2011-11-21 #WikiLeaks News: Hearing for Bradley #Manning on December 16; New Support Campaigns; Cablegate
This is a "WikiLeaks News Update", a news update of stories relating directly to WikiLeaks and also freedom of information, transparency, cybersecurity, and freedom of expression.
After 17 months in confinement, Bradley Manning will appear before court on December 16, for an Article 32 pretrial hearing, his lawyer announced today.
The hearing, expected to last 5 days, will take place at Fort Meade, Maryland and will be held publicly “with the exception of those limited times where classified information is being discussed”.
The primary purpose of this hearing is to evaluate the US Government’s case against Manning.
Supporters will be outside the Court as he arrives, for a demonstration also tied to the celebration of his 24th birthday on the following day, December 17.
On December 17,
please write or send small gifts to Bradley Manning.
And don’t forget you can also contribute to his defense with a donation.
The Bradley Manning Support Network organizes a day in support of Bradley on this occasion and a Global Vigil is also planned.
Additionally, in response to the White House’s refusal to comment on a petition to let a UN torture investigator visit Bradley Manning in order to assess the conditions he is being held under, another petition was created requesting that the White House begins to “take petitions seriously”.
Cablegate Press Coverage and Other News
- As Hillary Clinton prepares to announce new U.S. support for the Philippines, Renato Reyes, secretary-general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), questioned the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries making reference to WikiLeaks revelations:
"How can we expect fair and equal treatment from the U.S., especially after what we learned from Wikileaks?", he asked. "In 2009, Secretary Clinton herself ordered U.S. diplomats to spy on UN officials and other UN representatives, even ordering the gathering of biometric and IT-related information. (…) As revealed in Wikileaks, the U.S. embassy in the Philippines undermined Philippine sovereignty on many issues. That’s the kind foreign policy that the US carries out even with its so-called ‘allies’."
- “The United States warned Kenya two years ago not to launch an offensive in southern Somalia against al-Qaida-allied al-Shabab rebels, but a U.S. official also offered to check on the "feasibility" of a U.S. review of the plans”, US State Department cables published by WikiLeaks show. [via McClatchy]
- Today the New York Times Examiner uploaded the fourth segment of an interview with Julian Assange, on his experience working with newspaper ‘New York Times’. To view parts 1, 2 and 3 click on these numbers.
- A video of Christine Assange and other protesters chanting and marching at the November 17 rally for WikiLeaks/Julian Assange has been uploaded to vimeo. See it here.
Action Campaigns
WikiLeaks
- If you live in Australia: click here to complain to the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission) about the Banking Blockade against WikiLeaks.
Julian Assange
- New: November 25 - Rally to Defend Julian Assange in Brisbane. From 5pm to 7pm.
- If you live in the UK, contact your MP ahead of a Parliamentary debate on extradition, on November 24, where Julian Assange’s case will be discussed.
Please bring his case to the attention of your MP: the EAW for Julian Assange was issued in abuse of process as it is being used for questioning, not for the purpose of having him prosecuted for an offense.
Julian Assange has been under house arrest for 349 days without charge. On December 7 he will have been detained for a year.More about EAW irregularities in this case.
Contact your MP at writetothem.com.
- Send at least one of the several call to action and petitioning draft letters addressed to European organizations and Members of the European Parliament requesting action over the unjust treatment of Julian Assange.
- Sign this petition demanding Julian Assange be protected by the Australian Parliament from extradition to the United States.
WikiLeaks event calendar (updated)
Click to enlarge.
Before November 24: the UK Parliament will, on November 24 debate the extradition of Julian Assange, among other cases. If you live in the UK, write your MP on the subject ahead of this debate. Here’s how. (All details about this case at Sweden vs. Assange)
November 25: ‘Defend Julian Assange’ rally in Brisbane. More details here.
November 28: On the anniversary of Cablegate, a new WikiLeaks online submission system is to be launched.
November 28: Julian Assange and Kristinn Hrafnsson debate the topic The WikiLeaks effect: the rebirth of investigative journalism at the GEN News World Summit (Hong Kong).
November 29: Channel 4 airs new special ‘WikiLeaks: Secrets and Lies’.
December 5: Public hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice (London) to determine whether Julian Assange’s appeal will proceed to the Supreme Court.
December 7: Julian Assange will have spent a year under house arrest without charge.
December 16: An pretrial hearing for Bradley Manning is scheduled to begin at Fort Meade (Maryland) and is expected to last five days. Supporters will gather outside the Court.
December 17: Vigil for Bradley Manning on his 24th Birthday:
Saturday, December 17 · 12:00am - 11:30pm
[For more details, see Vigil for Bradley Manning on his 24th Birthday's facebook page.]
Send small gifts and birthday cards to the following address
Bradley Manning 89289
830 Sabalu Road
Fort Leavenworth, KS 6602