Indigenous charity founder David Cole says he will not eat while quarantining in Howard Springs

‘I am a political prisoner, this is a political target, I am here under duress, I have given no consent, I am here against my free will.’

THE founder of an Indigenous healing charity and vocal anti-vaxxer David Cole says he is on a two-week hunger strike after being arrested and taken into the Howard Springs facility as a “political prisoner”.

In a video posted last week from what appears to be the quarantine facility, Cole said he had “triggered the head of the state” and would forgo eating for 14 days.

Cole said he had been pursued by two police cars and was subsequently taken into custody for breaching the chief health officer’s orders, but wasn’t given any further explanation.

“I’m well aware that I’ve triggered the head of the state in the Territory,” he said.

“His name is Bob … Bob is a partner in this facility. So as a result, I will be going on a hunger strike for 14 days. I will not be eating in here because I do not trust.

“The actions that we have recently taken will result in a lot of fraud and corruption being unravelled when this government is brought down for the fraud and criminality it is committing against the people now, and Bob’s already concerned about that. I am a political prisoner, this is a political target, I am here under duress, I have given no consent, I am here against my free will.”

Acting Commander Lauren Hill said a 49-year-old man was taken into custody on October 22 to undergo quarantine for allegedly lying on his border form for returning to the Territory. “(The man) has been issued an infringement for contravention of emergency declaration – providing false information on a border entry form,” she said.

“He is required to complete 14 days’ quarantine to keep Territorians safe.

“The chief health officer directions are legally enforceable and NT Police will continue to ensure compliance with these directions.”

Cole said he was safe and police had not treated him “unwell”.

In September footage emerged of Cole campaigning against vaccination at a gathering in Darwin.

“Six people died from Groote Eylandt in one week. They were all vaccinated,” he told the crowd.

“We are dropping. The morgues are filling. The funeral parlours can’t cope.”

The claims have been flatly rejected by NT Health.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner condemned Cole’s comments.

“To ... spread fear about a lifesaving vaccine is so contemptuous I don’t have adjectives media would print,” he said at the time.

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