We write to pass on the sad news of the death of Dr. Jean-Louis Valatx, honorary president of the Association des Vétérans des Essais Nucléaires (AVEN) - the French association of nuclear test veterans.

As a medical doctor in the French Army, Jean-Louis witnessed France's nuclear tests in the Sahara desert in Algeria, in 1962. He became a leading campaigner on the health impacts for military and civilian personnel who witnessed France's nuclear tests in Algeria and the Pacific, and served as Chair of AVEN.

We send our solidarity to his family and friends, and to all the members of AVEN and Moruroa e Tatou who struggle for the survivors of France's nuclear folly.

- Nic Maclellan
Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (Australia)

(Valatx is said to have died of a blood cancer and has always claimed that his illness was triggered by the irradiation he had received from the atomic tests - AVEN Headquarters statement, Lyon).