[e-drug] Brazil report on threats against Germán Velásquez

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

E-drug: Brazil report on threats against Germán Velásquez
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[Cross posted from the Pharm-policy forum. Thanks. HH] 

This is a Babelfish translation of a disturbing report in the Brazilian
newspaper 'O Globlo' on threats and assaults on WHO's Germán
Velásquez, over his support for pro-patient policies on intellectual
property rights.  Jamie

http://oglobo.globo.com/arquivo/mundo/20010714/592473.htm

ONU investigates agent of the WHO
Deborah Berlinck 
Correspondent 

GENEVA. The French police of the province of Gex, in the border
with Switzerland, and the security guard of the ONU confirmed
yesterday that it has an inquiry in course to clarify the threats of
death against the coordinator of the programme for medicines of
the World Health Organization (WHO), the Colombian Germán
Velásquez. 

The case, denounced by O GLOBO, launches serious suspicion on
the pharmaceutical industry and involves a series of incidents in Rio
de Janeiro, Miami and France. The periodical got a document
yesterday contends the main points of the version of Velásquez. It
is coordinating of a sector of WHO that is in the center of the
world-wide controversy on reduction of prices of remedies. 

The incidents started in May in Rio de Janeiro, who was in the city
for the ownership of Jorge Bermudez in the route of the National
School of Public Health, of the Fiocruz, was assaulted by two
adolescents with a knife, who wounded his wrist.

According to document, three days later, when it was in Miami for
the meeting of the OMS, Velásquez was pursued by two armed
men, who made reference to the assault in Rio de Janeiro. "You
must stop to criticize the pharmaceutical industry", they said. In
return Geneva, Velazques received intimidating phone calls, on 7
and 19 of June, with references the Miami incident. The last one
was one day before the meeting the World Trade Organization
(WTO), that it would say on patents and medicines. 

WHO keeps the case secret. Velásquez entered of vacation and
friends confirm that it was under enormous pressure in the last
weeks due to the intimidations. WHO only divulged a note,
informing that the case is in the hands of the ONU. 

The head of the security of the ONU, Roland De Stickere, confirmed
the inquiry. The French policy was mobilized the order of the ONU,
since the phone calls had been made for the house of Velásquez, in
vilarejo French Ferney Voltaire. 

-- It has powerful interests that are being opposed and the
pressure is increasing -- said the director of the National School of
Public Health, in Rio de Janeiro.

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