What you can do
Resources for Supporters of Julian Assange and the Protection of Press Freedom
Contributions are warmly welcomed, please send to freeassangenz@gmail.com
See also : https://library.witness.org/
Table of contents
Table of contents 1
Assanges contributions to peace 4
Nobel Prize nomination letter from German Bundestag 4
Reputable Supporters 4
Heads of State Endorsements - reporters without borders 4
Forty rights groups call on the UK to release Julian Assange | Reporters without borders 4
US member of Congress and War veteran Tulsi Gabbard 4
European Federation of Journalists 4
Britain's National Union of Journalists (NUJ) 4
Threat to Journalism 4
Former CIA director Leon Panetta: We are prosecuting Assange to intimidate others - wsws 5
Good summaries 5
Nils Melzer - UN Special Rapporteur on Torture 5
Guardian editorial - 18 Dec 2020 5
John McDonnell 5
John Pilger 5
Sydney Morning Herald 5
Stuff ed by AUS/NZ legal reps of Assange 5
Joe Rogan with Eric Snowden 5
Summary of court proceedings 5
Doctors for Assange reply to Australian Government – March 2020 6
Free Julian Assange — his fate is inextricably tied to our own Slavoj Žižek 6
Mainstream news editorials 6
Video overviews 7
The #AssangeCase and #CollateralMurder - panel discussion 7
Legal Documents 7
Debunking smears 7
He’s a hacker, not a journalist 7
‘Trump will save him’ 8
Russian collusion smear 8
Noam Chomsky 8
‘He put lives at risk’ 8
Assange warns State Department upcoming leak of classified information 9
‘Skipping bail’ / ‘absconded’ smear 9
Debunking Swedish smears 10
Neither woman has accused Assange of rape 11
There was never a formal criminal charge by Swedish authorities 11
Demasking the Torture of Julian Assange - Nils Melzer 12
Injustices against Assange 12
Deluge of charges strategy 12
Assange’s letter from prison to Gordon Dimmack 13
Arbitrary Detention 13
The Rule of Law 13
Conflicts of Interest of Judge 13
Spying by UC Global for CIA 13
Torture 14
Lancet Medical journal letter from doctors: 14
Julian Assange's 'Torture' Has 'Intensified' and Must Be Stopped, Clinical Psychologist Says 14
Naked and handcuffed 14
Action 14
#WeAreMillions photo campaign by Courage Foundation 14
Free Assange groups to join 14
Petitions to sign 15
Campaign donations 15
Contacting elected representatives 15
NZ’s Human rights Commissioner 15
NZ Ministers - updated Jan 2021 15
Embassies in NZ 16
Australia 16
Aotearoa 4 Assange: Asylum 17
Press freedom in New Zealand 17
Posters and graphics 17
Other links and resources 20
Assanges contributions to peace
Reputable Supporters
US member of Congress and War veteran Tulsi Gabbard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0J6mMfGDdc&ab_channel=MSNBC
European Federation of Journalists
stated that the detention and prosecution of Assange sets “an extremely dangerous precedent for journalists, media actors and freedom of the press.”
Britain's National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
‘said if Assange was extradited to the United States, it would "chill the media worldwide".
"Whatever you think of Assange, he clearly brought important information to wide attention,"
"Now he faces prosecution for actions that are commonplace for investigative journalists.
"If this prosecution is successful, it will chill the media worldwide."
- NUJ's general secretary,Michelle Stainstreet
'A dangerous precedent': British judge to hand down Julian Assange decision
Threat to Journalism
Christophe Deloire, secretary general of Reporters Without Borders, said journalism “will be in danger” at the Woolwich crown court hearing.
He said: “If Assange would be extradited to the US, it would be the sign that journalism is considered espionage and it would endanger all journalists who want to uncover the lies of governments whatever the country.”
Video - Nils Melzer "Once it has become a crime to tell the truth, then we will have tyranny."
Good summaries
Nils Melzer - UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
«A murderous system is being created before our very eyes»
Demasking the Torture of Julian Assange | by Nils Melzer
Guardian editorial - 18 Dec 2020
view on Julian Assange: do not extradite him | Julian Assange | The Guardian
John McDonnell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYwxmJKh_gI&feature=youtu.be
John Pilger
JOHN PILGER: Julian Assange's Stalinist trial mocks democracy
Sydney Morning Herald
The only questions that should matter in the Assange extradition battle
Stuff ed by AUS/NZ legal reps of Assange
US pursuit of Assange is an attack on what it means to be a citizen
Joe Rogan with Eric Snowden
Edward Snowden talking to Joe Rogan about Julian Assange
Summary of court proceedings
"Although the current charges against Assange do not carry the death penalty, the U.S. has stated more charges will be added once Assange is extradited.
...
The precedent set will enable the DOJ to extradite any individual who exposes criminal activity by the United States government. This will include its own citizens as well as foreigners.
Angel of Truth - US will add more charges
International Bar Association condemns Assange trial proceedings
The Julian Assange Show Trial, And The Not-So-Subtle Art Of Normalising Torture
Wikipedia - show trial definition
International Bar Human Rights Association supports Assange
Embassy Insider on illegal handover of Assange
EP.848: Julian Assange is Being Prosecuted for Exposing Human Rights Abuses- UN Torture Rapporteur
"The US government’s unrelenting pursuit of Julian Assange for having published disclosed documents that included possible war crimes committed by the US military is nothing short of a full-scale assault on the right to freedom of expression,” said Massimo Moratti, Amnesty International’s Deputy Europe Director.
“The potential chilling effect on journalists and others who expose official wrongdoing by publishing information disclosed to them by credible sources could have a profound impact on the public's right to know what their government is up to. All charges against Assange for such activities must be dropped."
We are no longer dealing with a minor legal or political matter, but with something which concerns the basic meaning of our freedom and human rights. When will the general public understand that the story of Assange is a story about themselves, that their fate will be deeply affected by the decision over his extradition? We should help Julian not out of some vague humanitarian concern and sympathy for a miserable victim, but out of a concern for our own future.
Mainstream news editorials
NY Times Opinion | Laura Poitras: Journalism Is Not a Crime
Guardian view on Julian Assange: do not extradite him | Julian Assange | The Guardian
Video overviews
Sex, Lies and Julian Assange (2012) | Four CornersCQ
The #AssangeCase and #CollateralMurder - panel discussion
Legal Documents
Closing defense submissions - 2020.11.06
U.S. superseding indictment against Assange - 2019.05.23
Debunking smears
40 rebuttals to smears against assange from someone who was there
“Assange sought refuge at the Ecuadorian Embassy in June 2012 to apply for political asylum and avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced sexual assault allegations, which he denies.”
Julian Assange did not seek refuge to avoid being extradited to Sweden. His political asylum has always been to protect him from persecution by the United States, which has had an active grand jury since 2010.
Assange hasn’t been accused of any crimes related to his actions in 2016.”
After a fierce investigation by the US Department of Justice, which lasted some two years, cost roughly $25 million, and included interviews with approximately 500 people, after this investigation in which Assange was always willing to appear if guaranteed protection, he still has not been charged with anything related to WikiLeaks 2016 publications — because, simply, publishing is not a crime.
He’s a hacker, not a journalist
'... what I found is that all his disclosures had been freely leaked to him, and that no one accuses him of having hacked a single computer. In fact, the only arguable hacking-charge against him relates to his alleged unsuccessful attempt to help breaking a password which, had it been successful, might have helped his source to cover her tracks. In short: a rather isolated, speculative, and inconsequential chain of events; a bit like trying to prosecute a driver who unsuccessfully attempted to exceed the speed-limit, but failed because their car was too weak.' - Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
More than 1300 Journalists Speak Up For Assange
First Amendment ruling on right to publish DNC emails:
Judge's ruling throws huge spanner into US extradition proceedings against Assange
‘Trump will save him’
https://youtu.be/fDEDQFj9sFk?t=31 Trump says he should be given the ‘death penalty’
Trump ordered Assange’s seizure by British police and wanted him dead - WSWS
‘Grenell “was the one who worked out the deal for Julian Assange’s arrest.”. . . Schwartz revealed that Grenell was acting on direct orders from President Donald Trump. “Please. I’m begging you … He [Grenell] is taking orders from the president. Ok?”
Fairbanks on intimidation and Trumps fingers in jar
Russian collusion smear
Noam Chomsky
Six points to counter the myths about Julian Assange.
‘He put lives at risk’
No evidence of harm caused by unredacted cable leak
Bradley Manning leak did not result in deaths by enemy forces, court hears
‘... John Goetz (Der Spiegel) ... said Assange was careful to ensure that the names of informants in hundreds of thousands of leaked secret U.S. government documents were never published.
“There was sensitivity and it was one of the things that was talked about all the time,” Goetz told the court. Assange was concerned that the media should take measures “so no one would be harmed”, he said.’
WikiLeaks acted in public interest, 'Pentagon Papers' leaker tells Assange hearing
US informants not harmed by Wikileaks releases, Assange extradition trial told - Press Gazette
‘A task force of more than 100 intelligence analysts have been sifting "around the clock"... in an effort to evaluate the danger caused by exposure...
"We have yet to see any harm come to anyone in Afghanistan that we can directly tie to exposure in the WikiLeaks documents...”
Checkpoint Washington - Pentagon: Undisclosed Wikileaks documents 'potentially more explosive'
The State Department did not immediately respond when asked to comment on Goetz’s testimony.
Goetz said WikiLeaks was frustrated when a password that allowed access to the full, unredacted material was published in a book by Guardian reporters in February 2011.
Assange warns State Department upcoming leak of classified information
During the 75-minute conversation, Assange said to Johnson that WikiLeaks is very concerned that classified information from the State Department is about to be released—outside of its control by a rogue former employee, who stole the information in order to establish his own rival media outlet.
Assange: There is time “in case there are any individuals who haven't been warned that they should be warned.”
Release: https://www.projectveritas.com/news/exclusive-project-veritas-releases-audio-of-assange-warning-u-s-government/
Full audio leak:
Mark Davis Australian Reporter was ‘in the room’ as the leaks were published. The director of Inside Wikileaks dismisses allegations Assange is cavalier about safety
CN live Mark Davis Inside Wikileaks
Call to warn Clinton
Risk | Julian Assange's Emergency Call to Hillary Clinton's Office | SHOWTIME Documentary
Testimony about Wikileaks not first to publish and reasons for re-publishing unredacted was to protect
Assange’s dinner statement false:
The surreal quality of the U.S. government’s treatment of this issue is shown by the fact that when an actual witness — the German journalist John Goetz — did in fact come forward and offer to give evidence on oath about a specific allegation in the book — refuting an allegation in the book that Assange supposedly made comments at a dinner, which Goetz attended, that showed a reckless disregard for the safety of the informants — the U.S. government’s lawyers strenuously objected, and were able to get the judge to exclude this evidence.
LETTER FROM LONDON: The Surreal US Case Against Assange
‘Skipping bail’ / ‘absconded’ smear
Baraitser’s ruling was based on the fraudulent claim that Assange illegitimately “absconded” on bail in 2012. In reality, Assange exercised his right, protected under international law, to seek political asylum in Ecuador’s London embassy. He did so after British courts ruled that he would be extradited to Sweden to “answer questions” over manufactured and politically motivated sexual misconduct allegations.
The British and Swedish authorities refused to explain why extradition was necessary for a “preliminary investigation” to proceed, or why Swedish prosecutors would not agree to Assange’s repeated offer to answer any questions from London. Assange was finally questioned by prosecutors in December 2016, after which they dropped their fraudulent “investigation” in April 2017.
British judge jails Assange indefinitely, despite end of prison sentence
Debunking Swedish smears
https://twitter.com/MrsC_Assange/status/1346765213773615104
Neither woman has accused Assange of rape
The Lies About Assange Must Stop Now: John Pilger
‘Both the women involved* said there was no rape. . . One of the women was so shocked that Assange was arrested, she accused the police of railroading her and changing her witness statement. The chief prosecutor, Eva Finne, dismissed the “suspicion of any crime”.’
*Sofia Wilen and Anna Ardin (a.k.a Bernardin)
There was never a formal criminal charge by Swedish authorities
Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Inquiry - NY Times
“The evidence is not strong enough to form the basis of an indictment” (formal charge) the country’s deputy director of public prosecutions said.
‘During his visit he had sexual intercourse with two women [AA and SW]. After AA and SW spoke to each other and realised that they had both had intercourse with the Appellant during the currency of his visit in circumstances where respectively they had or might have been or become unprotected against disease or pregnancy, SW wanted the Appellant to get tested for disease. On 20th August 2010 SW went to the police to seek advice. AA accompanied her for support. The police treated their visit as the filing of formal reports for rape of SW and molestation of AA.’
https://wikileaks.org/IMG/html/Affidavit_of_Julian_Assange.html#efmNEpOb8
Sweden admits evidence against Assange was never strong enough
Naomi Wolf on rape, justice and Julian Assange
‘The elements of this crime do not correspond to what is generally defined as “rape” in national laws, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights or international law. . .’
Injustices against Assange
Deluge of charges strategy
Email leak from Stratfor - A security advisor to the US:
Source https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/10/1056763_re-discussion-assange-arrested-.html
Assange’s letter from prison to Gordon Dimmack
‘I have been isolated from all ability to prepare to defend myself, no laptop, no internet, no computer, no library so far, but even if I do get access it will be just for half an hour with everyone else once a week. Just two visits a month and it takes weeks to get someone on the call list and the Catch-22 in getting their details to be security screened. Then all calls except lawyer are recorded and are a maximum 10 minutes and in a limited 30 minutes each day in which all prisoners compete for the phone. And credit? Just a few pounds a week and no one can call in.
A superpower that has been preparing for 9 years with hundreds of people and untold millions spent on the case. I am defenceless and am counting on you and others of good character to save my life
I am unbroken albeit literally surrounded by murderers. But the days when I could read and speak and organise to defend myself, my ideals and my people are over until I am free. Everyone else must take my place.
The US government or rather those regrettable elements in it that hate truth liberty and justice want to cheat their way into my extradition and death rather than letting the public hear the truth for which I have won the highest awards in journalism and have been nominated seven times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Truth ultimately is all we have.’
Arbitrary Detention
UN working group determines that Assange was forced into the Ecuadorian Embassy and that it constituted arbitrary detention UN WGAD
British judge jails Assange indefinitely, despite end of prison sentence
The Rule of Law
‘It was the first time in history a government had allowed a foreign law enforcement agency to enter its sovereign territory to arrest one of its citizens.’
https://thegrayzone.com/2020/05/14/american-sheldon-adelsons-us-spy-julian-assange/amp/
Conflicts of Interest of Judge
Spying by UC Global for CIA
The US trail of the man whose security firm spied on Julian Assange
Director of Spanish security company that spied on Julian Assange arrested
Will alleged CIA misbehavior set Julian Assange free?
Torture
Lancet Medical journal letter from doctors:
Julian Assange's 'Torture' Has 'Intensified' and Must Be Stopped, Clinical Psychologist Says
Naked and handcuffed
‘Julian himself was also woken up, every day, at 5 am and, naked and handcuffed, subjected to humiliating inspections and x-ray scans, before being put into a police car and crossing through London traffic for more than an hour and a half.
At 10 a.m., when court was finally in session, Julian had already endured five hours of insult, before being put in a glass cage for the rest of the day.
To communicate with his lawyers, Julian had to get on his knees to talk to them through a slit in the cage, just a few meters away from the ears of the prosecution’s attorneys — something that clearly violates due process.’ Julian Assange's ‘Trial of the Century’: 10 Reasons Why it Threatens Freedom of Speech
Action
"Push on that which will move, not simply that which opposes."
- Julian Assange
Assange himself recommends focussing on gaining potential allies rather than engaging in conflict with opposition. He recommends targeting people and organisations with shared values and engaging them in a non-confrontational way. Ask them questions, listen to them and connect to shared values. Don’t be distracted by differences. People with different political persuasions often have many of the same core values in common. Criticising people just makes them defensive and stops them from actually hearing your message. Find your shared values and speak to those when trying to encourage others to take action for the cause.
Free Assange groups to join
Australians for Assange - Home
AA4A: Auckland Action for Assange
Free Julian Assange Public Group
Petitions to sign
Diem25 - Don't extradite Assange! (petition)
Campaign donations
Stella Morris (Assange’s fiance) - Join my fight to free Julian Assange and stop US extradition
Contacting Radio media in NZ
Radio media contact - Activist resources
Contacting Print Media in NZ
Print Media Resources for activists
Contacting elected representatives
NZ’s Human rights Commissioner
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Professor Paul Hunt
‘Any threat to freedom of speech must be carefully restricted and contained’ - Paul Hunt, 95 Bfm radio interview, 29 October 2020
NZ Ministers - updated Jan 2021
Attorney General HON DAVID PARKER
‘Media freedoms are absolutely essential to the long-term health of any democracy. New Zealand is no exception’.
‘If journalists’ sources are at risk of exposure they will not make the disclosures needed by the media to do its job.’
‘While we politicians sometimes bridle at criticisms which can seem harsh, superficial, or unfair, most of us will defend the right of the media to investigate and criticise without fear or favour. We should fiercely defend that right because informing the public of bungling or corruption – especially by politicians and government agencies - is essential to stop it happening again.’
“It is crucial that employees feel safe to report cases of serious misconduct. Anyone who raises issues of serious misconduct or wrongdoing needs to have faith that their role, reputation, and career development will not be jeopardised when speaking up,” (on media and Protected Disclosures Act 2000)
RNZ - Media freedom under the microscope
Broadcasting and Media, Immigration and Justice HON KRIS FAAFOI
Former journalist at TVNZ and BBC.
‘Our vision is for an open, safe and secure cyberspace.’ (on the G7 Tech for Humanity meeting on cyber collaboration )
Courts, Asc. Justice & Deputy Foregin Affairs HON AUPITO WILLIAM SIO
Foregin Affairs HON NANAIA MAHUTA
‘... as we develop our relationships globally, it's very much focused on how we can do things differently and with a view in mind that we have a capacity to lead out on that difference.’
‘violence has no place in thwarting democracy’ (on Washington DC failed insurrection)
'one country, two systems' approach that enables a level of autonomy - freedom of speech, freedom of the press - and a level of local decision-making - and that seems to be overshadowed at the moment.” (on China / Hong-Kong situation)
GCSB HON ANDREW LITTLE
Asc. Justice HON WILLIE JACKSON
National Security and Intelligence RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
Public Service HON CHRIS HIPKINS
In charge of: Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Bill
This bill replaces the Protected Disclosures Act 2000. This bill clarifies the definition of serious wrongdoing, enables people to report serious wrongdoing directly to an appropriate authority at any time, strengthens protections for disclosers, clarifies the internal procedure requirements for public sector organisations and the potential forms of adverse conduct disclosers may face.
Submissions closing date: 28 Jan 202
David Seymour
Winston Peters
‘Liberty and freedom are the number one principles my party stands behind.
When I hear anybody talking about how they're gonna stop freedom or freedom of speech, we pay the greatest attention then.’ Press conference - One news - 24th nov 2020
Embassies in NZ
US Embassy https://nz.usembassy.gov/
British Consulate https://www.british-consulate.org/british-embassy-in-new-zealand.html
Australia
Australian High Commission in London, UK
+44 20 7379 4334
Australian Ministers - Bring Julian Assange Home Campaign
Automatically Send Emails to support the Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Group
Call To Action – Australia Must Defend Its Own
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs - Marise Payne
Aotearoa 4 Assange: Asylum
Press freedom in New Zealand
Media freedom under the microscope
Reporters Without Borders - Press freedom ranking NZ ranks #9, 2020
2018 petition Greg Rzesniowiecki: "Provide Julian Assange political asylum in New Zealand"
Posters and graphics
http://somersetbean.com/free-assange/
Other links and resources
Assange Campaign – The Official Australian Website in Support of Julian Assange
Defend WikiLeaks Defend WikiLeaks
Stella Moris on Twitter: Articles and resources
A4A: AOTEAROA 4 ASSANGE
Write to media organisations :
Some addresses for print media are here
Write to elected representatives:
Write to candidates in the 2020-10-17 General Election
In your area : https://policy.nz
In each of the political parties :
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
Make requests for Official Information :
can be made to any government organisation ( including Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand ) either directly or through https://fyi.org.nz/ ( sponsored by the NZ Herald )