The International Primate Protection League (IPPL) and Animal Liberation will protest the use of primates in cruel experiments at Monash University on Friday 27 September.

A highly-respected medical doctor from the United States has issued to IPPL and Animal Liberation a five page report stating why the Parkinson’s disease experiment should not go ahead.

Doctor Murry Cohen, spokesperson for the New York based The Medical Research Modernization Committee, argues that the experiment is scientifically flawed and that statements made by Monash University concerning its validity are grossly overstated.

Monash and The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), who are funding the experiment, have been issued with copies of Doctor Cohen’s report, but have refused to defend the research against Doctor Cohen’s critique. Both Monash and NHMRC have arrogantly refused to consider the substance of Doctor Cohen’s criticisms and his recommendation that, in the absence of a scientific rationale, the research should be terminated.

Lynette Shanley of the IPPL, today questioned the motives of the researchers - "Are Monash and the NHMRC refusing to comment on Doctor Cohen’s report because they cannot defend their research? They will not comment and, they will not let us see the monkeys".

IPPL and Animal Liberation have been asking for access to the primates since September 1995 but have been refused. Why? What is going on behind the closed door of Monash University? At the protest IPPL and Animal Liberation will be challenging Monash to refute Doctor Cohen’s statements and justify the continuation of research which involves horrific experimentation on primates.