Appendix 6

 

Manifesto for the release of Professor BANDAJEVSKY and the freedom of research

With the support of :

-          L’Action des Chrétiens pour l’Abolition de la Torture (ACAT) France

-          Les Amis de la Terre.

-          La Commission de Recherche et d’Information Indépendante sur la Radioactivité (CRIIRAD)

-          La Fédération Internationale des ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH)

-          Le Groupement de Scientifiques pour l’Information sur l’Energie Nucléaire (GSIEN)

-          Le Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire

 

Manifesto for the release of Professor BANDAJEVSKY

and the freedom of research

            Since June 2001, Professor Youri Bandajevsky has been imprisoned in Minsk, Belarus. In 1990, Bandajevsky, a doctor and anatomo-pathologist, was appointed as Rector of the Gomel Medical institute in an area seriously contaminated by Chernobyl fall-out. Together with his wife, a paediatrician and cardiologist, Professor Bandajevsky studied the effects of Caesium 137 on children : cardio-vascular diseases, cataract, early ageing etc.. and discovered a quantifiable correlation between the level of corporeal radio-activity and the severity of the symptoms. His findings were published in 1999, at a moment when many would have preferred to turn a blind eye and repopulate the contaminated areas. In his capacity as expert, he criticised the Belarus authorities for the misuse of international funding designed to alleviate the sequels of the catastrophe. Shortly after, he was arrested within the framework of an "antiterrorist" decree ...

            Unfounded charges were then brought against him of having accepted bribes to admit students to his institute. After a trial before a military tribunal, Bandajevsky was sentenced to 8 years' hard labour. During the trial, outside observers reported numerous infringements of the criminal code and the key witness for the prosecution retracted, claiming that he had acted under duress. Bandajevsky was adopted by Amnesty International as a prisoner of opinion.

            We believe however, that in the Bandajevsky case, it was not solely the right to a fair trial that was violated. Independently of what people may think of nuclear energy, what is at stake here is the right to know the truth, the right for scientists to carry out research and communicate their findings and the right of citizens to have access to knowledge without the interference of political and/or economic considerations.

            The independence of all research in the service of mankind is a principle which is just as fundamental as the independence of Justice. Bandajevsky's imprisonment violates both these principles. It is for this reason that we, the signatories, demand the release of Professor Bandajevsky so that he may continue his research in his institute without harassment.      

NAME & First Name                       

                                               SIGNATURE

PROFESSION

ADDRESS                                                                                                                                                        

We invite all scientists, members of the university and citizens who wish to defend these principals:

• to sign this manifesto for the freedom of research and the release of Professor Bandajevsky,

• to promote his nomination as "Honorary citizen" of their town, as Clermont–Ferrand    and Paris have already done,

• to advocate his candidature as "Doctor honoris causa" of their university.

This manifesto will be published in a leading national newspaper before being forwarded to the Belarus government.For further information on the Bandajevsky case:

www.comite-bandajevsky.org

You can sign this petition directly on-line

or return it to : Comité Bandajevsky, 1 Chemin Guilbaud  38.100   GRENOBLE