Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog

Photo by Ashley Cooper

Fit for work? DWP might think so…

In July 2010, haemophilia campaigners Carol Grayson and Colette Wintle met with Anne Milton at the then Department of Health (DOH) now Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to discuss “gender justice” in relation to females with a bleeding disorder given contaminated blood and the partners and carers who looked after those infected.

During the meeting they asked that Contaminated Blood victims and their partners bereaved widows/widowers now often in ill health themselves through years of 24/7 caring for loved ones (often unsupported) not be put through continued Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) reassessment for sickness and disability benefits. They also asked for passporting regarding benefits to avoid an unnecessary and stressful assessment process. As they pointed out,

It is important to note that haemophiliacs and partners in ill health were forced out of work due to Contaminated Blood and being harmed BY the state indeed David Cameron apologised for something, “which should not have happened” and Andrew Lansley recognized the “harm” and “distress” caused to victims.

So why add to that distress? DWP assessments are declared by many MPs and disability rights campaigners as “not fit for purpose” and in the case of Contaminated Blood victims often retraumatize them during the assessment process.

Minutes related to this issue were taking during the meeting with Milton whose office recently gave permission to use the minute which reads as follows.

“CW (which is Colette Wintle) asked the minister (Anne Milton) why the Department of Work and Pensions are still targeting haemophiliacs, for repeated assessment for their entitlement to incapacity and other benefits. The Minister agreed that infected haemophiliacs and affected partners and widows should not be forced to fill in inappropriately worded forms or be subjected to physical examinations to prove entitlement.

CW pointed out that this group should be exempted by the DWP, because the recipients of long term  benefits are already  known to the DOH and DWP. The Minister has asked YF (Yemi Fegin) to contact the DWP  to ensure this is stopped”

Work Capability Assessments (WCA) have not stopped and victims continue to be retraumatized during an inhumane process often carried out by assessors not qualified in the relevant area of health affecting the claimant.

A former DWP assessor (now whistle blower) told Grayson that he was trained as a physiotherapist but was still expected to assess those with mental health problems outside his area of expertise and because he was not appropriately qualified he and other workers were googling psychiatric conditions 5 minutes before the claimant arrived. He said he felt completely out of his depth and became ill himself worrying about the harm caused to claimants through inappropriate assessments. He reported many other DWP assessors felt the same way.

Recently the following statement was made by Ruth Wakeman, the NMC’s (Nursing and Midwifery Council) Deputy Director of Education and Standards regarding DWP assessments,

“The NMC is clear that all nurses, midwives and nursing associates, must work within the limits of their competence. They must also complete any necessary training before carrying out a new role.

If there are any concerns about an individual’s practise these can be raised with the NMC. We can then investigate, and where necessary, take the appropriate regulatory action.”

A recent phone call made to the NMC confirmed they would investigate claims where this is happening.

What is the point for example in a nurse training for 3 years for a basic mental health qualification Registered Mental Nurse (RMN) and then undertaking further training in a specialist area if an untrained person can assess someone with chronic mental health issues including conditions such as PTSD which is a specialist area within mental health.

Welfare rights officers have witnessed assessors lying, falsifying reports and ignoring key medical evidence but despite complaints submitted no -one is held to account.  Watching TV, owning a pet, the weight of a handbag that a person carries are viewed as signs that a person is capable of working. Some tactics are observed to be repeatedly used to block claimants getting the financial assistance they need. One example is telling an asthmatic blowing into a peak flow meter that they have a “poor technique” when their GP states they have an “excellent technique” and reglarly score very low readings down to 30.

Contaminated blood victims are finding answers have been written to questions they were never even asked in the first place. How can that be right? Letters are received stating the DWP have all the information required BEFORE it has even been posted! There is now written evidence that having a lawyer and taking part in the Infected Blood Inquiry is being used against Contaminated Blood victims in assessment reports as signs of “fitness to work”. It is likely that travelling to give evidence will be viewed in the same way. This is cruel and inhumane, after all victims have suffered in ill health for decades now whilst also dealing with an alleged government cover-up.

It is in the interests of the DWP to force claimants back to work as government do not want to financially recognize years of harm and damage caused by the state so far refusing to compensate victims of the Contaminated Blood scandal.

Forcing sick and dying people back to work is an extremely dangerous practice putting both them and their colleagues at risk and may contravene the Health and Safety at work Act.

Back in October 2017 the DWP formed a working group with infected and affected persons (Contaminated Blood) but have largely ignored how to improve assessment in key areas of health such as the impact of living with HIV and hepatitis C plus mental health conditions focusing only on haemarthropathy, (a severe type of arthritis caused by bleeding into the joints due to haemophilia) see following link,

Click to access 2018-06-19-Haemarthropathy-Exercise-Information-Note.pdf

Haemarthropathy is important but it is HIV and hepatitis C infection that are killing haemophiliacs not haemarthropathy and these conditions are being sidelined along with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Grayson resigned in protest at the lack of transparency and openness and failure to address key issues important to Contaminated Blood victims. It seemed the meetings were little more than a token gesture to get endorsement on only what DWP wanted to achieve. Minutes did not accurately reflect the content of the meeting and corections to minutes were not accepted. Campaigners are concerned that government are now using the issue of reassessment to punish those that spoke out and note reference to the resignation was brought up in a recent letter from Amber Rudd (DWP) to Grayson’s MP Nick Brown.  

DWP reassments are leading to claimants being taking off benefits, losing money and having to undergo a gruelling appeal system which can last months and in one case led to a widow being left on nil income for 6 months unable to buy food or pay bills as highlighted in Private Eye. It was left to another contaminated blood victim also on benefits to send food vouchers as there was no money for the bus fair to travel to the nearest food bank. Trussel Trust food banks distributed 1.6 million food parcels last year (up 18.8% on the previous year) many to those whose benefits were reduced or stopped altogether through sanctions.

The haemophilia widow eventually won her appeal for the 2nd time but the stress caused during this time was noted by her GP and other professionals to have significantly worsened her health. 

Independent Living website produced the following showing that PIP and ESA appeal success was the highest ever highlighting that the current system is extremely flawed to be failing so many sick and disabled persons, as follows:-

The Tribunals Service statistics show that claimants are winning PIP and ESA appeals at the highest rate ever recorded.

Overall, an extraordinary 70% of social security appeals are successful, with the claimant getting a better award than they originally received from the DWP.

Success rates for individual benefits:

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 74%
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 73%
• Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) 66%
• Universal Credit (UC) 58%

This is an increase in successful appeals of 4% for PIP compared with the year before, and 5 percent for ESA.

End

The Tories have admitted that 7,990 people died within 6 months of being rejected for PIP, since 2013.

This week Laura Pidcock MP for North West Durham secured a debate on WCA in Westminster Hall calling for it to be scapped. It was noted that not one Tory MP bothered to turn up for the debate.

As Rights Info (a human rights website founded by lawyer Adam Wagner) noted,

In some cases, like that of Stephen Smith, these unwell people end up fighting with the Department of Work and Pensions from their deathbed. In other cases, they see no other route and decide to take their own life.

“Literally taking money from people who are disabled, unwell or dying and what are the worst consequences of this system? The ultimate result of this brutality? Jodie Whiten took her life 15 days after the DWP stopped her benefits for missing a work capability assessment when she was seriously ill. 

These are the real-life tragedies of a broken system.

Laura Pidcock, MP North West Durham

The Stephen Smith case caused public outrage, ITV stated,

“While in hospital being treated for pneumonia, an emaciated, six-stone Mr Smith (now deceased) had to discharge himself from hospital in January to attend a tribunal to overturn the DWP’s decision.

After his case made headlines, the DWP apologised and agreed to issue back payments of more £4,000 to Mr Smith, the benefits he should have received.”

The refunded money is now being used to pay for his funeral. The Liverpool Echo noted that Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions refused to comment on the appalling treatment of Stephen Smith calling it an “opperational matter”.

A series of questions have been submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and to the DWP by Grayson on assessment of those within the haemophilia community. The DOH were also asked if they would release documents under Freedom of Information (FOI) relating to the 2010 meeting with Anne Milton. The following was stated, “DHSC may hold information relevant to your request. However to comply with your request as it is currently framed would exeed the cost limit as set out in Section 12 (1) of FOIA.”. It was also stated that,

“As outlined in the report of the Department’s review into the support available to those affected by infected blood published in early 2011, the issue of exemption from Work Capability Assessment was raised during a House of Commons backbench debate on 14th October 2010 (point 1.4). Points 10.6 to 10.9 also refer: 10.9 ‘The Review considered exemption from the WCA for this patient group with the DWP. However the DWP have confirmed that individuals infected with HIV and /or Hepatitis C by NHS-supplied blood transfusion or blood products will not be granted exemption from the WCA, given that WCA is based on the principle that a health condition should not automatically be regarded as a barrier to work.”

Many of those infected are now dead and the answer above shows that PTSD in the haemophilia community was not even given consideration though since then a legal ruling now requires that PTSD regarded as a mental health issue (though often with physical symptoms) is given equal consideration with other health conditions.

This statement is a betrayal of the commitment made by Anne Milton to Grayson and Wintle in 2010 that reassessments would stop and pressure must be put on the government to honour this commitment. Once again the haemophilia community has been let down by government that has admitted to the harm and distress caused to those infected and affected on which they based only ex-gratia payments as opposed to the  proper compensation pay-outs provided in Eire.

The government is once again adding insult to injury towards a now aging infected and affected haemophilia community. In addition some partners and widows, women born in the 1950s) have also been shafted with their pensions, losing thousands of pounds as the state pension age was raised from 60 to 65 without given them time to plan ahead, another legal case pending! In the case of haemophilia widows/partners they could not do so anyway due to their extremely limited income, many having been forced out of work due to ill health as with Wintle or in the case of Grayson having to give up work to care for her husband and now also in ill-health.

Government ministers are often cold, showing little empathy towards Contaminated Blood victims. One former MP told Wintle, the worst meeting of his political career was with Andrew Lansley who allegedly stated he did not want the haemophilia community to get a penny more. On the other hand it is interesting to note that Boris Johnson ex -foreign secretary received more for two speeches (over £160,000) than most haemophiliacs received for being infected with multiple life-threatening viruses that devastated their lives! Politicians current and former love to rake in the money as we saw with the many false expenses claims whilst at the same time begrudging the haemophilia community even the most basic of benefits let alone proper compensation.

The following questions were put to the DHSC under FOI

1) How many infected haemophiliacs given contaminated blood or affected partners, widows/widowers have been reassessed for sickness and disability benefits since 2010 including ESA and PIP.

2) How many had to appeal their cases?

3) How many won at appeal?

4) How many won more than one appeal?

5) How many were compensated for their distress after winning an appeal?

An answer was received from Dorothy Crowe Freedom of Information officer it read, “DHSC holds no information relevant to your request”.

The same questions have now been put to the DWP.

The following questions have been submitted to both DOH and DWP and are now awaiting a response,

1) To ask the DWP, what research has been carried out specifically regarding PTSD in bereaved partners of haemophiliacs given contaminated blood and how many are affected?

2) What assessment has been made of the damage caused to the bereaved partners of haemophiliacs now suffering from PTSD and the impact of repeated DWP assessments in relation to retraumatizing victims?

3) What assessment has been made of the impact of DWP assessing bereaved partners of haemophiliacs in terms of failure to provide appropriately qualified assessors that have at least 3 years minimum mental health training? (PTSD is a specialist area within mental health and assessing fitness for work is not possible without understanding how PTSD including complex PTSD over many years impacts on carrying out daily tasks). I write as someone who previously trained and worked for years in mental health and worked at sister level.

4) What assessment has been carried out regarding the importance of compensating partners of haemophiliacs that now suffer from PTSD and have been unable to work for years as a result of this condition just as they have been compensated in Eire?

It is anticipated that the answers will show little or no consideration has been made regarding the impact of PTSD which over a long period can develop into complex PTSD as individuals are repeatedly exposed to harm and distress.

Regarding the continued assessment of haemophiliacs and their partners, and the commitment made by Anne Milton in 2010, the following questions have now been submitted to Amber Rudd

1) Under Freedom of Information will the DWP advise what action was taking following the meeting with Anne Milton to honour the commitment and ensure reassessments for infected haemophiliacs and their partners many also now suffering chronic health problems from years of caring stopped?

2) Will the DWP now issue an apology to all those within the haemophilia contaminated blood community that have been reassessed and retraumatised since 2010 and ensure their benefits are reinstated if changes have been made causing them enormous additional stress, further harm and loss of money since that date. Lawyers for haemophiliacs have the full minutes and we have permission from Anne Milton’s office to use the minute.

3) To ask the DWP if they are aware that in Eire family members of haemophilia contaminated blood victims have been compensated for PTSD? What does the DWP intend to do to ensure victims are fully compensated in the UK and to educate DWP staff regarding victims living with this condition and now participating in the Infected Blood Inquiry so that staff do not continue to cause unnecessary trauma and abuse?

The response is awaited, don’t hold your breath… it is fully expected haemophiliacs will be shafted and betrayed by the government once again!

What is disturbing is that long standing campaigners of 30 years and are being repeatedly left out of meetings with the DHSC and DWP and far too often those negotiating for haemophiliacs are neither infected nor affected and clueless to the reality of their daily lives. An FOI showed that government did not even have an accurate list of haemophilia campaign groups or date they were set up with some ommitted from the list entirely… incompetence or by design?

Despite lawyers writing several letters to the Infected Blood Inquiry on the distress caused by DWP assessments and phone calls made to the Red Cross helpline set up to support victims, so far the Inquiry has been silent on this issue.

However government beware, there is a rising anger amongst disability rights activists who are now joining climate change protesters with more direct action expected on the streets and further legal challenges already being considered.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She was a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate April 19th 2019

An intra-Afghan conference was scheduled to take place on the 20^th and 21^st April in the Qatari capital of Doha but has now been cancelled.

We deem it necessary to make the following clarification:

1 – A decision was made during the Moscow conference on 6^th of February that a similar conference will again be held in Qatar.

The Islamic Emirate is still committed to that policy and pledge of an identical conference being held; rather the Islamic Emirate went a step further by agreeing to allow an even larger number of male and female compatriots to attend when compared to the Moscow conference.

It was agreed that all participants of the conference shall declare their own personal views regarding the Afghan issue however the Kabul administration officials launched efforts to introduce this conference as a negotiation’s meetings between the Kabul administration and the Islamic Emirate, a position in conflict with the policy of the conference.

2 – All participants attended the Moscow conference in a personal capacity and the upcoming Qatar conference was also planned with similar guidelines from the very first day.

Both the hosts of the conference and Qatar made it clear and even stipulated this point in the invitation letters that all individuals shall partake in personal capacity but the head of Kabul administration (Ashraf Ghani and another official Umar Daudzai) repeatedly held press conferences and declared that members selected by them shall participate as representatives of the Kabul administration, a clear attempt at sabotaging this conference and peace efforts.

3 – Just as all the arrangements for the conference were finalized, the Kabul administration officials launched their own bizarre meetings inside the Arg palace, announcing their red lines and conditions, claiming host status for the conference, filing and publicizing a participant list not only ill-suited for the conference site and situation but also having not chance of being accepted. And the strangest of all was the publication of this list before even sharing or reaching an understanding or agreement with the conference hosts, deliberately creating turmoil.

4 – At a time when the policy of the Islamic Emirate is absolutely clear that the initial stage of the negotiations process shall resolve the foreign aspect of the issue – meaning the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan as dialogue with the powerless and crumbling Kabul administration is a waste of time.

But even with this policy, over thirty Kabul administration peace council and other officials were accommodated in the Qatar conference and majority of the list was comprised of current and former members and supporters of the Kabul administration partaking in a personal capacity whereas only twenty five members of the Islamic Emirate were to be part of the conference. Yet the Kabul administration still insisted on a 250 member lopsided list which was an inappropriate undertaking.

5 – The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reassures its oppressed nation and the world that the Islamic Emirate has made use of absolute patience. The Political Office and Negotiation Team headed by the respected Mullah Baradar Akhund worked day and night, exercised self-restraint and showed flexibility in policy to the highest level; but since Kabul administration officials and secret circles created obstacles for this effort therefore its responsibility also falls upon their shoulders. The Help of Allah and support of nation shall remain with us and the enemies of peace shall themselves come to understand that they miscalculated and were wrong.

6 – In the end we thank all individuals and parties especially the distinguished Qatari officials, officials of Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies and sincere peace activities inside the country who aided in this process and tried their best till the very end, may Allah (SwT) reward them for their efforts, specifically those who prepared themselves for the conference. Those eminent personalities who went to Kabul from adjacent provinces and some who even arrived at Doha, we show our utmost appreciation for all their efforts and hope for further resolve in their future efforts.

The Islamic Emirate shall continue its legitimate struggle until true peace prevails and an intra-Afghan Islamic system is established, Allah willing.

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Zabihullah Mujahid

14/08/1440 Hijri Lunar

30/01/1398 Hijri Solar                  19/04/2019 Gregorian

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She was a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate Afghanistan April 13th 2019

Yesterday the Islamic Emirate announced its spring operations to uproot occupation, attain sovereignty and establish an Islamic system.

Following the announcement, the military commander of American forces in Afghanistan Scott Miller and Special Representative of the State Department Zalmay Khalilzad showed a strong reaction to the Islamic Emirate’s operation and called it reckless.

They must understand that this war has been imposed upon us by you.

Defending one’s life, wealth, honor, country, religion and frontiers is the legal right of every nation and human society, and Afghans specifically are extremely sensitive and distinct than to any other nation in the world in this matter.

We also wish to remind them that in every meeting during the previous five rounds of talks, the negotiation team of the Islamic Emirate proposed that civilian casualties must be avoided. Your night raids and bombings that mostly abduct and martyr defenseless Afghan women, children, elders and students of schools, madaris and universities must be halted however it was you who ignored those proposals.

Khalilzad and Miller are expressing sensitivity to our Jihad and defense while simultaneously supporting the operations declared by the Kabul administration.

They must end their crimes against humanity by realizing their own responsibilities. Over the past nine months, the American invaders have raided the homes of Afghans every night and martyred countless sleeping women, children and elders or taken them as captives. Bombs are rained across the country every day, homes, mosques, madaris, schools and clinics destroyed and according to their own admission, 7000 bombs have been dropped on our homeland during this short period.

Hence real recklessness and inhumane actions are these war crimes and crimes against humanity and not the Afghan resistance, defense and Jihad.

We condemn remarks by Khalilzad and Miller, turn their attention to answering for their own actions and consider their remarks regarding the ongoing Jihadi operations as inappropriate.

We also want to clarify that we are committed to the ongoing negotiations process and a peaceful resolution but cannot remain indifferent to the military operations and ongoing crimes of the invaders and their internal supporters.

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Zabihullah Mujahid

08/08/1438 Hijri Lunar

24/01/1398 Hijri Solar                   13/04/2019 Gregorian

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She was a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate Afghanistan April 12th 2019

Allah (SwT) says: Verily, We have given you a manifest victory… and Allah (SwT) says: March forth, whether you are light or heavy, strive hard with your wealth and lives in the cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew. (At-Taubah: 41)

Our believing countrymen and Mujahid brothers!

Armed Jihad has been ongoing against the foreign invaders and their supporters for the past eighteen years in our homeland Afghanistan.

This Jihadi struggle is yet another proud chapter in the history of Islam and Afghanistan that guarantees the welfare, values, sovereignty and honor of our future generations and holds the keys to our spiritual survival.

If our nation had desisted from raising their Jihadi swords against the British, Soviets and current American invaders, today we would have also been like other colonized nations deprived of honor and self-determination and our future generations would have been led astray and alien to our own faith. But it is the Divine Mercy of Allah (SwT) on our people that He bestowed success upon us in these testing times, blessed our nation with the strength to combat and resist the invaders and rescued us from everlasting spiritual decline and downfall.

Mujahid Countrymen!

Our Jihadi obligation has not yet ended. Even as large parts of our homeland have been freed from the enemy yet the foreign occupying forces continue exercising military and political influence in our Islamic country. They not only maintain political control of our homeland but daily bomb our fellow countrymen from large military bases, carry out raids with the aid of their domestic mercenaries, inflict human and material losses and oppress our people in a multitude of ways.

Moreover, they used the Kabul administration to continue killing Afghans, extending occupation and preventing an Islamic system by announcing Khalid military operations on 1^st Hammal 1398 (Hijri Solar). This itself bears testimony that the enemy still seeks to attain its malicious objectives through the use of force and is creating artificial barriers for a complete Islamic system.

As defending one’s religion, homeland, life, property and honor is compulsory and complete independence of an Islamic country from the clutches of foreign occupation a Jihadi obligation hence for the fulfillment of this responsibility, the Islamic Emirate declares Al-Fath Jihadi Operations with the arrival of the new solar year and draws attention to the following points:

– Orders of coordinated launch of Al-Fath Operations throughout the country have been given and as intentions are the basis of all worship, all Mujahideen brothers are requested to launch the Jihadi Operation with complete sincerity and pure intentions. Your objective should solely be for gaining the pleasure of Allah (SwT) by eradicating occupation, cleansing our Muslim homeland from invasion and corruption, establishing an Islamic system along with defending and serving our believing fellow countrymen.

– Mujahideen are required to observe the principles of obedience during Al-Fath Operations. Your Jihadi actions should conform to Jihadi rule books and in the light of guidance of your superiors. All decrees and recommendations issued by the Military Commission and other related departments of the Islamic Emirate should be strongly adhered to, be they related to daily Jihadi activities or other affairs such as prevention of civilian casualties, precautionary measures, regulations, internal-coordination and ethics.

– As (all praise belongs to Allah) the Mujahideen possess unbreakable Jihadi determination and benefit from armed experience, new tactics, public support, influence inside enemy ranks and advanced weapons therefore we are hopeful that with Help from Allah (SwT), large areas including townships and other centers shall be cleansed from enemy presence. Mujahideen brothers must protect themselves from treachery, theft, treason and other prohibited actions in Jihadi affairs. Protecting lives and property of fellow countrymen and guarding public reserves and welfare projects are also part of your responsibilities.

– A key part of Al-Fath Operations is peeling away of countrymen serving in the military ranks of army, police and militias and being used by invaders for their own objectives. The Islamic Emirate prefers that they protect their lives and wealth by joining the ranks of truth (Islamic Emirate) instead of dying in the ranks of falsehood. On this basis we again call on troops working in enemy ranks to shun senseless hostility and futile resistance, to join the Mujahideen and gain guarantees of safeguarding life and wealth.

– To end we call on our Mujahideen brothers to inaugurate Al-Fath Operations with complete seriousness, sincerity, trust, lofty resolve and high spirits and heal the hearts of the believers yearning for peace and an Islamic system with waves of spirit-raising conquests. Understand that we are followers of truth and Al-Fath (Victory) is always bestowed upon the truthful. Keeping in mind the promises of Allah (SwT), the day is near that the Jihadi aspirations of our martyrs, wounded, prisoners, migrants and oppressed people are fulfilled, an Islamic system established and our homeland cleansed from American occupation and evil elements through ultimate Al-Fath (Victory).

Allah (SwT) says:م

And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors (Al-Qasas: 5)

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

07/08/1440 Hijri Lunar

23/01/1398 Hijri Solar               12/04/2019 Gregorian

Post via Islamic Emirate Afghanistan, April 10th 2019

As the Kabul administration continues its search for the survival of its corrupt and illegitimate period, it therefore has called for a supposed ‘consultative’ Loya Jirga which shall decide the future of Afghanistan.

The Kabul administration and various plots under the name of Loya Jirgas over the course of eighteen years were and are misused as tools for the continuation of occupation and widespread administrative and moral corruption as well as to cement and protect interests of the invaders.

The Afghan Mujahid nation understands well that for the past eighteen years under the shadow of occupation, our most cherished historical cultural norms, honor and titles have deliberately been used against Islam and our homeland and the higher interests of Afghanistan in an effort to mislead the Muslim Afghan nation.

The superficial ‘Grand Consultative Jirga’ that the hollow Kabul administration is to convene this time around will be no different than the Jirgas and resolutions passed by the supposed ‘Loya Jirgas’ during the end years of the communist regime or that of the year 2013 which approved the extension of occupation and auctioning of Afghanistan under the security agreement.

Such plots and processes are never acceptable to the real and devout sons of this homeland and neither are the resolutions binding.

The Islamic Emirate – as a representative of the its nation – rejects such fake Jirgas and any participation in them and asks all fellow countrymen to not become victims of enemy plots at such a historically sensitive juncture by abstaining from participating in such superficial Jirgas.

The Islamic Emirate is of belief that such efforts under the shadow of occupation are used for protecting the objectives of the invaders and their domestic stooges and are never acceptable nor binding.

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Zabihullah Mujahid

05/08/1440 Hijri Lunar

21/01/1398 Hijri Solar                   10/04/2019 Gregorian

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She was a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate Afghanistan April 7th 2019

An intra-Afghan conference is planned for the middle of ongoing month in the capital of Qatar, Doha, about which the Islamic Emirate would like to clarify the following to our fellow countrymen:

1 – The meeting is a conference in which the participants will only be clarifying their views and policies and sharing their stance with others. The said conference is not a negotiations summit or meeting.

2 – No one will partake in the conference as a representative of the Kabul administration. Just like the previous Moscow Conference, any individual who is part of the Kabul administration and is listed as a participant will only participate in a personal capacity and share personal views.

3 – As the conference is convened for the purpose of achieving peace in Afghanistan and exchange of views among various sides therefore any participant disliked by anyone or deemed undeserving has been introduced from their own side and is associated with them. They have not been picked by the Islamic Emirate.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

02/08/1440 Hijri Lunar

18/01/1398 Hijri Solar                  07/04/2019 Gregorian

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate April 2nd 2019

As all countrymen are already aware, an intra-Afghan conference will be held during the middle of this month in the capital of Qatar, Doha, in which a high-ranking delegation of Islamic Emirate shall also participate.

Yesterday a participant list of the conference was published showing the number of participants of Islamic Emirate greater than the actual figure. The reality is that only members of the negotiation team of Islamic Emirate and a limited number of extra leaders will be partaking, other names besides these are untrue. Moreover, the published list has not been confirmed, some names included are not present in the finalized list while other personalities included in the finalized list are not present in the published list.

Hence the published list is unreliable.

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Zabihullah Mujahid

26/07/1440 Hijri Lunar

13/01/1398 Hijri Solar                  02/04/1440 Hijri Lunar

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate Afghanistan (April 3rd 2019)

On Sunday 3^rd March, a mosque and a health clinic was destroyed by the internal mercenary forces in ‘Quzi By Kala’ of ‘Daulat Abad’ district in Faryab province.

On Monday 4^th March, four innocent civilians were martyred and wounded while five others were incarcerated by the joint forces in ‘Sar Nawa’ area of ‘Shah Wali Kot’ district in Kandahar province.

On Tuesday 5^th March, nine civilian countrymen were ruthlessly martyred in the multiple blind drone strikes of the savage foreign invaders in ‘Groch’ area of ‘Bad Pash’ district in Laghman province.

On Tuesday 5^th March, a young student was martyred while his father along with four other innocent villagers were arrested by the so called ‘Zarbati’ mercenaries in ‘Kror’ village of ‘Sabari’ district in Khost province.

On Tuesday 5^th March, five civilian houses were destroyed while two innocent villagers were martyred during a raid of the joint enemy forces in ‘Gandamak’ area of ‘Sherzad’ district in Nangarhar province.

On Thursday 7^th March, the village Mulla Imam (the one who leads congregational prayers), two medical doctors, and three other villagers were taken away as prisoners by the savage foreign invaders and their internal mercenaries in ‘Tangi’ area of ‘Nowzad’ district in Helmand province.

On Friday 8^th March, two civilian people were martyred in the indiscriminate drone strike of the savage foreign invaders in ‘Khojdad’ area of ‘Musa Kala’ district in Helmand province.

On Friday 8^th March, civilian houses in ‘Nasar Khail’ area of ‘Hisarak’ district in Nangarhar province were raided by the internal mercenaries. In this attack, initially main gates of several houses were blasted; significant amount of valuables were taken away as booty; and eventually the area was indiscriminately bombed, in which, thirteen members of one and the same family including women and children belonging to a local civilian ‘Dr. Nazar Gul’ were ruthlessly martyred, while two more people were injured.

On Friday 8^th March, a local mosque, a public health clinic, and several other civilian houses were destroyed while seven innocent people were martyred when ‘Hasan Khail’, ‘Joy Zarin’ and ‘Doulat Khail’ villages of ‘Said Abad’ district in ‘Maidan Wardak’ province were raided by the savage foreign invaders and their internal mercenaries.

On Friday 8^th March, ‘Asghar’ and ‘Douhi’ villages in ‘Aab Band’ district of Ghazni province were raided by the joint enemy forces, in which, thirteen civilian houses and a local shop were demolished, while four innocent countrymen were incarcerated and taken away as prisoners.

On Saturday 9^th March, ‘Badri’ and ‘Mir Dad Kala’ areas in ‘Waghaz’ district of Ghazni provinces were raided by the joint enemy forces, in which, a local mosque, ten shops, and thirteen civilian houses were damaged while Mulla Imam of ‘Mir Dad Kala’ mosque was arrested along with three of his students. Similarly, main gates of several civilian houses in ‘Baran Kala’ area in ‘Qara Bagh’ district of this province was blasted in bombs; valuables from civilian houses were looted, and eventually two innocent villagers were ruthlessly martyred.

On Saturday 9^th March, four civilians including a child were martyred due to the indiscriminate bombing of the joint enemy forces in ‘Surkhlang’ area of ‘Murghab’ district in Badghis province.

On Saturday 9^th March, eight civilian people were martyred when ‘Rakha’ area of ‘Barmal’ district in Paktika province was raided by the joint enemy forces.

On Tuesday 12^th March, civilian houses in ‘Tatank’ area of ‘Khogyani’ district in Nangarhar province were raided by joint enemy forces. In this brutal raid, main gates of several civilian houses were broken; significant amount of people’s valuables was looted, and eventually six innocent civilians were ruthlessly martyred while two others were taken away as prisoners.

On Tuesday 12^th March, a civilian transport vehicle, locally called ‘Flying Coach’, was targeted and hit by the joint enemy forces in ‘Sher Kala’ area of ‘Shilgar’ district in Ghazni province, in which, eight innocent passengers were martyred on the spot. When the local people started shifting the dead bodies of the martyred ones, the area was again indiscriminately bombed, in which, ten more local countrymen were martyred and wounded.

On Tuesday 12^th March, a civilian man and a woman were martyred in a blind drone strike of the savage foreign invaders in ‘Kala Gaz’ area of ‘Grishk’ district in Helmand province.

On Wednesday 13^th March, three innocent civilians (named Hamidullah, Tor Jan, and Noorullah) were martyred by the savage foreign invaders and their internal mercenaries in ‘Ashkin’ area of ‘Bakwa’ district in Farah province.

On Wednesday 13^th March, three civilian countrymen were martyred in the indiscriminate bombing of the joint enemy forces in ‘Murad Abad’ area of ‘Tarin Kot’ city, the center of Uruzgan province.

On Wednesday 13^th March, a civilian vehicle was targeted and hit by the savage foreign invaders in ‘Karo’ square of ‘Marja’ district in Helmand province, in which, all the three passengers on board were martyred.

On Thursday 14^th March, ‘Haibat Khail’ area in ‘Zurmat’ district of Paktia province was raided by the savage foreign invaders and their internal mercenaries, in which, five innocent people were martyred.

On Thursday 14^th March, ‘Sheikh Abad’, ‘Zarin Khail’, ‘Noori’ and ‘Kharyan’ areas of ‘Said Abad’ district in ‘Maidan Wardak’ province were raided by the joint enemy forces. In this brutal raid, two mosques were destroyed, some innocent people including the Mulla Imam were ruthlessly martyred while several other villagers were taken away as prisoners.

On Thursday 14^th March, a woman, a child and two innocent men were martyred in the blind mortar shelling of the mercenary forces in ‘Faiz Abad’ area of ‘Shirin Tagab’ district in Faryab province.

On Saturday 16^th March, seven innocent countrymen were ruthlessly martyred by the joint enemy forces in ‘Khalazi’ area of ‘Chahar Dara’ district in Kunduz province.

On Saturday 16^th March, a civilian countryman (named Haji ‘Lawang’) was relentlessly martyred in front of his own family members by the mercenary forces in ‘Saman Khail’ area of ‘Bak’ district in Khost province.

On Sunday 17^th March, the house of an innocent civilian (named Haji Abdul Jabbar) was destroyed while four local farmers were martyred by the mercenary forces in ‘Shahr-i-Safa’ district of Zabul province.

On Sunday 17^th March, a local madrassa (an educational institution) was raided by the internal mercenary forces in ‘Pir’ village near the center of Khost province, in which, one student was martyred while three others were taken away as prisoners in badly injured condition.

On Monday 18^th March, a civilian transport vehicle was targeted and hit by the savage foreign invaders in ‘Khawaj Buland’ area of ‘Narkh’ district in ‘Maidan Wardak’ province, in which, all the four passengers on board were martyred on the spot.

On Tuesday 19^th March, ‘Dr. Abdul Mohammad’, working in a local health clinic, was incarcerated; his brother was ruthlessly martyred, while two women of his family were wounded by the joint enemy forces in ‘Faulad’ village of ‘Shahr-i-Safa’ district in Zabul province.

On Wednesday 20^th March, a local Mulla Imam (named Moulavi Mohammad Yousuf) including two other civilian countrymen (named ‘Abdul Baseer’ and ‘Jalaluddin’) were martyred by the joint enemy forces in ‘Spina’ village of ‘Charbaran’ district in Paktika province.

On Wednesday 20^th March, two innocent people were martyred by the savage foreign invaders in ‘Kunjak’ village of ‘Kala Gaz’ area in ‘Grishk’ district of Helmand province.

On Wednesday 20^th March, a prison controlled by Taliban was targeted and hit by the joint enemy forces in ‘Sharafat’ area of ‘Sangin’ district in Helmand province, in which, tens of the prisoners were martyred. Most of these prisoners were either mercenary forces or other criminals.

On Friday 22^nd March, a civilian house in ‘Tilao’ area near the center of Kunduz province was indiscriminately bombed by the joint enemy forces, in which, thirteen members of one and the same family were martyred. In retaliation to this civilian killing, local people largely demonstrated while carrying the dead bodies of the martyred ones. They demanded the immediate end of indiscriminate bombing and brutal raids of the enemy forces.

On Saturday 23^rd March, ‘Gogir’ and ‘Faqir’ villages of ‘Zana Khan’ district in Ghazni province were raided by the savage foreign invaders. In ‘Gogir’ village, a religious madrassa and a mosque were destroyed; six students of this madrassa were ruthlessly martyred, while three others were incarcerated. In ‘Faqir Kala’, a mosque and its adjacent civilian houses were blasted in bombs by the foreign occupying forces.

On Saturday 23^rd March, six innocent countrymen were martyred and wounded while heavy financial losses were inflicted on the local people during a raid of the savage foreign invaders and their internal mercenaries in ‘Gardi Kach’ area of ‘Behsud’ district in Nangarhar province.

On Saturday 23^rd March, a local civilian (named Khair Mohammad) was martyred by ruthlessly crushing him under a military tank by the internal mercenary forces in the local bazaar of ‘Almar’ district in Faryab province.

On Sunday 24^th March, five innocent countrymen were martyred and wounded in the indiscriminate artillery shelling of the internal mercenaries in ‘Dama Gul’ village of ‘Noor Garam’ district in Nuristan province.

On Monday 25^th March, an aged white-bearded man, three children and four women were ruthlessly martyred in an indiscriminate drone strike of the foreign occupying forces in ‘Shore’ area of ‘Grishk’ district in Helmand province.

On Monday 25^th March, two Mulla Imams (the one who leads congregational prayers) were martyred in the blind drone strikes of the savage foreign invaders in ‘Kanam’ and ‘Buz-i-Kandahari’ areas near the center of Kunduz province.

On Monday 25^th March, fourteen civilian people including women and children were ruthlessly martyred and wounded while several houses were destroyed by the savage foreign invaders and their internal mercenaries in ‘Kargo Kalan’ area of ‘Sarubi’ district in Kabul province.

On Monday 25^th March, five innocent countrymen were martyred while several civilian houses were badly damaged during a brutal raid of the savage foreign invaders in ‘Tutu’ area of ‘Shirzad’ district in Nangarhar province.

On Saturday 30^th March, the Mulla Nooh Baba Lyceum (a higher secondary school) situated in ‘Yargano’ area of ‘Shilgar’ district in Ghazni province was brought under indiscriminate mortar shelling by the local mercenary forces, in which, four students including one of their teachers were martyred while eleven others were injured.

Sources: (BBC, Radio Liberty, The Afghan Islamic News Agency; Pajhwok, Khabaryal, Larawbar, Nunn.Asia and Benawa websites.)

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Photo of Zakir Musa posted on Twitter by Kashmir Intel

A new audio recently appeared on Twitter released by Al-Hurr Media the official media channel of Al Qaeda -Linked Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind in Kashmir and alleged to be the ‘latest message from Emir Zakir Musa’, (age 25) entitled “Allah’s system on Allah’s land”.

In February 2019, writing on Zakir Musa in Jamestown Foundation, Fahan Zahid stated,

Musa symbolizes a new generation of Islamist terrorists operating in Indian Kashmir. This new generation appears far more radical in their views of violent Islamism and are actively utilizing social media to profess their views. Their members are slightly more educated than their predecessors. Born as Zakir Rashid Musa in the Tral area of Palwama district in 1990, Musa is a son of an Indian government civil servant. Musa studied engineering at Chandigarh College in Punjab province, but dropped out in his third year and joined Hizb ul Mujahedeen (HuM) in 2013 (HuffingtonPost.in, December 16, 2018). With HuM, he conducted terrorist attacks and engaged in other violent activities in the southern districts of Indian Kashmir. After the death of Burhan Wani, the young Emir of Hizb ul Mujahedeen, in an encounter with Indian security forces in 2016, Musa ascended to replace him. He soon left HuM to found AGH and declared his ambition to establish an Islamic Caliphate and state in Kashmir. He denounced both the Pakistani government and Hurriyat Conference (the political wing of the Indian Kashmir pro-independence parties). His anti-Hurriyat views were noticed when he threatened Kashmiri leaders for calling their struggle political, instead of Islamic.

He said:

Our struggle is for implementation of Shariah. It is an Islamic struggle… I am warning them (Hurriyat leaders) not to play their politics. If they again try to become thorns in our path, the first thing we will do is behead you and hang you in Lal Chowk. We will leave the infidels and kill you first (Wire India, May 15, 2017).

https://jamestown.org/brief/al-qaedas-man-in-the-indian-kashmir-insurgency-zakir-musa/

Back in December 2017, Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind headed up by Zakir Musa was struck a sharp blow when 6 of its militants were killed during a gunfight with security forces in Arampora village in the Tral area of South Kashmir. Although the power of the group was reduced and numbers of surviving fighters thought to be low (only 10 to 12 claimed to be remaining according to an article in Scroll.in) Munir Khan, additional director general of police was reported as saying, “when Zakir Musa is still alive, how can we say the group has been wiped off?” see following link,

In Kashmir, claimed Al Qaeda affiliate Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind may be struggling to survive

https://scroll.in/article/907269/in-kashmir-al-qaedas-putative-affiliate-ansar-ghazwat-ul-hind-may-be-struggling-to-survive

It would appear however that Munir Khan was wise in not wiping Zakir Musa totally from the picture of militancy in Kashmir at this present time.

Kashmir Intel (OSINT, Covering Kashmir, India) posted the following “highlights” from the new audio release alleging to be the voice of Zakir Musa (translated into English) on Twitter and using hashtag Kashmir jihad as follows:-

Zakir Musa begins his message by remembering Ansar Gazhwat-ul-Hind’s (AGH) Deputy Emir Rehan Khan and five other militants that were killed by Indian security forces in December, 2019. The he says AGH is ‘Free Jihad’ (by free jihad he means it’s not controlled by Pakistan/ISI).

Zakir Musa says “Logically speaking, the caravan of Free Jihad was supposed to have been stoped by now, because of different challenges AGH faces, but he receives help everyday, new militants join him. Militants have joined AGH not only from Kashmir, but from India/Pakistan too.”

Zakir Musa says “AGH is preparing for the day it starts its operations, threatens India security forces. He says lot of conspiracies are going on against Kashmir jihad, both India and Pakistan are working to totally dismantle it under American guidance”.

Imran Khan’s video message, inviting India for dialogue in February is played in Zakir Musa’s audio message. Zakir Musa then says Kashmir’s solution is only jihad, for Islamic rule. Pakistan, U.N and others can’t resolve it. No other solution is acceptable to Kashmiris”.

Zakir Musa says “Pakistan’s government, its military are the frontline enemies of Kashmir jihad, they kill mujahideen on one hand and on another hand claim to be fighting for Islam. He says Pakistan, an American slave is no different than its master.”

Zakir Musa says “Pakistan fools mujahideen of Kashmir for its own benefits. He then talks about Taliban, how they fought for 17 years and defeated America, which used all its military might to defeat Taliban, but still lost —only because Afghan Jihad was Free/Pure Jihad”

Zakir Musa says “Taliban are epitomes of Kashmiri militants. He then talks about how Kashmiris should help militants, why candle-light marches, shutting down shops/businesses, shutdowns and other forms of protests are useless, and how only armed struggle is fruitful”.

Zakir Musa then questions Pakistanis, says “You supported Kashmir jihad, sacrificed your life and money for it, what has changed now. Kashmiris are dying, and you are cleaning streets of Lahore/ Karachi, points out at LeT Chief Hafiz Saeed, who switched from jihad to politics”.

Zakir Musa says “Jihadi leaders in Pakistan have hurt Kashmir jihad, they take breaks from jihad whenever they like, they shunned jihad in Kashmir in 2003, which hurt Kashmiri jihad very badly, to the extent that it totally vanished, and had to be re-started from the scratch”.

Zakir Musa says “Pakistan went to war after India hurt it in Balakot, and when India was hurting/killing Kashmiris for decades, Pakistan was offering friendship agreements to India. Why didn’t Pakistan use its fighter jets when India was raping our mothers and sisters?”

Zakir Musa says “Pakistan does not have any sympathy for Kashmiris, it only wants it benefits from Kashmir. He also asks people not to vote in coming elections, and turns to Indian Muslims at last, tells them he is aware what is happening to them, asks them to join Jihad”. *End*

*its benefits

End

What level of impact Zakir Musa and his followers will have on the security situation in the region in the coming months remains to be seen!

Links

Al-Qaida-linked cell Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind announces Zakir Musa as its Chief in Kashmir (Times of India, July 27th, 2017)

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/al-qaida-linked-cell-ansar-ghazwat-ul-hind-announces-zakir-musa-as-its-chief-in-kashmir/articleshow/59792567.cms

Hizbul Mujahideen Kashmir Commander Zakir Musa releases new video and allegedly steps down from outfit following condemnation in the valley

Hizbul Mujahideen Kashmir Commander Zakir Musa releases new video and allegedly steps down from outfit following condemnation in the Valley

Hizbul commander Zakir Musa’s threat to Hurriyat evokes widespread condemnation in Kashmir Valley

http://www.firstpost.com/india/hizbul-commander-zakir-musas-threat-to-hurriyat-evokes-widespread-condemnation-in-kashmir-valley-3442996.html

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Michael Connarty former Chair of the APPG Haemophilia (2001 to 2010) and Labour MP for Linlithgo and East Falkirk allegedly ignored key evidence from haemophilia campaigners on Contaminated Blood 2002/3. Many victims have since died without justice.

Open letter sent to Shan Ross, Scotsman

Dear Shan, (Please forward to your Editor)

I am writing to you further to our telephone conversation today regarding the following article.

“Lord Owen accused of broken promises over evidence relating to infected blood imports” (February 23^rd 2019)

Read more at: https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/lord-owen-accused-of-broken-promises-over-evidence-relating-to-infected-blood-imports-1-4878209

You said that you wished to “draw a line under this article” however my campaign colleague Colette Wintle and I want to put our serious concerns in writing as the article does not reflect the considerable effort Lord David Owen has gone to over decades to share evidence and his personal documents on Contaminated Blood with Lord Alf Morris of Manchester and ourselves DESPITE numerous attempts to close him down often at a political level, trashing his documents under a non -existent 10 year rule as highlighted in a parliamentary question and answer and refusal of the Parliamentary Ombudsperson to investigate his complaints of serious “maladministration”.

We have known both Lord Owen and the late Lord Morris for many years and watched them work closely together. I am fortunate to have retrieved copies of some of the destroyed Lord Owen papers during my own research and subsequent dissertation awarded the Michael Young Prize 2009.

Please note the following

1) Lord Owen has spoken out and indeed acted to improve blood safety from the 1970s onwards as highlighted in Hansard, letters and personal papers and has the support of many haemophilia contaminated blood campaigners.

2) Back in 2001 Lord Owen played a key part in speaking out to journalist Louella Houldcroft of the Newcastle Journal contributing to the multi awarded “Bad Blood” campaign which she ran jointly with my late husband and I under the name Haemophilia Action UK (previously Haemophilia North). This sparked interest again and helped kick start a revived campaign many press had earlier stated was a “dead issue”. See following articles we initiated where Lord Owen spoke out, some are more detailed in hardcopy.

“Owen’s outrage at failure over blood” (Newcastle Journal, August 2^nd 2001, Hardcopy Archived)

This was followed up by an article we helped organize a day later which was featured in the Guardian and elsewhere.

“Haemophiliacs infections due to ‘broken promises’” (Guardian, August 3^rd 2001)

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/aug/03/health.healthandwellbeing

“Owen claims infection of haemophiliacs unnecessary” (RTE August 3^rd 2001)

https://www.rte.ie/news/2001/0803/17534-lindsay/

“Owen demands inquiry into infected blood scandal” (August 19^th 2002)

“I have no wish to go to court, but I have no doubt whatsoever that if someone starts to take serious legal action, the government hasn’t got a leg to stand on.” Lord Owen, August 19^th 2002

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/aug/19/NHS.medicineandhealth

HIV blood disaster papers ‘were pulped’ (July 12^th 2007, time of Archer Inquiry)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1557187/HIV-blood-disaster-papers-were-pulped.html

Just a few of many articles with Lord Owen which we have archived digital and hardcopy.

3) Colette and I worked with both Lord Owen and Lord Morris at the time of the Archer Inquiry and Lord Morris had nothing but praise for Lord Owen whom he respected greatly. Owen also had mutual respect for Lord Morris which has continued beyond Alf’s death in 2012 and indeed Lord Owen delivered the keynote address at an event launching the Alf Morris Fund for Independent Living.

“It’s often said that you can’t do anything in politics but Alf demonstrated that an individual MP’s commitment to a cause could create major change in public life.”

 The Rt Hon The Lord Owen CH

https://www.dlf.org.uk/node/706

4) Lord Morris would ring myself and Colette prior to debates in the Lords and not only did Lord Owen share his documents with Lord Morris which Alf confirmed to us at the time but Alf often received them a second time from myself. Both participated along with Colette and I (as key witnesses) at the Archer Inquiry.

5) Lord Owen took part in numerous TV and radio interviews and documentaries that we helped initiate such as the awarded Meridian Blood Brothers documentary and BBC Newsnight April 2007 nominated for RTS award.

6) Many years later in 2016 Lord Owen spoke out again, reiterating what he had said many times before to us in an event organized by new campaigner Jason Evans

Michael Connarty

Colette and I have been trawling through old documents and letters from 2002/2003 and we remember Michael Connarty well and we allege he did a very good job of blocking campaigners who tried to show him key evidence when he was Chair of the APPG for Haemophilia and ignoring this has tragically delayed justice to Contaminated Blood victims for years. Letters to Michael Connarty and MPs and Connarty’s replies when put together with other evidence including the lies spread by the Blairite government on the Eire settlement and what was happening behind the scenes to block haemophiliacs getting to court and how many in key positions ensured the damning evidence that we held on US prison blood was not going to be addressed and you can understand why Connarty and others are now looking for scapegoats! This evidence will be presented to the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Colette and I both feel that Michael Connarty should be investigated by the Infected Blood Inquiry particularly during his time as Chair of the APPG Haemophilia along with the Haemophilia Society and made to address why long standing campaigners were both excluded from key meetings (as we still are today) and their crucial evidence regarding the use of US prison blood and other issues ignored.

Your sincerely

Carol Grayson and Colette Wintle (Contaminated Blood, Haemophilia Campaigners)

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a former Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development (Distinction). Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.