VNN Editorial - Bhaktivedanta Investigation Force

EDITORIAL May 31, 2001 VNN6776 Related VNN Stories

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Bhaktivedanta Investigation Force - Report

BY BHAKTIVEDANTA INVESTIGATION FORCE

EDITORIAL, May 31 (VNN) — Dear Prabhus & Matas pamho agtSP

We are truly confounded by the lack of critique re the book: "Not That I Am Poisoned." Compiled, financed and published by "The GBC Ministry for the protection of Iskcon," the book (NTIP) is in fact a product by disciples of the alleged suspects, and therefore under the instructions and guidance of the suspects themselves. As such, it seeks to protect the "guru" rather than pursue the truth. In its quest to achieve this end, the book distorts the facts and seeks collaboration from research structured for that purpose alone. How could we let this bundle of used tissues be flushed away without critique?

How can we permit the facts of an issue so dear to our hearts as the suspicious disappearance of His Divine Grace, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, be fouled by the slovenly investigation of deceptive sleuths?

From the very first chapter of the book, its mission to deceive becomes obvious. Section one, chapter one, entitled: "Hair Analysis Shows No Sign Of Poisoning," should be reworded to read "Hair Analysis Shows 2.6 ppm Of Arsenic." Since 2.6 ppm is a figure, why does the book claim "No Sign Of Poisoning." The irony is; the authors accuse Nityananda das (author of "Someone has Poisoned Me") of exaggerating the amount of arsenic at 3 ppm. Anyway, the question is "how harmful is 2ppm of arsenic in the human body?" The authors of NTIP would like us to believe its hardly worth writing about. They claim that if you come from Zimapan in central Mexico, you could still be alive with an arsenic count of 9ppm. Let's hear what the experts have to say:-

"The arsenic concentration found was 2.6 micrograms arsenic per gram of hair (or 2.6 parts per million i.e. 2.6 ppm). The concentration is approximately 20 times higher than what I would consider a normal average for unexposed individuals living in the United States......." ( Dr. J. Stephen Morris (Ph.D.) Lauder, Nuclear Analysis Program. University of Missouri-Columbia).

And if you think America's environmentalists are happy with what Dr Morris considers "a normal average for unexposed individuals living in the United States" think again. Here is an excerpt from a recent report by John Helprin (Associated Press). Wed: April 18, 2001:-

BUSH TO TIGHTEN ARSENIC STANDARD.

WASHINGTON-- The Bush administration, under fire for scrapping former President Clinton's standard for arsenic in drinking water, announced plans Wednesday to set a new standard within nine months...[.......]....President Bush drew heavy criticism from environmentalists and others last month when his EPA killed a Clinton administration regulation that would have tightened the standard to no more than 10 parts of arsenic per billion in drinking water. The current standard, set in 1942, is 50 parts per billion.

So we can see that your "average American" is uncomfortable with 50 parts per billion. Srila Prabhupada had 2.6 parts per million...THAT MEANS HE HAD 2, 600 PARTS PER BILLION. Even if we add a possible figure for arsenic via food ingestion, the content of arsenic in SP's hair analysis is alarming to say the least. For those who believe that SP may have ingested the arsenic via the tubewell water-system currently poisoning Bengal, cast the thought aside. Tubewells were made popular by the Red Cross sometime after SP's departure from this world. WHERE DID THIS ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF ARSENIC COME FROM?

"Not That I Am Poisoned" quotes Larry Kovar (?) as saying: "....my hair has about 3ppm Arsenic- the last time I tested it (I'm still alive, I hope:).." Firstly we have not yet checked whether Mr Kovar did say this or whether infact he even exists. When our detectives caught up with another of NTIP's "experts" he was unqualified and denied much of what was quoted by the authors of NTIP ( look out for part two of this report). Anyway, the question that NTIP should have asked their "expert" was ....whether chronic arsenic poisoning could prove fatal to an aged diabetes patient ? Here's the answer from a bona fide expert.

"In my opinion, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that this individual, (Srila Prabhupada) with the history of multiple myocardial inferts (?) and non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and considering his age would be an individual in frail health in which a chronic administration or exposure of arsenic leading to toxic levels would be expected to be a significant contributing condition to his death....." (Richard. T. Callery. M.D.,F.C.A.P. Chief Medical Examiner. Director, Forensic Sciences Laboratory. National Medical Services).

(All excerpts from taped interviews and investigative reports, courtesy of The Bhaktivedanta Investigation Force (BIF))