2012-04-05 #WikiLeaks News Update: Collateral Murder anniversary; #Assange Leveson Inquiry submission; Other news




WikiLeaks has been financially blockaded without process for 489 days.
Julian Assange has been detained without charge for 486 days.
Bradley Manning has been imprisoned without trial for 683 days.

WikiLeaks News:

  • Today marks the two-year anniversary of WikiLeaks' release of "Collateral Murder."
  • Global Intelligence Files revelations:
    • Azerbaijan leadership is "terrified" by the prospect of an attack by Armenian military forces.
    • American private security firm SCG International has been helping the Syrian opposition in its efforts to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
  • Cablegate revelations:
    • Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, banned in Australia late last year for national security reasons, was being examined as far back as 2008 by Australian intelligence agencies.
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo envoy believes Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono profiteered from his actions at the height of Zimbabwe's economic crisis.
    • With the announcement of Omar Suleiman's run for Egyptian presidency, WikiLeaks Press sent out a series of tweets linking to related cables, including his involvement in torture. Al Jazeera also cited a related WikiLeaks cable in a recent article on Suleiman.
    • Cuban spies supportVenezuelan President Hugo Chávez' regime.
    • WikiLeaks cables confirm claims that the UK sold the Storm Shadow cruise missile to Saudi Arabia.
  • WikiLeaks supporters all over the world have been donating $5 or more today in an effort to "Beat the Blockade" that's been straining donations for nearly 500 days now.
  • GOP candidate Mitt Romney called on Obama to release notes and transcripts of his meetings with world leaders, but believes WikiLeaks' release of diplomatic cables was "treason."
  • Kristinn Hrafnsson spoke at a SKUP 2012 whistleblowing panel alongside Annie Machon and Smári McCarthy, giving a detailed presentation on WikiLeaks.
  • Salon's Glenn Greenwald authored an article on the excessive secrecy in the U.S. Government, commenting that this is why "WikiLeaks is such a vital and important movement."
  • A forum on WikiLeaks and Julian Assange was held in Newcastle, Australia, with speakers Christine Assange, Andrew Fowler, Jim Jose, and Kellie Tranter. Video of the event is available.
  • You can now subscribe to WikiLeaks Press updates via Google Currents on your Android or Apple phone or tablet.


Julian Assange News:

  • Julian Assange challenged the UK's press coverage of his extradition struggle in a submission to the Leveson Inquiry. 75 complaints had been filed to the Press Complaints Commission, mostly relating to false statements that he has been charged. Assange says the libelous statements cause harm to WikiLeaks globally, including contributing to a hostile media climate. His submissions are available in PDF format at the Leveson Inquiry's website.
  • Julian Assange's talk show "The World Tomorrow" premieres next week. The first promo video has been released:
  • Julian Assange authored an editorial note on change:

    We live in the world that we perceive. Our limits are the limits of our perceptions. This generation knows more than any previous generation. Its actions will eclipse those of previous generations. We change the world by observing its behavior, thinking about our observations and acting on our thoughts. To observe we must open our eyes. To think we must open our minds. To act, we must open our hearts. Our eyes have never been so wide. Our minds never so trained. And the courage in our hearts spreads like a contagion.

  • Justice for Assange is looking for Swedish speakers to help with a project. See link for contact details.
  • An article at Rixstep reveals new information in the Assange case, including Claes Borgström's history of authoring 'screenplays' for plaintiffs and waiting until chief prosecutor Eva Finné was off the case before changing SW's testimony.
  • Geoffrey Robertson QC was on ABC RadioNational Law Report discussing Julian Assange's extradition case. He noted that the Supreme Court has just gone into recess, so the verdict is now expected in May. But WikiLeaks has since tweeted that the verdict is actually expected the week of April 16.
  • When asked about Julian Assange's run for senate, U.S. Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich commented, "Whoever Australia wants to elect to its legislative positions is up to Australians to decide," but followed by saying he believed WikiLeaks acted irresponsibly, dangerously, and "has not been a force for good."


Bradley Manning News:

  • Bradley Manning won People's Choice for Global Exhange's 10th Annual Human Rights Award.
  • A political cartoon by Malcolm Evans depicts the shift in treatment of whistleblowers from Daniel Ellsberg to Bradley Manning.
    ellsbergmanningcartoon
  • Bradley Manning's defense has filed four motions including the dismissal of the "aiding the enemy" charge and dismissal based on unreasonable multiplication of charges.
  • Truth-out has published an in-depth analysis of how the U.S. Government is railroading Bradley Manning, covering everything from his pre-trial confinement to the latest motion hearings.
  • WikiLeaks Press has created a fact sheet which covers all of Bradley Manning's legal proceedings to date.
  • Antiwar.com reviewed the upcoming book, "The Passion of Bradley Manning" by Chase Madar.



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Upcoming Dates & Events:

April 12-28: Performances of "The Radicalization of Bradley Manning" held between these dates in schools across Wales.

April 16: Julian Assange's Supreme Court verdict expected to be handed down this week.

April 17: WikiLeaks' 500th day of financial blockade without process.

April 19: "WikiLeaks, Assange, and Defending Democracy" panel at BMW Edge in Melbourne, 6:30PM, with Christine Assange, Scott Ludlam, Lizzie O'Shea, Bernard Keane, and Greg Barns.

April 20: Julian Assange's 500th day of detainment without charge.

April 23: Bradley Manning's 700th day of imprisonment without trial.

April 24-26: Bradley Manning's next set of pre-trial hearings.

April 24: Bradley Manning "Surprise Party" at City Hall in Portland, Oregon, 11AM.

April 27-28: Kristinn Hrafnsson to speak at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy at panels "Whistleblowers and anonymous leaks: can the media do without them?" (27/4) and "Dossier WikiLeaks. Segreti italiani" (28/4).

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.