The lawsuit ended on April 12, 2002 with the acquittal of Dr. Basson. At the same time the International Criminal Court was born … The prosecutor announced immediately that he would appeal and Desmond Tutu in a public statement spoke " of a dark day for South Africa ".

Many questions, few answers but some certainties. The arsenal of chemicals that were developed is still in existence. Its chief perpetrator, to this day, is in the service of the Ministry of Defence, funded by the South African taxpayer. The other certainty is that biochemical non-proliferation treaties, signed by Western countries, did not prevent the use of this sinister knowledge and it is not improbable that without our collaboration "Dr. Death " would never have existed.

At a time of danger of biochemical terrorism, it is a matter of urgency to create an independent international commission which could identify all those who collaborated in “Project Coast”, and locate its stock of biochemical weapons.

Tristan Mendès-France Parliamentary assistant, journalist and documentariste. He wrote notably the book "Dr Death, Inquiry on a bioterrorism of State in South Africa" and the documentary "Doctor Death".

Tristan Mendès-France

Translation by Christiane N. Martens

Published in association with Reseau Voltaire: http://www.reseauvoltaire.net

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