2012-05-08 WikiLeaks News Update: "World Tomorrow" Ep. 4; Pentagon says whistleblowers unprotected; Other news




WikiLeaks has been financially blockaded without process for 521 days.
Julian Assange has been detained without charge for 518 days.
Bradley Manning has been imprisoned without trial for 715 days.
A secret Grand Jury has been active in the U.S. without transparency for 601 days.


WikiLeaks Press is currently looking for reporters to help us cover the news. For more information see: http://wlcentral.org/reporters.


WikiLeaks News:

  • State Department employee Peter van Buren, who is currently in the process of being fired for linking to a WikiLeaks cable among other things, asked the National Press Club why material WikiLeaks released is still considered classified. James Bamford of The New York Times said it's absurd to keep the documents classified, saying the U.S. Government is putting itself in an "Alice in Wonderland situation." Watch the clip below.
  • An internal report from May 2011, obtained by the Project on Government Oversight, shows that the Pentagon believes whistleblowers in the Department of Defense are inadequately protected. Whistleblowers often faced serious punishments including discharges, demotions, firings, prosecutions, and mental health referrals.
  • Richard Cachia Caruana, Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU, is facing a motion by the Labour Party asking for his resignation over dealings with the U.S. on Partnership for Peace in 2004, which were revealed in diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.
  • WikiLeaks Press published its news coverage of Cablegate, the Gitmo Files, and the G.I. Files for the week of 22 March.
  • An article at Columbia Journalism Review looks at the implications of the financial blockade against WikiLeaks, the Obama administration's campaign against WikiLeaks and whistleblowers, and surveillance and censorship in the U.S.
  • In a new interview, hip-hop artist M.I.A., who recently composed the theme music for "The World Tomorrow," discussed the influence WikiLeaks had on her and the creation of her mixtape "Vicki Leekx."


Julian Assange News:

World Tomorrow banner

  • Episode 4 of "The World Tomorrow" aired, featuring Bahraini activist Nabeel Rajab and Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah. The episode focused on the Arab Spring and how the revolutions have unraveled in the different countries. The episode is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Italian.

  • The full, unedited transcript (2 hours, 50 minutes) of Julian Assange's interview with Nabeel Rajab and Alaa Abd El-Fattah is available at the official website for "The World Tomorrow."
  • Nabeel Rajab is currently detained under order of the public prosecution for "insulting a statutory body" via Twitter. See Part One and Part Two of our continued coverage of his arrest and detainment.


Bradley Manning News:

  • An article in The Miami Herald comments on how the media has remained silent while the Obama administration continues to prosecute a record number of whistleblowers, including Bradley Manning.
  • Jayel Aheram, Iraq War veteran turned antiwar activist, wrote an article about how the information Bradley Manning is alleged to have leaked may have helped end the Iraq War and catalyze both the Arab Spring and Occupy movement.
  • An experimental theatre piece based on the alleged chat logs of Bradley Manning is to be staged in the back of the WikiLeaks truck and debuted in New York City. There are two Twitter accounts promoting the play, @Bradass87ows and @Bradass87play, as well as a webpage for donations.



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Upcoming Dates & Events:


May 23: Julian Assange to speak on the impact of increasing transparency at EIM 2012 in The Netherlands, 4:35PM.

May 27: "Incident in New Baghdad" to air on The Documentary Channel, 8PM.

June 6-8: Bradley Manning motion hearings.

July 16-20: Bradley Manning motion hearings.

August 27-31: Bradley Manning motion hearings.

September 19-20: Bradley Manning motion hearings.

September 21-October 12: Bradley Manning's court martial.

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