2012-01-21 #WikiLeaks News: Australia Day Call To Action from Christine #Assange; Court-Martial Process #Manning Faces

News

• In a message published today at jaraparilla.blogspot.com (the blog of WikiLeaks supporter @jaraparilla), Julian Assange’s mother Christine Assange offers useful tips on how to support Julian on January 26 - Australia Day.
  No matter what your location is, feel free to follow and share the suggestions below in order to raise awareness about Julian Assange’s legal battle against unjust extradition.
  
  
  "AUSTRALIA DAY this Thursday January 26th will be just 5 days before Julian Assange's UK Supreme Court hearing!

  PROTEST the Australian Government's abandonment of a fellow Aussie, Walkley award winning journalist, and Editor in Chief of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange!

  SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for Julian ahead of the hearing by flying a photo of Julian and a message of support along with your Aussie flag or other merchandise!

  GET CREATIVE!!!

  DISCOUNT/DOLLAR SHOPS have a huge range of cheap Aussie flags/fun merchandise for you to use!

  HANG a large Aussie flag from your balcony or veranda with "Free Assange "on it! Fix a photo of Julian to both sides of a flag & WAVE proudly!

  MAKE an Australia Day sarong or a simple top, a bandana, headband, armband, or simple doggie coat and affix a photo or message of support!

  FIX photos and messages to hoodies, capes, hats! Create giant pin-on buttons, giant ties, car stickers and window shades etc!

  FACTS of the INJUSTICE - read http://justice4assange.com

  Legal brief to Canberra - https://www.wlcentral.org/node/1418

  PUBLICIZE use the hashtags #OpAssange and #OZday4JA

  Forward emails to your friends, family, politicians and the media! Flood twitter and talkback radio, post comments on articles, facebook, and blogs! Include a picture of you with your flag protest! Let's get the conversation started!

  Thanking you,

  Christine Assange

  christineassange@gmail.com
  Follow me on twitter: @AssangeC"

• @jaraparilla is also currently rating Australian Senators and MPS according to their expressed public support for Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. This initiative aims to make publicly expressed support for WikiLeaks and Julian Assange an election issue in Australia. Please read and participate.

• Salon provides a concise explanation of the court-martial process Bradley Manning is likely to face (although a final decision on this matter is yet to be announced).
  According to Eugene R. Fidell, an expert in military law: “a court-martial is a military criminal court that will have serious punishment powers. There will be a military judge presiding over it, who is a uniformed lawyer. There’s a prosecutor. There’s defense counsel.”

  A jury of at least five people will also be at the trial, unless waived by Bradley Manning. This jury is going to be selected by the convening authority (Maj. Gen. Linnington, who is presently deciding if Bradley Manning is indeed to face court-martial).
  If Bradley Manning decides to waive the jury, a military judge, assigned once the case is referred to court-martial, will decide on his guilt or innocence and determine the sentence:

  “The big difference as compared to a civilian federal judge is that a military judge doesn’t have life tenure. The judge in an Army court-martial is guaranteed tenure for only three years, which in my opinion is inadequate. Individually the judges may be perfectly independent, but in terms of the structural protections, the U.S. system is highly deficient in this area.”, Fidell states.

  Otherwise, the sentence is determined by the jury and “anything in excess of 10 years has to be decided by a three-fourths vote.”
  If Bradley Manning is sentenced and decides to appeal, a first review will be conducted by Maj. Gen. Linnington, commander of the Military District of Washington, and proceed to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals in Northern Virginia. Manning could then possibly appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, which could grant eligibility for review by the Supreme Court.
  The court-martial would be open to the public, except during discussions regarding classified material.

January 19: Col. Carl Coffman sent his recommendation to court-martial Bradley Manning to Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, who will make a final decision.

new January 26: If you live in Australia, read the Australia Day Call to Action from Christine Assange, to learn how you can support Julian Assange on this day.

January 28: WikiLeaks debate in Houston (Texas). Julian Assange’s lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC will participate via Skype, from London.

updated February 1 & 2: Julian Assange’s extradition appeal will be heard by the Supreme Court. Hearing will likely last 2 days. A support demonstration will be held in London outside of the Supreme Court, starting at 8:30AM. How to attend.
Sydney Vigil for Julian Assange, 5PM at the Town Hall.

February 17: Don't Shoot the Messenger: WikiLeaks, Assange and Democracy panel in Sydney, with speakers: Senator Ludlam, Christine Assange and Humphrey McQueen. Chaired by Mary Kostakidis.

April 25-29: WikiLeaks spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson and L’Espresso journalist Stefania Maurizi, who has worked on several WikiLeaks releases, will speak at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia (Italy).

May 23: Julian Assange will speak at the Enterprise Information Management Congress 2012 (Netherlands).

• Join WikiLeaks’ activism network wlfriends.org today.

• You can help beat the banking blockade by purchasing a WikiLeaks Supporter Item from the official shop.

Julian Assange
411 days under house arrest without charge.

• new January 26: If you live in Australia, read the Australia Day Call to Action from Christine Assange, to learn how you can support Julian Assange on this day.

• Show your support for Julian Assange at the Supreme Court of London, February 1 and 2, at 8:30AM. More information on how to attend at Free Julian Assange Now campaign by Liberté Info.
  A Vigil is also planned in Sydney, at the Town Hall, 5PM.

• Australia: Contact your MP or Senator demanding Justice for Julian Assange! Threaten your vote if action to defend the rights of Julian Assange, an Australian citizen, is not taken.
  Here is a short guide with tips on How To Get Politicians’ Attention, which may be helpful.

• Nominate Julian Assange and WikiLeaks for the Nobel Peace Prize 2012: campaign website.

• Contribute to the Julian Assange Defense Fund.

• Send at least one of the several call to action draft letters addressed to European organizations and Members of the European Parliament requesting action over the unjust treatment of Julian Assange.

Bradley Manning
608 days detained in military jail.

• Tell Maj. Gen. Linnington, the man who will decide if Bradley Manning is to face court-martial, to drop the charge of ‘aiding the enemy’.

• I am Bradley Manning campaign website with photos of supporters from around the world. Submit your own!

• A challenge proposed by the Bradley Manning Support Network: Stand with Bradley until his trial is over - pledge a monthly donation for the length of the trial. For more details see bradleymanning.org

Rudolf Elmer

• Liberté Info started a campaign to make whistleblower Rudolf Elmer’s trial an international issue. The campaign page is constantly updated with new developments on his case. Readers are encouraged to share.