Australian has abandoned me: Assange

**Mid** · 07-12-2010, 04:18 PM

Open letter: To Julia Gillard, re Julian Assange
07 December 2010

2149 Comments

Jeff Sparrow and Elizabeth O'Shea

Editor's note: There’s no doubt that WikiLeaks and its figurehead-on-the-run Julian Assange are among the hottest items for discussion on the planet right now.

Feelings are running high, and many in this country take the view that the Australian Government ought do more to assist its vilified, beleaguered citizen.

Assange has become a cause celebre, as evidenced by the signatories to this open letter, a who’s who of sorts, from Noam Chomsky to Helen Garner...

We wrote the letter below because we believe that Julian Assange is entitled to all the protections enshrined in the rule of law – and that the Australian Government has an obligation to ensure he receives them.

The signatures here have been collected in the course of a day-and-a-half, primarily from people in publishing, law and politics. The signatories hold divergent views about WikiLeaks and its operations. But they are united in a determination to see Mr Assange treated fairly.

We know that many others would have liked to sign. But given the urgency of the situation, we though it expedient to publish now rather than collect more names.

If, however, you agree with the sentiments expressed, we encourage you to leave your name in the comments section.

Dear Prime Minister,

We note with concern the increasingly violent rhetoric directed towards Julian Assange of WikiLeaks.
“We should treat Mr Assange the same way as other high-value terrorist targets: Kill him,” writes conservative columnist Jeffrey T Kuhner in the Washington Times.

William Kristol, former chief of staff to vice president Dan Quayle, asks, “Why can’t we use our various assets to harass, snatch or neutralize Julian Assange and his collaborators, wherever they are?”

“Why isn’t Julian Assange dead?” writes the prominent US pundit Jonah Goldberg.

“The CIA should have already killed Julian Assange,” says John Hawkins on the Right Wing News site.

Sarah Palin, a likely presidential candidate, compares Assange to an Al Qaeda leader; Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania senator and potential presidential contender, accuses Assange of “terrorism”.

And so on and so forth.

Such calls cannot be dismissed as bluster. Over the last decade, we have seen the normalisation of extrajudicial measures once unthinkable, from ‘extraordinary rendition’ (kidnapping) to ‘enhanced interrogation’ (torture).

In that context, we now have grave concerns for Mr Assange’s wellbeing.

Irrespective of the political controversies surrounding WikiLeaks, Mr Assange remains entitled to conduct his affairs in safety, and to receive procedural fairness in any legal proceedings against him.

As is well known, Mr Assange is an Australian citizen.

We therefore call upon you to condemn, on behalf of the Australian Government, calls for physical harm to be inflicted upon Mr Assange, and to state publicly that you will ensure Mr Assange receives the rights and protections to which he is entitled, irrespective of whether the unlawful threats against him come from individuals or states.

We urge you to confirm publicly Australia’s commitment to freedom of political communication; to refrain from cancelling Mr Assange's passport, in the absence of clear proof that such a step is warranted; to provide assistance and advocacy to Mr Assange; and do everything in your power to ensure that any legal proceedings taken against him comply fully with the principles of law and procedural fairness.

A statement by you to this effect should not be controversial – it is a simple commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.

We believe this case represents something of a watershed, with implications that extend beyond Mr Assange and WikiLeaks. In many parts of the globe, death threats routinely silence those who would publish or disseminate controversial material. If these incitements to violence against Mr Assange, a recipient of Amnesty International’s Media Award, are allowed to stand, a disturbing new precedent will have been established in the English-speaking world.

In this crucial time, a strong statement by you and your Government can make an important difference.

We look forward to your response.

Dr Jeff Sparrow, author and editor
Lizzie O’Shea, Social Justice Lawyer, Maurice Blackburn
Professor Noam Chomsky, writer and academic
Antony Loewenstein, journalist and author
Mungo MacCallum, journalist and writer
Professor Peter Singer, author and academic
Adam Bandt, MP
Senator Bob Brown
Senator Scott Ludlam
Julian Burnside QC, barrister
Jeff Lawrence, Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions
Professor Raimond Gaita, author and academic
Rob Stary, lawyer
Lieutenant Colonel (ret) Lance Collins, Australian Intelligence Corps, writer
The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC
Brian Walters SC, barrister
Professor Larissa Behrendt, academic
Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees, academic, Sydney Peace Foundation
Mary Kostakidis, Chair, Sydney Peace Foundation
Professor Wendy Bacon, journalist
Christos Tsiolkas, author
James Bradley, author and journalist
Julian Morrow, comedian and television producer
Louise Swinn, publisher
Helen Garner, novelist
Professor Dennis Altman, writer and academic
Dr Leslie Cannold, author, ethicist, commentator
John Birmingham, writer
Guy Rundle, writer
Alex Miller, writer
Sophie Cunningham, editor and author
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
Professor Judith Brett, author and academic
Stephen Keim SC, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights
Phil Lynch, Executive Director, Human Rights Law Resource Centre
Sylvia Hale, MLC
Sophie Black, editor
David Ritter, lawyer and historian
Dr Scott Burchill, writer and academic
Dr Mark Davis, author and academic
Henry Rosenbloom, publisher
Ben Naparstek, editor
Chris Feik, editor
Louise Swinn, publisher
Stephen Warne, barrister
Dr John Dwyer QC
Hilary McPhee, writer, publisher
Joan Dwyer OAM
Greg Barns, barrister
James Button, journalist
Owen Richardson, critic
Michelle Griffin, editor
John Timlin, literary Agent & producer
Ann Cunningham, lawyer and publisher
Alison Croggon, author, critic
Daniel Keene, playwright
Dr Nick Shimmin, editor/writer
Bill O'Shea, lawyer, former President, Law Institute of Victoria
Dianne Otto, Professor of Law, Melbourne Law School
Professor Frank Hutchinson,Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS), University of Sydney
Anthony Georgeff, editor
Max Gillies, actor
Shane Maloney, writer
Louis Armand, author and publisher
Jenna Price, academic and journalist
Tanja Kovac, National Cooordinator EMILY's List Australia
Dr Russell Grigg, academic
Dr Justin Clemens, writer and academic
Susan Morairty, Lawyer
David Hirsch, Barrister
Cr Anne O’Shea
Kathryn Crosby, Candidates Online
Dr Robert Sparrow, academic
Jennifer Mills, author
Foong Ling Kong, editor
Tim Norton, Online Campaigns Co-ordinator, Oxfam Australia
Elisabeth Wynhausen, writer
Ben Slade, Lawyer
Nikki Anderson, publisher
Dan Cass
Professor Diane Bell, author and academic
Dr Philipa Rothfield, academic
Gary Cazalet, academic
Dr David Coady, academic
Dr Matthew Sharpe, writer and academic
Dr Tamas Pataki, writer and academic
Miska Mandic
Associate Professor Jake Lynch, academic
Professor Simon During, academic
Michael Brull, writer
Dr Geoff Boucher, academic
Jacinda Woodhead, writer and editor
Dr Rjurik Davidson, writer and editor
Mic Looby, writer
Jane Gleeson-White, writer and editor
Alex Skutenko, editor
Associate Professor John Collins, academic
Professor Philip Pettit, academic
Dr Christopher Scanlon, writer and academic
Dr Lawrie Zion, journalist
Johannes Jakob, editor
Sunili Govinnage, lawyer
Michael Bates, lawyer
Bridget Maidment, editor
Bryce Ives, theatre director
Sarah Darmody, writer
Jill Sparrow, writer
Lyn Bender, psychologist
Meredith Rose, editor
Dr Ellie Rennie, President, Engage Media
Ryan Paine, editor
Simon Cooper, editor
Chris Haan, lawyer
Carmela Baranowska, journalist.
Clinton Ellicott, publisher
Dr Charles Richardson, writer and academic
Phillip Frazer, publisher
Geoff Lemon, journalist
Jaya Savige, poet and editor
Johannes Jakob, editor
Kate Bree Geyer; journalist
Chay-Ya Clancy, performer
Lisa Greenaway, editor, writer
Chris Kennett - screenwriter, journalist
Kasey Edwards, author
Dr. Janine Little, academic
Dr Andrew Milner, writer and academic
Patricia Cornelius, writer
Elisa Berg, publisher
Lily Keil, editor
Jenny Sinclair
Roselina Rose
Stephen Luntz
PM Newton
Bryan Cooke
Kristen Obaid
Ryan Haldane-Underwood
Patrick Gardner
Robert Sinnerbrink
Kathryn Millist
Anne Coombs
Karen Pickering
Sarah Mizrahi
Suzanne Ingleton
Jessica Crouch
Michael Ingleton
Matt Griffin
Jane Allen
Tom Curtis
John Connell
David Garland
Stuart Hall
Meredith Tucker-Evans
Phil Perkins
Alexandra Adsett
Tom Doig, editor
Beth Jackson
Peter Mattessi
Robert Sinnerbrink
Greg Black
Paul Ashton
Sigi Jottkandt
Kym Connell, lawyer
Silma Ihram
Nicole Papaleo, lawyer
Melissa Forbes
Matthew Ryan
Ben Gook
Daniel East
Bridget Ikin
Lisa O'Connell
Melissa Cranenburgh
John Bryson
Michael Farrell
Melissa Reeves
Dr Emma Cox
Michael Green
Margherita Tracanelli
David Carlin, writer
Bridget McDonnell
Geoff Page, writer
Rebecca Interdonato
Roxane Ludbrook-Ingleton
Stefan Caramia
Ash Plummer

Open letter: To Julia Gillard, re Julian Assange - Unleashed (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

**Butterfly** · 07-12-2010, 04:20 PM

Gillard is a fucking kunt, she should resign

**Pol the Pot** · 07-12-2010, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by dobella

Since this very clever educated [at][at][at][at] stepped ont the world stage. things have wobbled.
Diplomats of all countries of previous good relations are looking at each other.
This prick has rocked the world out of his own narcism, ' i can do this damage, so i will, arent't i powerful' ?
This dickhead who loves himself, has probably caused many attacks on western interests with this latest serious breaches.
When the inevitable attacks come in by Al Queada and their ilk onto the sites 'recommended', i wonder how the young, wanted for a rape allegation in Sweden
chappie will feel ?

Actually nobody has died as a result of any leaks, not these, and not the last two batches.

You are wrong.

**Panda** · 07-12-2010, 05:16 PM

The Australian government is siding up with the US government as they always do. Australia needs US back-up protection since we have an expansionist Indonesia right on our doorstep and with China not too far further up the road.

If it means sacrificing a few of our own citizens to placate our military allie then thats what our government will do, and has done with David Hicks also.

I always remember that fat pig of a man, -- Richard Armitage, the then US deputy Secretary of State on Australian TV quite openly saying that if Australia didnt back up USA in the UN over the intended invasion of Iraq, then USA might have to rethink its military alliance with Australia. It was blackmail plain and simple, but a message our politicans understand very well.

**Larn** · 07-12-2010, 05:18 PM

SKY NEWS is reporting from sources he has just been arrested

Expected to appear before magistrates in the next few hours.

**Panda** · 07-12-2010, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Gillard is a fucking kunt, she should resign

Have to agree there, even though I support her party on most issues.
Its one thing to have to bend over and have to be subservient to a greater power, but Gillard is prancing around on Aussie TV condemning one of her own citizens in favour of a foreign government. Even the Australian Atorney General says that there doesnt appear to be anything illegal about what Assanage has done, but they have their legal experts trying to find something to get him on. And further this prostitute to the US government said they were thinking about revoking his Australian passport, but that it would make it harder to track his movements. Gillard and her government is a disgrace for taking such a high profile stance against one of our own citizens in favour of a foreign government.

**Bazzy** · 07-12-2010, 06:15 PM

He's been arrested:

Julian Assange | WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks founder arrested in London
December 7, 2010 - 9:41PM
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested by officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit.

The 39-year-old Australian was held when he attended a central London police station by appointment.

Assange was arrested at 9.30am (2030 AEDT) on Tuesday and was due to appear before a district judge at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court later in the day.

Advertisement: Story continues below
Police said he had been arrested on a Swedish warrant.

"Officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape," a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

"Julian Assange, 39, was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant by appointment at a London police station at 9.30am.

"He is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010.

"Assange is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court today."

AFP

**Bazzy** · 07-12-2010, 06:22 PM

It always concerns me when my government sides automatically with a US political position. In the past they justified it on the basis that our relationship with the US is so important. These days I say fuck them they have run their country into the ground and maybe we don't need them so much any more. No offense meant to any individual US folks on the forum.

**taffyapple** · 08-12-2010, 12:07 PM

arrested in london and refused bail,judge could not have been a fifa member.

**baldrick** · 08-12-2010, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Gillard is a fucking kunt, she should resign

she is a severe embarrassment and a constant reminder that the govt is run by corporate decree from large multinationals.

the way she has sat back and let retards publicly threaten an Australian citizen is just discraceful. This should be the end of her political career.

**Johnny Longprong** · 08-12-2010, 02:48 PM

You only have to have a look at that egocentric peanut Kevin Rudd to understand the quality and integrity of Australian foreign policy. They don't have the well-being of Australian citizens at heart, only the promotion of their particular faction within the Labor Party. As for the dopey redheaded sheila, she is making it up as she goes along. A true purveyor of cover over substance. Kerrry O'Brien interviewed her in his last interview before retirement and pushed her to say when would we see something as promised by her party from the last two elections. No fn sensible answer. He just smiled. I guess he knew that the fn dopey Australians would trust the pricks again.

Again I remind you Australians, especially those who have worked in the SE Asia region and have seen the sell-outs and duplicity plays of politics in the region, stand up and defend what you know about Australia and how good it was and how good it could be in the future. Think about this current government, the opposition aren't much better by the way, and remember that these same people are now dissing the Chinese who they have allowed to buy massive stakes in real estate and mining in our own country. So, instead of price makers for our precious raw materials we will be price takers. Bum boys once again.

You have to ask what is the real agenda and speak up now before it is too late.
Personally I welcome the Wikileaks and support his right to put them in the public area for scrutiny. If we bend over on this right we are all rooted already.

**Panda** · 08-12-2010, 02:50 PM

If the Australian government didnt want to offend their military allie USA, they could have just remained silent on the issue since no Australian laws have been broken. But oh no! we have the Australian PM, the Attorney General and the Foreign Minister all coming out condemning a fellow Australian citizen openly and brazenly in the media. Even so far as threatening to withdraw his passport and engaging the Australian Federal Police legal experts to try and find some crime to pin on him. Its worse than disgraceful when the very people we elect to represent and protect us turn on one of their own citizens to back up a foreign government.

Shame on Gillard, -- a traitor to the Australian people and a prostitute to the corporate interests who run USA.

**Butterfly** · 08-12-2010, 02:57 PM

the real traitors are those government shills,

**dirtydog** · 08-12-2010, 03:00 PM

^ ^^ ^^^ But, he may have broken a law once they decide to change the laws

got to admit it's pretty disgusting when your own government turns against you, although I'm pretty sure the brit govt would do the same.

**Perota** · 08-12-2010, 03:28 PM

I think there is a communication problem somewhere :
Wikileaks: Australia FM says US to blame, not Assange

Australia's foreign minister has said the US is to blame for the release of thousands of diplomatic cables on Wikileaks, not its Australian founder, Julian Assange.

Kevin Rudd said the release raised questions about US security.

The US was also angered at what it called Mr Rudd's "self-serving and inaccurate leaking" of a phone call with then US President George W Bush in which Mr Rudd was reported as saying: "Stunned to hear Bush say, 'What's the G20?'"
Mr Rudd shrugged off the criticism, saying: "I'm sure much worse has been written about me in the past and probably much worse will be written about me in the future but frankly, mate, I don't care.
"My job's just to act in Australia's national interest as Australia's foreign minister. I don't, frankly, give a damn about this sort of thing. You just get on with it."

BBC News - Wikileaks: Australia FM says US to blame, not Assange

**Panda** · 08-12-2010, 04:27 PM

Rudd was on the hunt for Assanges scalp along with Gillard until he realized what a political blunder it was to attack someone who has become an Australian folk hero in the eyes of many voters, -- and especially left leaning voters who tipped the delicate balance and got his party into power by a hairs width last election.

Just saw on the 6:30 news Rudd showing a more empathetic stance saying the Australian Government would offer Assange consular assistance. Gone was the previous venom condemning Assange as a threat to the security of the free world.
Of course the most recent Wikileaks release showing US diplomats regard Rudd as an incompetent fool wouldn't have helped keep him on board the US lynch mob boat much either.

**Mid** · 08-12-2010, 04:29 PM

yep suspect Gillard will pay for her foot in mouth , she's been seriously on the back peddle but too late , damage is done .

**Panda** · 08-12-2010, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Mid

yep suspect Gillard will pay for her foot in mouth , she's been seriously on the back peddle but too late , damage is done .

It was certainly a very big political mistake for Gillard to come out mouthing off against a fellow Aussie in favour of a foreign government. And she is certain to pay for that at the next election no matter what false amends she tries to make now. However, the opposition Liberal Party is not able to capitalize on Gillards blunder as they are even more right wing US suck-ups than Labour. Most people will forget by next election, but some will remember.

**Mid** · 08-12-2010, 06:14 PM

Australia blames U.S. over WikiLeaks, founder held in U.K.
Rob Taylor and Peter Griffiths
December 8, 2010

A screen shot of a web browser shows the WikiLeaks home page with a portrait of its founder Julian Assange in Lavigny, December 4, 2010.
Photo by: Valentin Flauraud

BRISBANE, Australia/LONDON - Australia blamed the United States on Wednesday for the release by WikiLeaks of U.S. diplomatic cables after a British court ordered the detention of the group's founder over allegations of sex crimes in Sweden.

WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange, a 39-year-old Australian, handed himself in to British police on Tuesday after Sweden had issued a European Arrest Warrant for him. Assange, who denies the allegations, will remain behind bars until a hearing on Dec. 14.

He has spent some time in Sweden and was accused this year of sexual misconduct by two female Swedish WikiLeaks volunteers. A Swedish prosecutor wants to question him about the accusation.

WikiLeaks, which has provoked fury in Washington with its publications, vowed it would continue making public details of the 250,000 secret U.S. documents it had obtained.

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said the people who originally leaked the documents, not Assange, were legally liable and the leaks raised questions over the "adequacy" of U.S. security.

"Mr Assange is not himself responsible for the unauthorised release of 250,000 documents from the U.S. diplomatic communications network," Rudd told Reuters in an interview.

"The Americans are responsible for that," said Rudd, who had been described in one leaked U.S. cable as a "control freak."

The original source of the leak is not known, though a U.S. army private who worked as an intelligence analyst in Iraq, Bradley Manning, has been charged by military authorities with unauthorised downloading of more than 150,000 State Department cables.

U.S. officials have declined to say whether those cables are the same ones now being released by WikiLeaks.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates welcomed news of Assange's arrest.
"I hadn't heard that but it sounds like good news to me," Gates told reporters on Tuesday during a trip to Afghanistan.

Assange defended his Internet publishing site in a newspaper commentary on Wednesday, saying it was crucial to spreading democracy and likening himself to global media baron Rupert Murdoch in the quest to publish the truth.

At the Tuesday court hearing in London, Senior District Judge Howard Riddle said: "There are substantial grounds to believe he could abscond if granted bail."

He said the allegations were serious, and that Assange had comparatively weak community ties in Britain.

His British lawyer, Mark Stephens, told reporters a renewed bail application would be made, and that his client was "fine."

Stephens said many people believed the prosecution was politically motivated, and that he would be "released and vindicated."

But a Swedish prosecutor was cited in newspaper Aftonbladet as saying the case was a personal matter and was not connected with his WikiLeaks work.

Assange, dressed in a navy suit and wearing an open-neck white shirt, initially gave his address in court as a P.O. Box in Australia. Pressed for a more precise address, he gave a street in Victoria, Australia.

Australian journalist John Pilger, British film director Ken Loach and Jemima Khan, former wife of Pakistani cricketer and politician Imran Khan, all offered to put up sureties to persuade the court Assange would not abscond.

The U.S. government and others across the world have argued the publication of the cables is irresponsible and could put their national security at risk.

dose.ca

**terry57** · 08-12-2010, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by OhOh

Sad to see the open hypocrisy of the Australian government.

The Australian government is so far up the yanks arse its a joke. They are shit scared to so no to them and will always side with them.

This guy has no chance of help from his home country.

**Panda** · 08-12-2010, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by OhOh

Sad to see the open hypocrisy of the Australian government.

The Australian government is so far up the yanks arse its a joke. They are shit scared to so no to them and will always side with them.

This guy has no chance of help from his home country.

Its one thing for our pollies to go licking their American masters arses over going to back them up in their wars, but when it comes to betraying Australian citizens rights in favour of a foreign government I reckon the Australian people will jack up.

**taffyapple** · 09-12-2010, 10:30 AM

this stinks worse than cat shit,refused bail on an allegation,come on uk.you are showing yourselves up,normally you give bail to murderers,peadofiles,terrorists what has this bloke done?

**Mid** · 09-12-2010, 03:02 PM

K Rudd is taking a very different tack to that red haired tart .

**Mid** · 09-12-2010, 04:27 PM

Australia: Wikileaks may be a criminal offense
12/09/2010

The Australian government said Wikileaks may have committed a crime, as the actions of Australian ministers were revealed in leaked cables, Australian press agency AAP reported on Thursday.

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said that "unauthorized obtaining" of classified documents may be a punishable offense.

"Certainly to release that sort of information by an officer of the commonwealth, if it were Australian material, would in my view certainly involve criminality," Mr McClelland said.

jpost.com

**Mid** · 09-12-2010, 05:28 PM

Hundreds rally for WikiLeaks founder
09 December 2010

About 200 people have marched in Brisbane's CBD at a demonstration in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Many were holding pictures of Assange in front of their faces as speakers told the crowd "we are all Julian Assange".

A message from Britain-based Australian journalist John Pilger was read to the crowd in support of the demonstration.

Mr Pilger said: "The defence of Julian Assange is one of the most important issues of my lifetime."

He described Mr Assange's arrest on sex charges as a stunt to silence him.

Rally organiser Jessica Payne said: "We're here to defend WikiLeaks, to defend our right to freedom of information, to defend our right to know what our elected representatives are up to.

"We are all Assange, and if they want to take down Assange, they have to take down all of us."

sbs.com.au

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