The "Yellow Rain" controversy: are there lessons from the past?
Author(s):
Wilde, Henry
Format:
Journal article
Citation:
Asian Biomedicine, Volume 2, Issue 5 (2008-10). pp. 421-429.
Language:
English
Abstract:
A quarter century has passed since the "Yellow Rain" biological warfare controversy in Southeast Asia had become a major news item worldwide. The debate whether or not a biological warfare weapon was used at that time has never abated and was the subject of a recent PhD thesis. Starting in the late 1970's, persistent reports of chemical attacks appeared originating from Hmong resistance forces in Laos fighting the Vietnamese and Pathet Lao forces. Soon, similar reports came from the Khmer Rouge as well as from the anti-communist Khmer Peoples National Liberation Front who also were engaging the Vietnamese army as well as the Khmer Rouge. The Soviet-backed Vietnamese army was held responsible for use of chemical and/or biological agents. Attacks were said to be in the form of gas or "yellow rain"-like toxic spray delivered by aircraft or artillery. Many rapid and more delayed deaths of domestic animals as well as humans were said to have resulted. The initial reports were in the form of interviews of refugees, usually originating from relief workers, missionaries and international news-service reporters. No reliable witness interrogation by professionals or forensic laboratory investigation was conducted and no "smoking gun" was found. Much of this seemed a repetition of similar accusations directed previously at the Soviets in Afghanistan. It was similar to what the US had been accused of during the Korean War and reminiscent of the more recent accusations against Saddam Hussein in Iraq which helped start the Iraq war. Chemical and biological weapons were banned by the Geneva Convention of 1925 which was signed by a majority of countries. It seems that this convention had been largely ignored. The author believes that valuable lessons can still be learned from reviewing these events.