By Our Representative
Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”
Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”
The citizens urge the health minister to reject these amendments officially, and have also written to the Director General, WHO, explaining their stance. The amendments, they note, were carried out “by stealth”, without public consultation.
After the revision of the IHR in 2022, amendments will come into force within 12 months, unless states proactively file rejections. The deadline for such rejection is December 1, 2023; if India does not proactively reject the amendments, they will come into force from that date.
The citizens note that the matter has not been discussed in Parliament in India; there has also been no discussion of the amendments in the public domain. The amendments pose a threat to the Constitutional fabric of the country, and have a serious implication on the lives of citizens. Both the pandemic accord and the IHR are ultra vires of the Constitution of India, the citizens note.
Among the signatories to the letter include well-known epidemiologist Dr Amitav Banerjee, Prof Bhaskaran Raman of IIT-Bombay, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, pediatrician Dr Jacob Puliyel, researcher Aruna Rodrigues, senior journalist Rosamma Thomas and associations and groups of citizens concerned about public health.
Dr Banerjee, writing in Counterview, objecting to the amendments, said recently, they would mean an even stringent response to the Covid-19-type actions which “violated all epidemiological and ethical principles.” During the pandemic, he claimed, “Most countries experienced a regime of suppression, censorship and coercion reminiscent of fascism.”
“Instead of detailed analysis of the pandemic response which went astray, it is strange that the WHO is pressing for amendments to the IHR which will have more stringent provisions”, he said, adding, the urgency for pushing through over 300 major amendments in “an unholy haste” raises doubts “whether the intentions of the WHO are honourable.”
“If any world leader fails to reject the amendments to the IHR by 01 Dec 2023, by default that nation will surrender autonomy to the unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’”, he said.
According to him, “The amendments to the IHR is a misnomer – there is nothing about health in this documentation. It would be more appropriate to name the document, ‘International Surveillance, Monitoring, Reporting, Emergency Declaring, Fear-Mongering, and Controlling Regulations.’ This will become clear if one goes through the amendments.”
After the revision of the IHR in 2022, amendments will come into force within 12 months, unless states proactively file rejections. The deadline for such rejection is December 1, 2023; if India does not proactively reject the amendments, they will come into force from that date.
The citizens note that the matter has not been discussed in Parliament in India; there has also been no discussion of the amendments in the public domain. The amendments pose a threat to the Constitutional fabric of the country, and have a serious implication on the lives of citizens. Both the pandemic accord and the IHR are ultra vires of the Constitution of India, the citizens note.
Among the signatories to the letter include well-known epidemiologist Dr Amitav Banerjee, Prof Bhaskaran Raman of IIT-Bombay, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, pediatrician Dr Jacob Puliyel, researcher Aruna Rodrigues, senior journalist Rosamma Thomas and associations and groups of citizens concerned about public health.
Dr Banerjee, writing in Counterview, objecting to the amendments, said recently, they would mean an even stringent response to the Covid-19-type actions which “violated all epidemiological and ethical principles.” During the pandemic, he claimed, “Most countries experienced a regime of suppression, censorship and coercion reminiscent of fascism.”
“Instead of detailed analysis of the pandemic response which went astray, it is strange that the WHO is pressing for amendments to the IHR which will have more stringent provisions”, he said, adding, the urgency for pushing through over 300 major amendments in “an unholy haste” raises doubts “whether the intentions of the WHO are honourable.”
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| Dr Banerjee |
According to him, “The amendments to the IHR is a misnomer – there is nothing about health in this documentation. It would be more appropriate to name the document, ‘International Surveillance, Monitoring, Reporting, Emergency Declaring, Fear-Mongering, and Controlling Regulations.’ This will become clear if one goes through the amendments.”
In fact, he believes, “The amendments can lead to perpetual lockdowns and threaten autonomy of nations.” Citing Dr David Bell, a former WHO scientist, who said that the pandemic preparedness will pave the way to International Fascism”, he underscores, “During a ‘declared pandemic’ it will take away the right of citizens to make their own decisions.”
Dr Banerjee noted, “Pandemics will become self sustaining by creating a bureaucracy whose existence will depend on them. Bureaucrats and career scientists will have a vested interest in finding outbreaks and declaring them potential pandemics. This will ensure better career prospects for all concerned at the cost of the common citizen. Lockdowns will become a permanent feature of the pandemic response. Corporate interests will dominate.”
“In such a scenario, the people will be at the mercy of the police and bureaucrats who will be immune to any penalty for any acts carried out in ‘good faith.’ The amendments will promote a police state. Mandatory medical procedures, forced entry into premises, forced isolation and quarantine, have all been proposed in the larger interest of humanity!”, he added.
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Click here for text of the letters to Union Home Minister and WHO director and signatories
Dr Banerjee noted, “Pandemics will become self sustaining by creating a bureaucracy whose existence will depend on them. Bureaucrats and career scientists will have a vested interest in finding outbreaks and declaring them potential pandemics. This will ensure better career prospects for all concerned at the cost of the common citizen. Lockdowns will become a permanent feature of the pandemic response. Corporate interests will dominate.”
“In such a scenario, the people will be at the mercy of the police and bureaucrats who will be immune to any penalty for any acts carried out in ‘good faith.’ The amendments will promote a police state. Mandatory medical procedures, forced entry into premises, forced isolation and quarantine, have all been proposed in the larger interest of humanity!”, he added.
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Click here for text of the letters to Union Home Minister and WHO director and signatories
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