THE man who killed Blair Peach roams the streets a free man. He wears a police uniform and continues to defend 'law and order'.
The British experience of cover-ups, is soon going to say that it can't identify the murderer. Or, if the going gets rough, name the killer and talk about 'rotten apples' But for the people of Southall the agony they experienced on 23 April 1979 seems to know no end. The trials of the Southall 340 have been transferred to Barnet. The Defence Committee is convinced that scores of people will be sent to prison and fines and costs will total £75,000 This is Hammer McNee's way of teaching the Southall blacks a lesson. Meanwhile many defendants and their lawyers have been totally shocked ay the way the magistrates court operates. Most of the political prisoners have never seen the inside of a court. Some of them had a few illusions about British justice. These are now being rapidly dispelled. state, with a centuries-old murder.
attention The magistrates virtually ignore the evidence of the defence lawyers. They are there to punish the defendants. The total lack of publicity by the mass media helps them to get away with If the Daily Mirror and The Guardian were to send reporters to cover the trials and simply report the arguments of both sides it would make some difference. But the media is closely linked to the establishment and more often than not, prefers to keep quiet.
Meanwhile, a whole group of defendants are seriously discussing whether it makes any difference to hire lawyers and go to the trouble of getting witnesses.
There is a growing feeling that a boycott of the courts might well be a useful tactic to draw to magisterial police-court collaboration.
At the same time money is desperately needed by the Defence Committee. Speakers can also be provided to speak at meetings. For details ring: 01-574-4920. tyranny and Southall Vishnu Sharma, President Indian Workers Association - wants the trials stopped.