2012-06-20 WikiLeaks News Update: Assange seeks asylum; WikiLeaks to challenge VISA in court




WikiLeaks has been financially blockaded without process for 564 days.
Julian Assange has been detained without charge for 561 days.
Bradley Manning has been imprisoned without trial for 758 days.
A secret Grand Jury has been active in the U.S. without transparency for 644 days.


WikiLeaks News:

  • The first WikiLeaks trial against the VISA banking blockade begins on June 21 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Background on the banking blockade is available via the WikiLeaks website.
  • WikiLeaks released new Global Intelligence Files which relate to Egypt, Venezuela, Iran, and the U.S.
  • U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman called for a stronger Espionage Act which would see more people behind bars for leaking information. RT interviewed EFF's Trevor Timm (video below) and Government Accountability Project's Jesselyn Radack about Lieberman's statements.
  • The FBI has claimed full denial on all FOIA requests for documents related to WikiLeaks. News about WikiLeaks FOIA requests can be followed on Twitter via hashtag #WLFOIA.
  • The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division implied that WikiLeaks is a physical threat in a response letter to a FOIA request.
  • WikiLeaks requested that information about the WikiLeaks Grand Jury be hashtagged with #WLGrandJury on Twitter.
  • An Anonymous member alleged to have organized "Operation Payback", the DDoS attacks against corporations blocking donations to WikiLeaks, says he has no regrets and would do it all again.
  • WikiLeaks lawyer Jennifer Robinson wrote a chapter entitled "WikiLeaks, Disclosure, Free Speech and Democracy: New Media and the Fourth Estate" in the new e-book, "More or Less: Democracy & New Media".
  • ABC Four Corners documentary "WikiLeaks - The Forgotten Man" is available online, along will full transcript.
  • Ciaron O'Reilly reported from recent solidarity actions for Julian Assange and Bradley Manning which took place in Sydney and Brisbane.
  • Green Left Weekly is set to launch an online program inspired by Democracy Now! and Julian Assange's The World Tomorrow. The first episode will feature WikiLeaks supporter and activist Cassie Findlay and Cairo-based Australian journalist Austin Mackell.
  • Former assistant Secretary of State P. J. Crowley stated that leaks aren't the problem and we should know more about our government, not less.


Julian Assange News:

  • Julian Assange requested political asylum from Ecuador and is currently under protection of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London while it is considered. Please see our live-blog for details and continuous updates as the story develops.
  • American Free Press talked to John Pilger, Gavin MacFadyen, and extradition expert Douglas McNabb about Julian Assange's potential extradition to the U.S.

World Tomorrow banner

  • Episode 10 of The World Tomorrow aired featuring Pakistani presidential candidate Imran Khan. The episode is available to watch in English, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. Full, unedited transcript is also available.
  • Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, who stated "no Australian has received more consular support in a comparable period than Julian Assange", is headed to Libya to plead for the release of lawyer Melinda Taylor.
  • Late Night Live Radio discussed the changing legal views in Sweden toward sex in Sweden, with "A Brief History of Swedish Sex" author Oscar Swartz and Monash University Senior Lecturer in Journalism Dr Johan Lidberg. This was a follow-up to LNL's June 6 interview with Julian Assange.
  • The UK House of Commons will be holding a meeting on extradition, June 20 at 6PM. Julian Assange's lawyer Gareth Pierce will be present.


Bradley Manning News:

  • U.S. Senator John McCain condemned the Obama Administration for aggressively pursuing Bradley Manning, while sanctioning leaks by senior administration officials. Watch the video below.
  • The Bradley Manning Support Network issued a news update which covers the military setting an example, a Bradley Manning play in Exeter, and "Manning Mondays" in New York City.



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Upcoming Dates & Events:

June 20: UK House of Commons meeting on extradition, 6PM.

June 21: WikiLeaks trial against Visa banking blockade begins.

June 21: Rally for Julian Assange, DFAT, Sydney, 5PM.

June 21-23: Bradley Manning play "Desert" showing at The Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter.

June 23: Overnight vigil for Julian Assange at Occupy Frankfurt, 9PM.

June 25: Bradley Manning 39A hearing.

June 25: "Manning Mondays" at Brecht Forum, New York, 7:30PM.

June 25: London vigil for Bradley Manning at the US Embassy, 3PM.

June 27: "Don't Shoot the Messenger" panel with Christine Assange, Scott Ludlam, David Hicks, Bernard Keane, Humphrey McQueen & more. Coombs Theatre, A.N.U., Australia at 7PM.

June 28: Vigil for Julian Assange, Swedish Embassy, London, 3PM.

June 29-July 8: Time frame for Julian Assange's extradition to Sweden.

July 1: Worldwide rallies for Julian Assange. Melbourne rally midday at State Library feat. Rap News.

June 3: Julian Assange's 41st birthday.

July 14: Global 4 Julian Assange day.

July 16-20: Bradley Manning motion hearings.

August 27-31: Bradley Manning motion hearings.

September 19-20: Bradley Manning motion hearings.

November 2012 ~ January 2013: Bradley Manning's court martial.