By Rachel Cohen
Lockshin, a biochemist and
oncologist, claims he was fired from his job as head of the cancer
research laboratory at St. Joseph's Hospital in Houston, Texas,
because he opposed U.S. foreign policy. He arrived in
Moscow with his wife and three children on Wednesday, according to
the Soviet news agency Tass.
Lockshin said. He hopes his
family will be able to lead ""a normal productive
life.""
Lockshin came to Madison from
Berkeley, Calif., recieving his master's degree in
1963 and his Ph.D. in 1965, according to Robert
Burris. professor emeritus in the Biochemistry Department. Burris,
who had Lockshin as a student, described him as ""a
very nice guy. He had a good cultural background and was a good
reseracher. He was bright and had a fine
record."" He added Lockshin was fairly
active in politics.
Stehlin, the scientific director of
the research foundation at St. Joseph's who fired
Lockshin. Stehlin alleged that
Lockshin was not fired for political reasons. ""We
were not pleased with his performance,"" he said.
Stehlin has published nine articles
with Lockshin. ""If Lockshin isn't doing
his job,"" Burris contended, ""why did Stehlin write
all those articles with him? I think that's a good question put to
Stehlin.
Lockshin in years and I don't
know what is going on in Texas, but if he's publishing in
scientific journals, he must be doing his job,"" he
continued.
Stehlin, however, said that
Lockshin was ""a decent person, but his performance
deteriorated during the past six months. Just that, simply that,
and nothing else.""
Tass, on the oter hand,
quoted Lockshin as sayng he and his wife
made a ""very difficult"" decision to leave the United States
because of persecution stemming from his active struggle against
the dangerous aspects of the foreign policy of the Republican
administration.""
Lockshin also said he feels that the
FBI took measures against his family, according to
Tass. He told the news agency that his phone was
tapped, mail was opened, they were followed, and they
recieved provacative phone calls.
Lockshin knew anything
important enough to warrant tapping his
phone.""
Lockshin is welcome to travel
to and from the United States whenever he chooses and is free to
choose his place of residence
Lockshin alleging that the
U.S. government harassed him and threatened his life
because of political opinions are patently
absurd.""
