n John Pilger
People deserve freedom from fear Many care homes are cash cows for ruthless individuals and their precarious companies. The people of Britain deserve better
8 ColdType | Mid-April 2020 | www.coldtype.net
Photo: Ron F. Rafferty
alone in a cell. His barrister, Edward Fitzgerald QC, described how he was at risk of contracting coronavirus. He has a chronic lung condition and is in a prison with people who are likely to be carriers of the disease. COLES: People are being The UK Prison Governors told to self-isolate because Association has warned of coronavirus, but Julian “there will be deaths” unAssange has been isolated less the vulnerable are by successive British released. governments for years. Can The Prison Officers Asyou tell us what’s going on sociation agrees; the UN with his case and how he High Commissioner on Huwas doing, last time you saw man Rights, the WHO, the him? Prison Advisory Service Pilger: On March 25, a Lon– all have said the virus is don court refused Julian set to spread like wildfire Assange bail even though through Britain’s conhe was convicted of nothing JOHN PILGER: “How ironic and appropriate that the NHS gested, unsanitary prisand charged with nothing is currently saving Boris Johnson’s life.” ons. Even Boris Johnson’s in Britain. The Trump adJustice Secretary, Robert ministration wants to extradite has made it clear she is acting on Buckland, says, “The virus could him on a concocted indictment of behalf of the British and US governtake over the prisons … and put “espionage” – so ludicrous in law it ments. Her bias has shocked those more lives at risk”. At the time of should have been thrown out on the of us who have sat in courtrooms writing, nine prisoners have died first day of the extradition hearing all over the world. from COVID-19 in British prisons, in February. It wasn’t thrown out At the bail hearing, she added including one at Belmarsh: these because the magistrate, Vanessa cruelty to her repertoire. Julian are the numbers the authorities Baraitser (she is described as a was not allowed to attend, not admit to; there are very likely judge but is actually a magistrate) even by video link; instead he sat more. Some vulnerable prisoners T.J. Coles interviews journalist and filmmaker John Pilger about the coronavirus crisis in the context of propaganda, imperialism, and human rights.
