Lester Knox Coleman has been appointed to represent the WSA in South Africa to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on it's 50th Anniversary.
Mr. Coleman's visit is sponsored by Professor Lorraine Anne Hebblethwaite, Faculty of Law, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KZN. " He shall be speaking to several academic and business organizations, and touring South Africa," Mr. Gallup said.
Mr. Coleman presently hosts a daily talk program in Lexington, Kentucky on radio 1300, WLXG. He has frequently used his program to promote human rights in the United States, including opposition to the death penalty, and medical maltreatment of the growing number of aging, non-violent prisoners in the USA.
Mr. Coleman has joined renowned midwest family therapist, Dr. Taylor Bach to host a series called, HEAD TALK to be distributed on the Internet.
Mr. Coleman personally suffered documented abuse while incarcerated in a federal prison in New York, in 1996-97. He was held without bail after he voluntarily surrendered to answer charges of perjury related to an affidavit filed in the Pan Am 103 civil case.
One doctor testified that Mr. Coleman had cancer and was denied treatment for more than 3 months. After he finally underwent surgery his incision became infected, bandages were not changed by prison medical personnel. He spent more than two weeks in a private hospital to recover. As a result he suffered from severe depression. According to court records, his mental condition was a direct result of the horrible treatment he received in federal custody.
He has retained legal counsel in Kentucky to seek damages from the Federal government for medical maltreatment.
Before his voluntary return to the USA in 1996 Mr. Coleman and his family resided in Sweden, where they had been granted sanctuary on humanitarin grounds.
The Coleman's expect to spend the month of July in South Africa, which may include a personal meeting with President, Nelson Mandela.
