Q: More than 60 Australian MPs have spoken out in support of Assange, demanding the US govt drop the prosecution against him.
- Would you like to see MP's here in New Zealand do the same thing here?
Yes. Of course. Absolutely. That none of them have already is EXTREMELY concerning.
Are none of our elected representatives concerned about the future of our open responsive democracy ?
It's as if they have been prohibited from saying anything.
This case is primarily an attack on National Security Journalism.
Remember we are talking about a MULTI-AWARD winning journalist/publisher who is being systematically persecuted for having embarrassed and incriminated the United States Government and its military by publishing THEIR OWN RECORDS of their multiple serious breaches of the Geneva Conventions - and other International Treaties and Agreements . i.e. WAR CRIMES.
Source (many publications cited): https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/14/julian-assange-more-than-60-australian-mps-urge-us-to-let-wikileaks-founder-walk-free
Q: Cont...why?
New Zealand's relationship with the international community and our trading partners is enhanced greatly by the perception that we provide an environment for doing business that is free of corruption and that we have a strong commitment to upholding human rights and adhering to the rule of law and respecting international agreements and treaties.
Q: If our MP's do not come out in support - what message does that send to New Zealanders?
In particular journalists?
That although we tell ourselves that we are an open democracy in which our journalists are entrusted with the power to scrutinise our decision-makers so that they can be held accountable, - by their silence they are effectively allowing the precedent to be set that is indeed already having the desired effect of imposing a chilling effect on journalists' willingness to report on matters of National Security.
Q: I understand Assange's final appeal date is coming up on February 20 - so just weeks away now.
If this appeal fails - he will be extradited to face charges in the USA.
- does this concern you?
YES.
Why?
Firstly - This is a political case. And the U.K. Extradition Act BARS extradition if /when the applicant is pursuing the case for political reasons ( as per section 81 of the U.K. Extradition Act : 81 Extraneous considerations
A person’s extradition to a category 2 territory is barred by reason of
extraneous considerations if (and only if) it appears that—
(a) the request for his extradition (though purporting to be made on
account of the extradition offence) is in fact made for the purpose of
prosecuting or punishing him on account of his race, religion,
nationality, gender, sexual orientation or political opinions, or
(b) if extradited he might be prejudiced at his trial or punished, detained
or restricted in his personal liberty by reason of his race, religion,
nationality, gender, sexual orientation or political opinions.
IF HE IS TO FACE CHARGES UNDER THE ESPIONAGE ACT , THE HEARINGS WILL BE HELD IN PRIVATE, WITH A JURY DRAWN FROM THE WEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY WHICH IS STRONGLY BIASED AGAINST WHISTLEBLOWERS AND THAT HE WAS WORKING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS NOT ADMISSIBLE AS A DEFENCE.
Does this make the matter more pressing for NZ Member of Parliament to get behind and support Assange?
YES BUT - IF HE IS EXTRADITED TO THE U.S. , IT WILL BE TOO LATE.
THE PRECEDENT HAS ALREADY BEEN SET BY THE 1592 DAYS HE HAS ALREADY BEEN ARBITRARILY DETAINED IN CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED BY THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE TO BE PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE.
Why should NZ Politicians support Assange?
BECAUSE HIS ARBITRARY DETENTION and PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE are BEING INFLICTED AS SYSTEMATIC REPRISALS AND INTIMIDATION AGAINST HIM IN CONTRAVENTION TO THE 2021 AGREEMENT AGAINST ARBITRARY DETENTION IN STATE TO STATE RELATIONS AND SECTION 134 OF THE BRITISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT WHICH PROHIBITS ALL FORMS OF TORTURE.
WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO REVEAL BREACHES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS MUST PROTECTED UNDER NEW ZEALAND'S PROTECTED DISCLOSURES ( PROTECTION OF WHISTLEBLOWERS ) ACT 2022 and under the U.K. Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
Q: Considering the political threats happening in the Pacific with the uprising of China as a political and financial heavyweight, USA needs Australia and NZ on side more than ever - would you agree?
THAT IS NOT
Q: The New Zealanders for Julian Assange page - why did you start this page?
What have been some of your greatest accomplishments to date with the page?
N.B. WE HAVE ( except for those listed below ) VIRTUALLY NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF LETTERS FROM newzealandersforjulianassange@gmail.com - or its predessor : aotearoa4assange@gmail.com
HAS BEEN RECEIVED , SO WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT EFFECT THEY HAVE HAD.
Exceptions are : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs : Responded with a pro forma letter to reassure us that the U.K. was legally compliant despite their being in breach of their own Section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act , the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State to State Relations and against Declarations made by the UNITED NATIONS WORKING GROUP and SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS citing serious violations of his human rights, including his freedom of expression, his right to a fair trial and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The Office of the Ombudsman : To notify that us that 'only journalists can make complaints about their media organisation's non-reporting on issues of significant public interest.
N.B. NONE of the 550 journalists working in New Zealand's media organizations , nor any of the 220 academics teaching Political and Media studies , nor our 120 MPs responded to our request that they pursue our complaint about the lack of reporting on this case.
See also : 20210225 To Victor Lee from Alan Preston (Omb ref: 538764)
aotearoa4assange@gmail.com
Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 1:28 PM
to Victor, bcc: aotearoa4assange
Kia ora Victor.
Alan Preston here at home in Mangawhai, Northland.
My complaint was directed at Radio New Zealand BUT ( as far as I know ) Television New Zealand ( to whom I also sent an OIA ) are similarly 'omitting' any mention - especially any extensive discussion or investigation on Julian Assange's imprisonment or on any of the evidence of breaches of the Geneva Convention and other International Human Rights law committed by US , UK and their allies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This non-reporting of this issue - which is absolutely pivotal in setting a standard / legal precedent that will limit the ability of our Fourth Estate to hold power to account, should be of great concern to New Zealanders.
We can go on dancing on the head of a pin but the reality is that the public of New Zealand are overwhelmingly oblivious to this issue and especially of its implications and are therefore unconcerned and in no way interested in expressing support for a political solution - which could be provided by our elected representatives. ( offer of asylum/call on the Office of The High Commissioner for Human rights to provide Protected Person status to Julian Assange - and to 'empower' him.
In short, our media are not doing their job - even to protect the fundamental rights of their own profession.
Naku noa na
Alan William Preston
Mob : 02102377242
WE MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MOTIVATING RADIO NEW ZEALAND JOURNALISTS TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS
https://sites.google.com/view/newzealandersforjulianassange/get-informed/listen/radio-new-zealand
Q: How big is the membership?
453 members on the Facebook Group as of 2024-01-12.
Q: Why should New Zealander's care about the situation Assange finds himself in?
This is THE case on which the future of our entire human civilization is pivoted.
If Julian Assange is extradited and subsequently jailed for having exposed the U.S. Military for having conducted its military operations systematically in breach of the Geneva Conventions, the precedent will be set by which no journalist or publisher will be safe from extradition for scrutinising or holding the powers-that-be ( that we taxpayers fund ) to account.
This will create an environment in which the powers-that-be ( i.e. not only the military ) are free to act with impunity for their actions, excesses and abuses of power. In effect , this is a fascist takeover.
Q: What can they do to show support? Generally speaking...don't need a huge list as i bet there is a list of things they can do.
Get informed.
Listen : To these interviews that have been conducted by Radio New Zealand .
Watch : Documentaries , talks and interviews with and about Julian Assange on YouTube.
Read. The Trial Of Julian Assange : Prof Dr Nils Melzer - Special Rapporteur on Torture for the U.N.
Familiarise yourself with some of the material that Wikileaks has released.
Write to your Member(s) of Parliament to ask that our Minister of Foreign Affairs lodge a Diplomatic Protest with the British High Commission and the Embassy of the United States in Wellington asking that the charges against Julian Assange be dropped.
Write Letters to the Editor to ask why their media organisation has not been more actively involved in doing its own investigations and reporting on the case of Julian Assange , drawing attention the the upcoming ( 20-22nd of February 2024 Extradition Hearing at London's High Court.
Write ( an actual letter ) to Julian Assange in his 2x3 metre cell at Belmarsh Maximum Security Prison in London.
www.writejulian.com
Go to www.newzealandersforjulianassange.org.nz for more ideas on what New Zealanders can actually do that may meaningfully contribute to his release.
Lastly - i'm still looking into this.
But can NZ at this point offer Assange asylum - I saw a petition was presented to Parliament along these lines in 2018.
As far as I know , political asylum is something that is granted once requested and not usually something that is offered by foreign states.
This has not stopped the Mexican Government from offering asylum nor the Italian Government from offering 'honorary citizenship'.
I read this also, - it appears to be a pivotal moment. Ardern turned down flatly the idea of offering him asylum.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7548395/nz-pm-ardern-unmoved-by-assange-asylum-bid/
As I said - this does not mean that the New Zealand Government would not have granted asylum if it had been requested.
Ideally, the changes against the person who provided the evidence would be dropped and investigations and prosecutions be started against those who ordered and carried out the breaches of the Geneva Conventions, International Treaties and Agreements and the Human Rights of all those innocent victims ..... i.e Collateral Murder.
Some of my questions might be best answered by someone like an academic who is qualified to speak on international relations etc.
I"ll think on who else I should speak to .
Nicky Hager may be open to giving you some insights and he has worked with Julian Assange on some of the big releases.
nhager@actrix.co.nz
i.e. Human Race Relations commissioner,
Legal expert re possibility or lack thereof due to where he stands currently legally in terms of gaining asylum here or in his homeland Australia.