2012-05-26 WikiLeaks News Update: Support events for Julian Assange; New motions in Manning hearing; Other news

WikiLeaks has been financially blockaded without process for 539 days.
Julian Assange has been detained without charge for 536 days.
Bradley Manning has been imprisoned without trial for 733 days.
A secret Grand Jury has been active in the U.S. without transparency for 619 days.

WikiLeaks News:

• WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson gave an exclusive interview with Mediamax in which he discussed WikiLeaks and Armenia. He also commented on the upcoming verdict in Julian Assange's case, saying: "There is no end in sight to the persecution of WikiLeaks, its founder, staff and friends."

• An article in Al Jazeera analysed the Cuban health program in Venezuela, referencing WikiLeaks cables which show that some Cuban doctors were being forced by Cuban authorities to work under President Chavez' social mission programs.

• MarQ Spekt & Kno have released a new music video for their song, "WikiLeaks." Watch the video below.
  

• New 'Friends of WikiLeaks' t-shirts and mugs are available at the official store. Receive 15% off your order with the code 'WLFRIENDS.' All proceeds go to WikiLeaks.

• A Philosophy Professor of the University of Barcelona analysed how Friedrich Nietzsche may have viewed the actions of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange.

Julian Assange News:

• Julian Assange spoke at a screening of "Shadows of Liberty," wearing a kevlar Guy Fawkes mask made by the creator of the WikiLeaks Truck. He said it may be his last time in public, but he believes he made his days count. Watch a video clip of his speech below, followed by Jennifer Robinson discussing his extradition case.
  

• We have published a guide on how people around the world can support Julian Assange in his fight against extradition. It includes dates and places of worldwide rallies, how to donate, how to build community and spread information, and many other resources.

• There is a renewed call to action for UK supporters of Julian Assange to send letters to their MPs regarding his potential extradition. This could possibly prevent his extradition in the event the Supreme Court rules against him, as many UK MPs are pushing for reform.

• Julian Assange's Swedish lawyer Per E Samuelson was on Radio Sweden to comment on the announcement of the upcoming Supreme Court verdict. He said they have been waiting a long time and are prepared for either outcome.

• Julian Assange spoke at EIM2012 in The Netherlands. The event was not live-streamed, but here are some tweets from attendees:
  • 'Friends don't expose friends to the things Facebook does.'
  • 'If you're not paying for the product (e.g. Facebook), then you are the product.'
  • 'A mobile phone is a tracking device that also makes calls.'
  • Assange warns that eavesdropping and hacking constantly occur and over borders. Who protects the individual citizen?
  • U.S. citizen's ability to bear arms was created to prevent dictatorship. How 'armed' we are now as digital citizens against the government?

• Little, Brown and Company published a report which attempts to frame Julian Assange in an FBI plot. WikiLeaks tweeted that the report has no credibility and that it even says Assange has been charged, when he has not.

Bradley Manning News:

• As of today, Bradley Manning has spent two years in prison without trial.

• The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed a petition requesting press and public access to the documents in Bradley Manning's court martial. The petitioners include Julian Assange, Glenn Greenwald, Amy Goodman, Kevin Gosztola, Jeremy Scahill, and Chase Madar. Gosztola wrote an article explaining why he is challenging the secrecy surrounding Bradley's trial.

• Bradley Manning's lawyers are seeking dismissal of 10 of the 22 counts he is facing. David Coombs has posted the five motions which have been filed for the upcoming June 6-8 motion hearings.

• Maj. Thomas Hurley rejoined Bradley Manning's defence team, after previously having left to defend Sgt. Robert Bales, who is charged with fatally shooting 17 Afghan civilians.

• More than forty U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars discarded their war medals as an act of protest. One veteran said he did so on behalf of Bradley Manning, while another called for Bradley's freedom.

• The Bradley Manning Support Network is looking to hire an event organizer in the Washington D.C. area. They are also asking for donations to help support the new position.

• Adrian Lamo, who turned Bradley Manning in to U.S. authorities, gave an interview with IBTimes in which he attacked WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and Anonymous. He falsely stated that WikiLeaks' releases cost thousands of lives, yet to this day not a single person has been physically harmed due to anything WikiLeaks has released.

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Upcoming Dates & Events:


May 26: Bradley Manning has been imprisoned for two years without trial.

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

May 30: UK Supreme Court to hand down judgment in Julian Assange's extradition case, 9:15AM.

May 30-31: Worldwide rallies in support of Julian Assange.

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.