2011-11-22 #WikiLeaks News: The Disappearance of WL Truck; Senate confronted about Mr Assange’s extradition; Other News
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.
WikiLeaks Truck is still missing after it was taken from its owner by the NYPD at Occupy Wall Street. Artist Clark Stoeckley, the owner and driver, was pulled over and subsequently arrested, possibly unlawfully, for ‘obstructing government administration’.
Clark refused to consent to a search [video here] and the truck was towed by the NYPD. He was released from jail on November 18 but the truck, containing his personal belongings, is still in an unknown location. Although Police assured Clark Stoeckley the WikiLeaks Truck was to be found in an impound lot in Brooklyn, the truck never made it to said impound lot.
Please raise awareness about the disappearance of the WikiLeaks Truck: locally, if you live in New York, or online if you don’t. The WikiLeaks Truck has become a mascot of both WikiLeaks and the Occupy movement and must be returned to its owner by the NYPD.
Below, a few tweets by the @WikiLeaksTruck driver, Clark Stoeckley describing the situation:
How to attend Bradley Manning’s Pretrial Hearing
The Bradley Manning Support Network website has been updated with precise indications on how to attend the Rally for Bradley Manning, on the day of his pretrial hearing, and the hearing itself, which will be open to the public, except for the moments when classified information is discussed.
VIGIL (or attend hearing)
Friday, December 16th, 8am to 5pm
RALLY & MARCH
Saturday, December 17th, Noon to 3pm
The Fort Meade Main Gate is located in Odenton, Maryland, 25 miles northeast of Washington DC, between Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland.
MARCH
After a rally and vigil, supporters will march via the sidewalk along MD 175/Rouse Pkwy/Annapolis Rd, one mile, to Maryland 175 & Llewellyn Ave (the military court room is located on Llewellyn Ave one mile from the gate). Afterwards, we'll march back to the main gate.
SUPPORTERS ATTENDING THE PROCEEDINGS
Those wishing to attend the proceedings should go to the Visitor Control Center (near the intersection of Maryland 175 & Reece Rd, Fort Meade, MD 21113) when it opens at 7:30am (and certainly no later than 8:15am). All other gates are for military I.D. card holders only.
You do not need to pre-register. Each person will need a valid state or
federal photo ID such as a driver's license or state photo ID card.
Anyone driving on to Fort Meade will be required to submit their driver's license, vehicle registration, and printed (not digital) proof of insurance. Your vehicle will be subject to search. Consider walking on base if there are any questions at all regarding your vehicle and paperwork.
The proceedings are likely to start at 9am daily at the Magistrate Court, 4432 Llewellyn Ave, Fort Meade, MD 20755. The court room is 1.5 miles from the Visitor Control Center. The pre-trial hearing will break from Friday, December 23 until January 2 if needed.
MEDIA ATTENDING THE PROCEEDINGS
Contact the Fort Meade Public Affairs office for information at 301-677-1361
More information at bradleymanning.org
- Bradley Manning’s attorney is expected to call up to 50 witnesses during the pretrial hearing that will begin on the 16th December. Witnesses could include “people who can talk about the public benefits of whistleblowers”, such as Daniel Ellsberg.
- Australian Senator Scott Ludlam focused on the legal and consular rights of Julian Assange, as an Australian citizen, when he addressed the Senate today.
He expressed concern over a possible extradition of Julian Assange to the United States where, he stated, ‘his life is under threat’, providing the Senate with examples of high-profile American figures having publicly condoned the murder of Julian Assange. He also defended WikiLeaks’ position as a publishing organization.
A full transcript can be read here
- Jennifer Robinson, WikiLeaks’ legal advisor, delivered a keynote address on challenges and extralegal attacks faced by WikiLeaks (at the inaugural conference of the Centre for Legal Governance in Australia, under the theme ‘Tomorrow's Law: Disclosure of Information - Balancing Public and Private Interests’ - November 18).
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
- On 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 350 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
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: A 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