah, Iraq in 2013” http://www.brussellstribunal.org/article_view.asp?id=1016#.UggHoJIsltk

3- World Health Organization, Congenital birth defect study in Iraq: frequently asked questions: http://www.emro.who.int/irq/iraq-infocus/faq-congenital-birth-defect-study…

4- Morrison, S. (2012, October 14). Iraq records huge rise in birth defects. The Independent U.K.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/…

5-BBC News “Our World”, Born Under a Bad Sign. Duration 30 minutes. Produced by Yalda Hakim and Melanie Marshall. Aired on Sunday 24 Mar, 2013. Web address:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W5TvnYaeN4

6- A Call to Release the WHO Report on Iraqi Birth Defects. Saturday 18 May, 2013. Multiple authors. Web address:

http://www.zcommunications.org/a-call-to-release-the-who-report-on-iraqi…

7- To the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Iraqi Ministry of Health: (New signatures added). Tuesday 30 July, 2013. Multiple authors. Web address:

http://www.zcommunications.org/to-the-world-health-organization-who-and-…

8- BMJ 2006; 333:990.2 “WHO suppressed evidence on effects of depleted uranium, expert says.”

9- Pilger, J. (2013, May 26). We’ve moved on from the Iraq war – but Iraqis don’t have that choice. The Guardian U.K.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/26/iraqis-cant-turn-ba…

10- Chowdhury, S. (2013, Jul 17) WHO’s Iraq Birth Defect Study Omits Causation. Inter Press Service News Agency.

http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/07/whos-iraq-birth-defect-study-omits-causatio/

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‘Stop backstreet abortions: change the law’

RNW, 19 January 2012 , by Maike Winters     

(Photo: Urban don)

Millions of desperate women around the world still end unplanned pregnancies by resorting to backstreet abortions or knitting needles. Worldwide the number of unsafe abortions has risen, a recent study found. The majority of abortions in Africa and Latin America are unsafe. Legalising abortion is the way to save lives, says Women on Waves, a Dutch organisation that campaigns for safe abortion.

Around the world, 43.9 million abortions were carried out in 2008. Almost half of them took place in unsafe conditions, according to research by the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The total number of abortions has stabilised.

Knitting needles

Rebecca Gomperts of Women on Waves works to provide safe abortions for women in parts of the world where abortion is outlawed. The rise in the number of unsafe abortions doesn’t surprise her. “Particularly in countries where abortion is illegal the procedure is carried out unsafely,” she says. “Unsafely means that women do it themselves by jumping down the stairs, or using knitting needles, or going to someone who’s had no training. But not every illegal abortion is necessarily unsafe.”

For example, abortion can be induced safely by a woman herself using the drug Misoprostol, says Gomperts. “The pills were used to prevent stomach ulcers. But because the authorities now know that Misoprostol can be used for other purposes, women in Thailand, Brazil and the Philippines, for instance, haven’t been able to get them for the past couple of years. Because of that there’s been an increase in the number of unsafe abortions in these countries.”

Complications

One in eight women who undergo an unsafe abortion die, according to WHO figures, and 8.5 million women a year are left requiring medical treatment. Gabie Raven of the Dutch Society of Abortion Doctors has seen it happen in practice. “I’ve worked in Africa myself and if you see the way they go to work with herbs and pots and pans to induce an abortion, it’s obviously unsafe. It’s something that’s always happened. But I’m surprised there’s been no improvement.”

Eight out of ten women in developing countries face strict laws against abortion. Because of the illegality, Gabie Raven says, many abortions take place in dangerous settings. “Even if someone’s trained to do abortions, there’s always a chance of complications. In the Netherlands we’re prepared for it, but with a backstreet abortion it’s a different story.”

Information

Legalisation is essential to stop the number of unsafe abortions from continuing to rise, Gomperts says. “It’s extremely important that abortion is legalised. But that’s a hard thing to achieve. In countries where it’s illegal, you first have to provide women with good information on how they can induce an abortion safely themselves using pills.”

Good information on contraception is also needed to bring down the number of unplanned pregnancies. Dutch Deputy Development Cooperation Minister Ben Knapen sees a role in this for the Dutch government. “More than in other countries, we talk about sensitive matters like abortion and sexuality without taboos. I’ve made sexual health one of my priorities to enable girls and women to make their own choices about reproduction and sexuality. We know that this leads to a fall in unplanned pregnancies, abortions, and maternal mortality.”

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"Recalibration of Knowledge" – Jan 14, 2012 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Channelling, God-Creator, Benevolent Design, New Energy, Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Reincarnation, Gaia, Old Energies (Africa,Terrorists, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela ... ), Weather, Rejuvenation, Akash, Nicolas Tesla / Einstein, Cold Fusion, Magnetics, Lemuria, Atomic Structure (Electrons, Particles, Polarity, Self Balancing, Magnetism, Higgs Boson), Entanglement, "Life is necessary for a Universe to exist and not the other way around", DNA, Humans (Baby getting ready, First Breath, Stem Cells, Embryonic Stem Cells, Rejuvenation), Global Unity, ... etc.) - (Text Version)

"... I want to define life for you - not biological life, but spiritual life. So for all those intellectuals, just hold on, for many won't like this. Spiritual life, as measured by Spirit, is when a Human has free choice. When is that? It's when they take their first breath. Not in utero. There will be those who will say, "That's wrong, that's wrong. The soul in the woman's body is alive!" Just wait. I'm talking about spiritually. That which Spirit sees, and it's when you come from the other side of the veil and take your first breath.

A child with the mother has no free choice. That child is linked to the choice of the mother until it is born. It is, indeed, a soul in preparation for free choice, and there are many attributes that are spiritual that we have discussed before about how that soul reacts. But now I'm discussing life with polarity [duality], free choice. ..."

Indonesia steps up efforts to combat drugs from overseas: anti-drug officer

English.news.cn, by Cundoko Aprilianto, June 21, 2011

JAKARTA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is stepping up efforts to combat incoming drugs from other countries and is increasing cooperation with international anti-drugs bodies, a senior police officer told Xinhua in an interview.

Sen. Comm. Dr. Victor Pudjiadi, deputy for prevention and rehabilitation at the National Anti-Drugs Board, said that foreign drugs dealers from African, European and Asian countries come to Indonesia under disguise and they usually bring drugs in big quantity.

According to Pudjiadi, some international airports in Indonesia now have advanced equipment to detect drugs. "Thanks to the equipment, we have uncovered drugs hidden in drugs dealers' stomach. With the equipment, we can arrest drugs dealers with enough evidence," said Pudjiadi.

He said that in the past, police could not uncover drugs that were hidden in stomach as metal detector did not function to detect the drugs. "So, if they hide the drugs inside their stomach, they will pass the examination," said Pudjiadi.

He also said his organization cooperates with foreign counterparts to share information and capture escaping drugs.

"Whenever drugs dealer suspects escape to other countries, we report to our colleagues overseas. With their help, we can trace drugs dealers wherever they run," said Pudjiadi.

He said success rate of such cooperation is high, but he declined to share any figure.

Responding to critics of increasing number of drugs usage in Indonesia, Pudjiadi said that it looks the number increases whereas the fact is that the number of uncovered case increases.

"That makes the number of drugs usage gets higher even though we are active in socializing anti-drugs campaign. Besides, public awareness also gets higher to report drugs cases to authorities. In the past, many people did not report such case in their family as they were ashamed," he said.

He said that current data of almost four million drugs addicts in Indonesia is just the peak of iceberg. "I believe the actual number is higher," he said.

Editor: An

Bali to build int’l standard hospital

The Jakarta Post | Fri, 11/26/2010 10:52 AM

The Bali administration announced plans to develop an international-standard hospital in Sanur to cater to local and foreign visitors.

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said Thursday that his administration was conducting a comprehensive feasibility study on the construction.

“We have allocated Rp 4 billion [US$446,000] from the 2011 provincial budget to plan and design the project,” he said, adding that an additional Rp 100 billion from the 2012 budget would be used for the construction.

“We expect to complete the project by 2013 when Bali hosts the APEC meeting,” Pastika added.

The hospital, which the administration claims would feature high-tech facilities, would be built on 3.4 hectares in Sanur.

“Bali is an international tourist destination. We have to provide excellent healthcare services for our guests. Visitors may be able to spend their holidays while also having medical check-ups done here,” Pastika said.

There are a number of so-called “international” hospitals in Denpasar despite the Health Ministry’s ban on using the word “international” in the names of the hospitals.

In addition to an international hospital, the local government also announced plans to build another hospital for patients covered by Bali Mandara Healthcare Insurance.

The scheme is a free healthcare program for Balinese residents across all eight regencies and one municipality. The program began in 2009 using Rp 181 billion in funds from the local budget.

The scheme allows residents to get free medical treatment at Denpasar’s Sanglah General Hospital and a number of other hospitals.

Pastika said profits from the operation of the planned international hospital would be used to fund the Bali Mandara hospital.

Karyasa Adnyana, the deputy chairman of the Bali Legislative Council’s Commission IV, said he fully supported the idea of a “cross-subsidy”.

“The development of an international-standard hospital will certainly enhance the image of Bali as a world-class tourist destination. Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia have been doing this for a long time,” he added.

Adnyana said the construction of the two hospitals would be funded by the provincial budget, and that therefore the administration had to be cautious in using public money. “We hope the money is spent in a transparent manner.”

— JP/Ni Komang Erviani

RI admits lack of cooperation with Saudi over migrant workers

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/22/2010 9:54 AM

The Indonesian government has admitted it proposed but never signed a draft of a memorandum of understanding intended to improve protection for Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, a top official says.

Manpower and Transmigration Ministry Secretary-General Setyoko said Sunday that Indonesia had a long time ago proposed a legal basis to guarantee protection for Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

“We proposed the MoU a long time ago. But, the agreement requires the political will from both parties to sit together and cooperate,” Setyoko said as quoted by Tempointeraktif.com.

Setyoko declined to comment on why both Indonesian and Saudi Arabian had not signed the agreement.

“We keep trying to use our diplomatic channels to talk about the issue. We are still waiting for the outcome of the talks,” he said.

“We will also invite the Saudi Arabian manpower ministry to discuss the draft of the agreement as soon as possible,” he added.

More than 4,300 Indonesian migrant workers were currently facing hardship, ranging from illness to sexual abuse, the Indonesian government said earlier.

That number constitutes 0.1 percent of the total 3.27 million Indonesian migrant workers worldwide.

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Clinic promotes one-stop service to attract wealthy patients

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In a bid to attract wealthy patients, state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) started a new program Friday -- an integrated, one-stop infertility and endocrinology reproduction service.

Four-year-old Yasmin Clinic at RSCM hospital intended the new concept to offer friendly, quick service to patients, said clinic head Andon Hestiantoro at a re-opening event.

"Many wealthy patients go to Singapore and Malaysia because they enjoy quick and friendly service."

He suggested the level of service could be made available in Indonesia. "Here, people would not have to spend much time waiting for the treatment."

He acknowledged the hospital, along with other state-owned hospitals in the country, had received complaints.

"Opening this service means we have to meet the challenge of doing everything professionally," he told a press conference.

Data from the Singapore Tourism Board showed that more than 400,000 people, including many Indonesians, visited Singapore in 2006 for medical reasons.

Andon said the clinic would offer the entire wide range of care through its six units ---infertility, polycistic ovarium syndrome, endometriosis, menstruation and menopause, repeated miscarriages, and adolescent gynecology.

He added Yasmin Clinic would have 12 specialists including pediatricians, internists, psychologists and nutritionists.

Andon said the clinic would have an invitro fertilization technology center, an X-ray unit and a special patient parking lot.

According to Andon, after opening the first time Yasmin determined administrative reorganization was necessary to provide the health care demanded by patients.

He said doctors had been too busy with activities outside the hospital and non-medical staffers unable to make up the shortfall.

"Some doctors (who lecture at University of Indonesia) find it difficult to arrange appointments with patients as they have tight teaching schedules."

He acknowledged that non-medical staffers -- receptionists, security guards, nurses, and janitors -- had sometimes provided unsatisfactory service in the past.

"Sometimes they are not friendly or fast enough."

Most of patients come to Yasmin because of issues related to menstruation and infertility.

The clinic also deals with many married couples who have infertility problems and might choose to have insemination or invitro fertilization.

"In the past four years, we recorded a successful pregnancy rate of 42.9 percent," Andon said.

The clinic charges from Rp 35 million (US$3,723) to Rp 55 million for invitro fertilization, while a couple would have to pay about Rp 2.5 million for an insemination.(ewd)

Australian investors interested in building retirement village in Bali

Brisbane (ANTARA News) - Some Australian investors are interested in doing business in Indonesia`s popular island resort of Bali where they can build an international hospital, a retirement village for Australian pensioners, and a luxurious cruiser pier, an Indonesian diplomat has said.

Some Australian investors hoped that they needed some 25 hectares of land on which to realize their project, Minister Counselor at the Indonesian Consulate General Jahar Gustom said here Sunday.

According to Gultom, the investors of the retirement village were still negotiating their plan with the Karangasem district administration.

"Many Australian investors are waiting for an opportunity to do business in Bali, but they had problems in obtaining land," he said.

The Australian entrepreneurs` hope grew after the Indonesian Consulate General held an annual Indonesian festival starting in 2005, he said. Bilateral trade between Indonesia and the Australian

State of Victoria also increased following the annual Indonesian trade exhibitions.

The bilateral trade value was recorded at 1.47 billion Australian dollars in 2006, an increase from 1.22 billion Australian dollars in 2005.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne is scheduled to hold a similar festival on November 9-11, focusing on Sulawesi potentials. The exhibitions which were held in 2005 and 2006 focused on Bali and Sumatra potentials respectively.

Provinces outside Sulawesi like Yogyakarta, Bali, West Sumatra, North Sumatra, West Java, DKI Jakarta, Central Kalimantan, Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and Central Sulawesi will also participated in the trade festival.

Bank Indonesia, state banks like BRI and BNI as well as flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia will support the exhibition.