Originally from: Pat Gardiner
                        
For the second time in four years we have been selected for "random tests" on our sheep (2 ewes and 5 lambs).

The man sending the letter, Christie, was, according to the former SAS officer who arrived here during the Swine Fever epidemic, the man instructing him. I have no reason to disbelieve this.

The last time this happened we went to the Speaker of the House of Commons, for the second time, requesting his protection. Maff-Defra seemed to have backed off on that occasion.

We have since given evidence to Olaf (the serious fraud squad of the European Commission) in respect of illegal activities by the SVS and requested witness protection.

The last sentence of this letter suggests that we can legally refuse to co-operate, we will write back today doing so. I will post a copy of the letter later.

Here is the text of the letter from Maff-Defra.

Quote

State Veterinary Service Defra

Southgate St

BURY ST EDMUNDS, Suffolk, IP33 2BD

Mrs P I Gardiner

Address removed Date: 24 June 2004

Dear Sir

2004 NATIONAL SURVEY FOR BRUCELLOSIS AND CONTAGIOUS AGALACTIA IN SHEEP AND GOATS

I am writing to you to ask for your co-operation in participating in the above survey as your sheep flock has been selected for testing this year. You will shortly receive a telephone call from this office to arrange an appointment for blood samples to be taken from your sheep/goats as part of an annual random survey to check for the presence of contagious agalactia and brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis. A maximum of 20 animals per flock will be required.

The United Kingdom currently has official disease-free status from Brucella melitensis. Not only is this of benefit to our export trade, but it allows us to enforce more stringent import requirements to protect the national flock. Additionally, we apply similar import requirements in respect of contagious agalactia, from which we are also free.

Holdings for this survey are selected on a random basis from all the flocks and herds registered as required by the Sheep and Goats Identification and Movement (Interim Measures) (England) (No. 2) Order 2002 (as amended) and equivalent legislation covering Scotland and Wales. To ensure the validity of the survey it is essential that sheep or goats on all the holdings selected are tested. Your participation in the survey would therefore be greatly appreciated. If you no longer keep any sheep or goats, or if you are unwilling to participate in the survey for any reason please contact this office immediately.

Yours faithfully

Signed

pp A N Christie

Divisional Veterinary Manager

Unquote

There seem to be three possible reasons for this letter:

1. Gross incompetence at Bury (always possible) but unlikely in our case I would have thought. The whole world knows I have been complaining about the SVS. Nobody but the most arrogant would fail to manage not to select us. They can't be that suicidally incompetent.

2. Harassment in an attempt to force me to give up attempts to have the State Veterinary Service the subject of a full scale criminal investigation.

3. A desperate, and fully authorised, attempt to get onto rare holdings with all three species, near the epicentre of PMWS, CSF and FMD, to get blood tests from sheep.

It has to be the last. Doesn't it? They are worried about disease spreading from pigs to other species. Which disease?

Any advice appreciated.

Regards
Pat Gardiner
www.go-self-sufficient.com