2012-03-12 #WikiLeaks News Update: MP speaks out for #Assange; UN condemns #Manning's treatment; Other news




WikiLeaks has been financially blockaded without process for 465 days.
Julian Assange has been detained without charge for 462 days.
Bradley Manning has been imprisoned without trial for 659 days.


WikiLeaks News:

  • Australian MP Jamie Parker gave a speech to the Parliament of New South Wales about WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and Bradley Manning, calling on new Foreign Minister Bob Carr to reject the Australian Government's position and be an advocate for Assange.


  • Der Spiegel journalist Holger Stark addressed MasterCard about their continued financial blockade against WikiLeaks, to which their spokesman replied, "Our position didn't change. I'm not able to give further explanations. […] There will be no explanation."


  • Chris Hedges wrote on how the Supreme Court is likely to endorse Obama's war on whistleblowers. In the article, Daniel Ellsberg is quoted as saying, "Everything that Richard Nixon did to me, for which he faced impeachment and prosecution, which led to his resignation, is now legal under the Patriot Act, the FISA [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] amendment act, the National Defense Authorization Act."


  • A full video of Daniel Ellsberg's March 8 talk "Secrets, Lies, and Leaks: From the Pentagon Papers to WikiLeaks" is now available at Princeton University's website.


  • Dazzlepod has created a keyword-based search engine for WikiLeaks' G.I. Files.


  • People are creating Friends of WikiLeaks Twitter accounts to help organize support for WikiLeaks. Currently, there are accounts for Australia, Frankfurt, and Berlin.


Julian Assange News:

  • Megan Kinninment interviewed Christine Assange and wrote about her courage in fighting for her son's safety and freedom. Liberte-info also did an in-depth interview with Christine about the case against her son and what citizens can do to help.


  • M15 whistleblower Annie Machon wrote about the delay in reform of UK extradition laws, and how they may be purposefully delaying it until the extradition of Julian Assange.


  • Dave Phillips has created a "Most Wanted" list of hard evidence which has yet to surface in Sweden's case against Julian Assange, including various statements and SMS messages.


  • A petition has been created on Avaaz calling upon Australian politicians to protect Julian Assange.


Bradley Manning News:

  • The UN Rapporteur on Torture has formally denounced the US Government of cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment toward Bradley Manning after a 14-month investigation. His full statements on Manning are available on pages 74 and 75 of his full report on torture.


  • The Reporters Committee has written a letter to the US Department of Defense—signed by 46 news media organizations and associations—which urges the implementation of regulations providing timely access to court records during Bradley Manning's court martial.


  • A vigil is planned for Bradley Manning on the date of his next court hearing at Fort Meade, March 15 at 7AM.




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Upcoming Dates & Events:

March 13: Julian Assange to participate in online War on Drugs debate, 7PM GMT.

Mid-March: Julian Assange's TV Series to begin airing.

March 15: Bradley Manning's motion hearing, 10AM at Fort Meade.Vigil planned for 7AM.

March 16: Vigil for Bradley Manning at the US Embassy in London, 5PM.

March 17: "War on WikiLeaks" public forum at Bleeding Heart, Brisbane, 7PM. Speakers include Christine Assange and Scott Ludlam.

April 25: Kristinn Hrafnsson to speak at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy.

May 23: Julian Assange to speak at Enterprise Information Management Congress 2012 in The Netherlands.

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