This is a "WikiLeaks News Update," constantly updated throughout each day. The blog tracks stories that are obviously related to WikiLeaks but also follows stories related to freedom of information, transparency, cybersecurity, and freedom of expression. All the times are GMT.
09:00 PM Wired just published what they claim to be full chat logs between Bradley Manning and Adrian Lamo.
05:00 PM A decision regarding Julian Assange's extradition appeal is expected in about three weeks. Lord Justice Thomas: "We will take time to consider the numerous arguments and authorities."
10:10 AM Second day of extradition appeal hearing is about to begin. Good luck Julian!
A selection of relevant tweets from today's session:
"Judge: warrant is being used for something it shouldn't be used for, that is to persue for questioning." via @m_cetera
"it must be said that the judges are indicating some scepticism about the allegations #wljul" via @auerfeld
Prosecution being inconsistent? "Earlier she stressed the word "accused" was never mentioned on EAW RT @auerfeld Montgomery: language of eaw "unmistakably that of accusation" #wljul" via @amberlymellow
"Judge: why go through all of this is Mr. Assange offered to be interviewed? #wljul" via @m_cetera
"Judge asks why #assange wasn't interviewed over phone. "Why does judicial corporation not entail...sensible steps to get on with it"?" via @AlexiMostrous
"Emmerson [defense] on attack for #Assange: "a lot of what has been said to your lordships is simply a waste of time"." via @Robert_Booth
"#Assange just passed a smiley face doodle on a post-it to John Pilger." via @AlexiMostrous
10:10 AM Complaint against Visa and Mastercard has been sent by DataCell and Wikileaks to the European Commission. Should be there tomorrow.
07:50 AM Activist Ciaron O'Reilly reports on the first day of extradition appeal, spent outside the Royal Courts of Justice in support of Julian Assange and Wikileaks.
...I have spent 30 years inside and outside of court resisting war preparations, war and expressing solidarity for others doing the same. Courts are exhasuting places, but it is human solidarity that keeps us going.
06:30 AM The first part of Julian Assange's extradition appeal hearing as summed up by Russia Today’s Laura Emmett :
"Julian Assange has hired an entirely new legal team for this appeal. He’s fired the old lot and he’s got people who have much more experience in criminal law. And what they’ve done is taking a more conciliatory tone towards the court and towards the charges that have been made. And they’re much more concerned with the ins and outs of EU law and specifically the European Arrest Warrant which of course allows people to be extradited within the European Union.
They are arguing that the European Arrest Warrant in Assange’s case is invalid because of discrepancies between the allegations made and the testemonies of the two alleged victims. There are four charges and they range between unlawful coercion, to sexual assault right down to rape. And what the legal team is saying is that there’s nothing in the alleged victims’ statements that amounts to that. There’s no evidence of a lack of consent in the sexual relations that took place between them. They say that three out of four of the allegations wouldn’t amount to a crime in the UK and that the arrest warrant has been issued misrepresents all of that.
They’re also saying it’s important to remember that no charges have been brought against Assange. He’s wanted for questioning in Sweden and so far no more. And they’re saying, has he been accused of anything, is the prosecution on this case underway, which of course is not. And they’re saying if it’s not, then the warrant is innerently not valid.
Now this case is slated to go through Wednesday. If this appeal is rejected by the High Court then Julian Assange has vowed to take the extradition case right to the Supreme Court and even onwards to the European Court of Human Rights. But it should be noted that permission to go to the Supreme Court has to granted, it’s not automatic and it can only be granted if this case is deemed to be in the public interest. Now of course he was last in court in February when the judge ruled against him and said that there was no reason he shouldn’t be extradited to Sweden where he would, according to the judge there, face a fair trial.
But Assange and his supporters have always been worried that once he’s extradited to Sweden, he would be sent to the U.S. That this case was politically motivated and, of course, have noted that the Grand Jury in the U.S. is investigating Wikileaks and that some people in America would love to get their hands on Assange. And there are indeed significant links between the U.S. and Sweden, as detailed in my report…"
03:40 AM @WL_Central_Live had technical difficulties and unfortunately wasn’t able to tweet from the inside the Court, but @m_cetera managed to get a seat and covered the whole hearing here.
03:25 AM 4000 cables were released Monday by Wikileaks.
03:10 AM The U.S. is being accused of violating the United Nations’ rules when it refused Juan Mendez, the U.N.'s special rapporteur for torture, unfettered access to Bradley Manning.
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