Difference between revisions of "Julian Assange"

From Wikispooks
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (More varied video alignment)
(10 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 28: Line 28:
 
}}
 
}}
 
'''Julian Assange''', né '''Julian Paul Hawkins''', is an [[Australian]] programmer. In 2006 he founded [[Wikileaks]].
 
'''Julian Assange''', né '''Julian Paul Hawkins''', is an [[Australian]] programmer. In 2006 he founded [[Wikileaks]].
 
+
{{SMWQ
On 28 November 2016, Julian Assange said:
+
|text=I'm constantly annoyed that people are distracted by [[false conspiracies]] such as [[9-11| 9/11]], when all around we provide evidence of real conspiracies, for [[war]] or mass [[financial fraud]].
:“Today, marking the six-year anniversary of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak Cablegate,] [[WikiLeaks]] expands its [https://our.wikileaks.org/Public_Library_of_U.S._Diplomacy Public Library of US Diplomacy] (PLUSD) with more than half a million (531,525) diplomatic cables from 1979. If any year could be said to be the ‘year zero’ of our modern era, 1979 is it. (…) In 1979 it seemed as if the blood would never stop. Dozens of countries saw assassinations, coups, revolts, bombings, political kidnappings and wars of liberation.”
+
|authors=Julian Assange
This, in turn, he said led to the [[9/11]] terror strikes, the invasion of [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]] by the [[US]], and the creation of [[ISIS]].<ref>''[https://gosint.wordpress.com/2018/12/02/two-years-ago-julian-assange-1979-is-year-zero-of-our-modern-era/ "Julian Assange: '1979 Is Year Zero of Our Modern Era'”]''</ref>
+
|source_URL=http://web.archive.org/web/20100720202218/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/features/wanted-by-the-cia-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-14880073.html
 
+
|date=19 July 2010
==Federal criminal charges==
+
|subjects=9-11, 9-11/Official narrative
On 16 November 2018, various [[corporate media]] revealed that [[US]] prosecutors were preparing to pursue a criminal case against [[Wikileaks]] founder Julian Assange. Most experts believe that the notion that federal criminal charges could be brought based on the publication of truthful information is an incredibly dangerous precedent to set.
+
|note=By 2019, the [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/features/wanted-by-the-cia-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-14880073.html original Belfast Telegraph page] was changed to hide the 9-11 quote to anyone who had not logged in. The citation uses an archived version.
 
 
On Thursday 11th April 2019, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia unsealed a March 6, 2018 indictment charging Julian Assange, the founder head of [[WikiLeaks]], for conspiring to commit computer intrusions by assisting [[Chelsea Manning]] with breaking a US government password. The [[Grand Jury]] charged violations of U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 371, 1030(a)(1), 1030(a)(2) and 1030(c)(2)(B)(ii), and if convicted "each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."
 
 
 
A [[US Justice Department]] statement confirmed press reports that Assange was arrested in the [[United Kingdom]] on Thursday morning under the [[US]]/[[UK]] extradition agreement.<ref>''[https://www.lawfareblog.com/document-julian-assange-indictment "Document: Julian Assange Indictment"]''</ref> The full indictment is [https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5816933/Assange-Indictment.pdf here.]<ref>''[https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5816933/Assange-Indictment.pdf "United States of America v Julian Paul Assange"]''</ref>
 
 
 
===17 additional charges===
 
{{YouTubeVideo
 
|code=wX4RdK2wYfg
 
|align=right
 
|width=300px
 
|caption=Facing up to 175 years in prison?
 
 
}}
 
}}
On 23 May 2019, the [[US Justice Department]] unveiled a further 17 criminal charges against Julian Assange, saying he contravened the [[Espionage Act of 1917]] by publishing the names of classified sources and conspired with and assisted ex-Army intelligence analyst [[Chelsea Manning]] in obtaining access to classified information. Each charge carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years.
 
 
He now faces a total of 18 criminal counts, which could result in up to 175 years in prison if convicted:
 
:“These unprecedented charges demonstrate the gravity of the threat the criminal prosecution of Julian Assange poses to all journalists in their endeavour to inform the public about actions that have been taken by the US government,” said [[Barry Pollack]], an American attorney for Assange.
 
  
The Justice Department’s quick turnaround with the filing of a more substantial indictment against Assange is not surprising. Under extradition rules, the [[United States]] had only a 60-day window from the date of Assange’s arrest in London to add more charges. After that, foreign governments do not generally accept superseding charges.<ref>''[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wikileaks-assange-usa/u-s-unveils-espionage-charges-against-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-idUSKCN1ST2L4 "US charges WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with espionage"]''</ref>
+
Facing arrest, he took refuge in 2012 in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he remained for years. The[[UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention]] (UNWGAD) that he was being "arbitrarily detained". He was arrested in 2019 and imprisoned in [[Belmarsh]]. In May 2019 allegations surfaced that he was being chemically lobotomized.<ref>[[Document:Julian Assange Tortured with Psychotropic Drug]]</ref>
 
 
==="I told you so"===
 
[[Kristinn Hrafnsson]] tweeted:
 
:"I find no satisfaction in saying ‘I told you so’ to those who for 9 years have scorned us for warning this moment would come. I care for journalism. If you share my feeling you take a stand NOW. Either you are a worthless coward or you defend Assange, [[WikiLeaks]] and [[Journalism]]."<ref>''[https://twitter.com/khrafnsson/status/1131663637687558146 "I told you so"]''</ref>
 
  
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
Julian Assange was born in [[Australia]] to [[Christine Assange|Christine Ann Hawkins]], a visual artist, and [[John Shipton]], an anti-war activist and builder, who separated before their son was born. His mother married Richard Brett Assange when Julian was a year old. Assange had a nomadic childhood, and had lived in over thirty Australian towns and cities by the time he reached his mid-teens, when he settled with his mother and half-brother in Melbourne, Victoria. His mother "became involved with Leif Meynell, also known as Leif Hamilton, a member of Australian cult The Family, with whom she had a son before the couple broke up in 1982." Assange’s hacker alias, which he used from the age of 16, was ''Mendax''<ref name=nowhere/>, (Latin for "lying").<ref>https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mendax#Latin</ref>
+
Julian Assange was born in [[Australia]] to [[Christine Assange|Christine Ann Hawkins]], a visual artist, and [[John Shipton]], an anti-war activist and builder, who separated before their son was born. His mother married Richard Brett Assange when Julian was a year old. Assange had a nomadic childhood, and had lived in over thirty Australian towns and cities by the time he reached his mid-teens, when he settled with his mother and half-brother in Melbourne, Victoria. His mother "became involved with Leif Meynell, also known as Leif Hamilton, a member of Australian [[cult]] The Family, with whom she had a son before the couple broke up in 1982." Assange’s hacker alias, which he used from the age of 16, was ''Mendax''<ref name=nowhere/>, (Latin for "lying").<ref>https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mendax#Latin</ref>
  
==Hacking==
 
 
Assange was arrested for hacking in 1991, in 1996 he plead guilty and was sentenced leniently in light of his disrupted childhood<ref name=nowhere>https://nowhere.news/index.php/2019/04/14/reasons-not-to-take-the-julian-assange-story-at-face-value/</ref>
 
Assange was arrested for hacking in 1991, in 1996 he plead guilty and was sentenced leniently in light of his disrupted childhood<ref name=nowhere>https://nowhere.news/index.php/2019/04/14/reasons-not-to-take-the-julian-assange-story-at-face-value/</ref>
 +
 +
==Wikileaks==
 +
{{FA|Wikileaks}}
 +
[[image:WL Hour Glass.png|left|99px]]
 +
In 2006, Assange set up [[Wikileaks]], a website intended to publish leaked information. This has published a ''lot'' of information. [[Webster Tarpley]], noting that Assanges's statement on the [[attacks of September 11th]], termed it a [[modified limited hangout]].
  
 
==Ecuadorian embassy siege==
 
==Ecuadorian embassy siege==
Line 70: Line 55:
 
In 2014, Julian Assange complained to the [[UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention]] (UNWGAD) that he was being "arbitrarily detained" as he could not leave the embassy without being arrested.<ref>''[http://www.itv.com/news/2016-02-05/julian-assange-case-who-is-on-the-uns-expert-panel/ "Julian Assange case: Who is on the UN's expert panel?"]''</ref> The panel of legal experts, which has taken evidence from the UK and Sweden, was due to announce the findings of its investigation into the case on 5 February 2016 but the [[BBC]] leaked the result a day early under the headline "UN panel 'rules in Julian Assange's favour'".<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35490910 "UN panel 'rules in Julian Assange's favour'"]</ref> Commenting for the first time on the [[UNWGAD]] panel's ruling, Swedish prosecutor [[Marianne Ny]] said on 9 February 2016 she was "currently working on a renewed request to interview Julian Assange at Ecuador's embassy in London".<ref>''[http://www.thelocal.se/20160209/swedish-prosecutor-wont-drop-assange-probe "Will Swedish prosecutors question Assange in London?"]''</ref>
 
In 2014, Julian Assange complained to the [[UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention]] (UNWGAD) that he was being "arbitrarily detained" as he could not leave the embassy without being arrested.<ref>''[http://www.itv.com/news/2016-02-05/julian-assange-case-who-is-on-the-uns-expert-panel/ "Julian Assange case: Who is on the UN's expert panel?"]''</ref> The panel of legal experts, which has taken evidence from the UK and Sweden, was due to announce the findings of its investigation into the case on 5 February 2016 but the [[BBC]] leaked the result a day early under the headline "UN panel 'rules in Julian Assange's favour'".<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35490910 "UN panel 'rules in Julian Assange's favour'"]</ref> Commenting for the first time on the [[UNWGAD]] panel's ruling, Swedish prosecutor [[Marianne Ny]] said on 9 February 2016 she was "currently working on a renewed request to interview Julian Assange at Ecuador's embassy in London".<ref>''[http://www.thelocal.se/20160209/swedish-prosecutor-wont-drop-assange-probe "Will Swedish prosecutors question Assange in London?"]''</ref>
  
===Tweets===
+
In a 2015 interview with ''Fairfax Media'', Assange said that while he does not expect to leave Ecuador's London embassy any time soon, [[WikiLeaks]] very much remains in the business of publishing the secrets of diplomats and spies:
 +
:"There'll be more publications – about large international so-called [[free trade deal]]s, and about an intelligence agency," Mr Assange said.<ref>''[http://www.smh.com.au/national/assange-more-leaks-to-come-20150501-1mxmqz.html "Assange: More leaks to come"]''</ref>
 +
 
 
On 4 February 2016, Julian Assange tweeted:
 
On 4 February 2016, Julian Assange tweeted:
 
:"Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal. However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me. Julian Assange, Embassy of Ecuador, London (https://justice4assange.com/)."<ref>''[https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/695084493825273856 "Assange: I will accept arrest by British police on Friday if UN rules against me"]'' More info: https://justice4assange.com</ref>  
 
:"Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal. However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me. Julian Assange, Embassy of Ecuador, London (https://justice4assange.com/)."<ref>''[https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/695084493825273856 "Assange: I will accept arrest by British police on Friday if UN rules against me"]'' More info: https://justice4assange.com</ref>  
  
On 6 October 2017, Assange tweeted:
+
On 28 November 2016, Assange said:
:"The [[Nobel Peace Prize]] has finally been awarded to a group that fits the criteria: the [[International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>''[https://twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/916238191941898240 "The Nobel Peace prize has finally been awarded to a group that fits the criteria: the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons"]''</ref>
+
:“Today, marking the six-year anniversary of [[Cablegate]], WikiLeaks expands its [https://our.wikileaks.org/Public_Library_of_U.S._Diplomacy Public Library of US Diplomacy] (PLUSD) with more than half a million (531,525) diplomatic cables from 1979. If any year could be said to be the ‘year zero’ of our modern era, 1979 is it. () In 1979 it seemed as if the blood would never stop. Dozens of countries saw assassinations, coups, revolts, bombings, political kidnappings and wars of liberation.
 
+
This, in turn, he said led to the [[9/11]] terror strikes, the invasion of [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]] by the [[US]], and the creation of [[ISIS]].<ref>''[https://gosint.wordpress.com/2018/12/02/two-years-ago-julian-assange-1979-is-year-zero-of-our-modern-era/ "Julian Assange: '1979 Is Year Zero of Our Modern Era'”]''</ref>
On 12 February 2018, he tweeted:
 
:My arrest warrant judgment is tomorrow 2pm (Feb 13), Westminster Magistrates Court, London.<ref>''[https://twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/962996567576899584 "My arrest warrant judgment is tomorrow 2pm (Feb 13), Westminster Magistrates Court, London"]''</ref>
 
 
 
And on 13 February 2018, he tweeted:
 
:[[Emma Arbuthnot|Judge]] refuses to withdraw Julian Assange arrest warrant.<ref>''[https://twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/963422943094214656 "Judge refuses to withdraw Julian Assange arrest warrant"]''</ref>
 
  
 
==="Free Julian Assange"===
 
==="Free Julian Assange"===
On 1 March 2016, Britain and Sweden were called upon to respect the [[UNWGAD]] decision and free Julian Assange. The following statement, signed by more than 500 high profile signatories from more than 60 countries including [[William Blum]], [[Noam Chomsky]], [[John Goss]], [[Craig Murray]] and [[John Pilger]], was delivered to the Swedish and UK Permanent Representatives to the [[United Nations]] in Geneva:
+
On 1 March 2016, Britain and Sweden were called upon to respect the [[UNWGAD]] decision and free Julian Assange. The following statement, signed by more than 500 high profile signatories from more than 60 countries including [[William Blum]], [[Noam Chomsky]], [[John Goss]], [[Craig Murray]] and [[John Pilger]], was delivered to the Swedish and UK Permanent Representatives to the [[United Nations]] in [[Geneva]]:
:“We the undersigned, including legal and human rights organisations, academics, and policymakers condemn the reactions of the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom to the finding by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that Julian Assange is arbitrarily detained.
+
:“We the undersigned, including legal and human rights organisations, academics, and policymakers condemn the reactions of the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom to the finding by the [[United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention]] that Julian Assange is arbitrarily detained.
  
:"The governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom are setting a dangerous precedent that undermines the United Nations Human Rights system as a whole. We urge Sweden and the United Kingdom to respect the binding nature of the human rights covenants on which the decision is based, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; as well as the independence, integrity and authority of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
+
:"The governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom are setting a dangerous precedent that undermines the United Nations Human Rights system as a whole. We urge Sweden and the United Kingdom to respect the binding nature of the human rights covenants on which the decision is based, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; as well as the independence, integrity and authority of the Office of the [[High Commissioner on Human Rights]] and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
  
 
:"We therefore call on the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom to comply without further delay with the Working Group’s findings and 'ensure the right of free movement of Mr. Assange and accord him an enforceable right to compensation, in accordance with article 9(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights'.”<ref>''[http://diem25.org/urging-sweden-and-the-uk-to-free-julian-assange/ "Urging Sweden and the UK to free Julian Assange"]''</ref>
 
:"We therefore call on the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom to comply without further delay with the Working Group’s findings and 'ensure the right of free movement of Mr. Assange and accord him an enforceable right to compensation, in accordance with article 9(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights'.”<ref>''[http://diem25.org/urging-sweden-and-the-uk-to-free-julian-assange/ "Urging Sweden and the UK to free Julian Assange"]''</ref>
Line 96: Line 78:
 
|caption=[[Metropolitan Police]] arrest Julian Assange
 
|caption=[[Metropolitan Police]] arrest Julian Assange
 
}}
 
}}
===Assange arrested===
+
 
 +
===Arrest===
 +
A [[US Justice Department]] statement confirmed press reports that Assange was arrested in the [[United Kingdom]] on Thursday morning under the [[US]]/[[UK]] extradition agreement.<ref>''[https://www.lawfareblog.com/document-julian-assange-indictment "Document: Julian Assange Indictment"]''</ref> The full indictment is [https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5816933/Assange-Indictment.pdf here.]<ref>''[https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5816933/Assange-Indictment.pdf "United States of America v Julian Paul Assange"]''</ref>
 +
 
 
On 11 April 2019, [[Craig Murray]] tweeted:
 
On 11 April 2019, [[Craig Murray]] tweeted:
 
:"Have to head back to London to help in light of Ecuadorian betrayal and Julian's sad arrest. The fight is now on whether a journalist should be imprisoned for publishing documents from a [[whistleblower]] on [[war crimes]]."<ref>''[https://twitter.com/CraigMurrayOrg/status/1116289974725414912 "Julian Assange arrested"]''</ref>
 
:"Have to head back to London to help in light of Ecuadorian betrayal and Julian's sad arrest. The fight is now on whether a journalist should be imprisoned for publishing documents from a [[whistleblower]] on [[war crimes]]."<ref>''[https://twitter.com/CraigMurrayOrg/status/1116289974725414912 "Julian Assange arrested"]''</ref>
Line 106: Line 91:
 
:"[[WikiLeaks]] founder Julian Assange has been evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has spent the last six years. [[Ecuador]]'s president [[Lenin Moreno]] has announced that the country has withdrawn asylum from Assange."<ref>''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=stTMt1tLT4g "WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has spent the last six years"]''</ref>
 
:"[[WikiLeaks]] founder Julian Assange has been evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has spent the last six years. [[Ecuador]]'s president [[Lenin Moreno]] has announced that the country has withdrawn asylum from Assange."<ref>''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=stTMt1tLT4g "WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has spent the last six years"]''</ref>
  
==Banged up in Belmarsh==
+
===Imprisonment===
 
On the day of his arrest, Assange appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court where District Judge [[Michael Snow]] remanded him to [[Belmarsh Prison]] until 2 May 2019,<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/08/julian-assange-supporters-ordered-forfeit-bail "Julian Assange supporters ordered to forfeit £93,500 bail money"]''</ref> when he was sentenced by Judge [https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/biography/her-honour-judge-deborah-taylor Deborah Taylor] at Southwark Crown Court to 50 weeks in jail for breaching his bail conditions in 2012.<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/may/01/julian-assange-jailed-for-50-weeks-for-breaching-bail-in-2012 "Julian Assange legal team begin 'big fight' over extradition"]''</ref>
 
On the day of his arrest, Assange appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court where District Judge [[Michael Snow]] remanded him to [[Belmarsh Prison]] until 2 May 2019,<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/08/julian-assange-supporters-ordered-forfeit-bail "Julian Assange supporters ordered to forfeit £93,500 bail money"]''</ref> when he was sentenced by Judge [https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/biography/her-honour-judge-deborah-taylor Deborah Taylor] at Southwark Crown Court to 50 weeks in jail for breaching his bail conditions in 2012.<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/may/01/julian-assange-jailed-for-50-weeks-for-breaching-bail-in-2012 "Julian Assange legal team begin 'big fight' over extradition"]''</ref>
 
{{YouTubeVideo
 
{{YouTubeVideo
 
|code=Es6OT4VsQAo
 
|code=Es6OT4VsQAo
|align=right
+
|align=left
 
|width=300px
 
|width=300px
 
|caption=Journalist [[Gordon Dimmack]] receives letter from [[Belmarsh Prison]]
 
|caption=Journalist [[Gordon Dimmack]] receives letter from [[Belmarsh Prison]]
Line 118: Line 103:
  
 
:“[[UNWGAD]] reiterates its recommendation to the government of the [[United Kingdom]], as expressed in its opinion 54/2015, and its 21 December 2018 statement, that the right of Mr Assange to personal liberty should be restored.”<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/may/03/un-calls-for-julian-assanges-release-from-high-security-uk-jail "UN calls for Julian Assange's release from UK high-security jail"]''</ref>
 
:“[[UNWGAD]] reiterates its recommendation to the government of the [[United Kingdom]], as expressed in its opinion 54/2015, and its 21 December 2018 statement, that the right of Mr Assange to personal liberty should be restored.”<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/may/03/un-calls-for-julian-assanges-release-from-high-security-uk-jail "UN calls for Julian Assange's release from UK high-security jail"]''</ref>
 
In May 2019 allegations surfaced that he was being chemically lobotomized, this is cited in this document [[Document:Julian Assange Tortured with Psychotropic Drug]].
 
  
 
On 25 May 2019, Assange addressed a letter to journalist [[Gordon Dimmack]] describing the conditions in prison:
 
On 25 May 2019, Assange addressed a letter to journalist [[Gordon Dimmack]] describing the conditions in prison:
 
:"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."<ref>''[https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/25/assa-m25.html “'Truth ultimately is all we have': Julian Assange appeals for public support"]''</ref>
 
:"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."<ref>''[https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/25/assa-m25.html “'Truth ultimately is all we have': Julian Assange appeals for public support"]''</ref>
  
==Views On September 11th==
+
 
 +
==Initial US Charge==
 +
On Thursday 11th April 2019, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia unsealed a March 6, 2018 indictment charging Julian Assange, the founder head of [[WikiLeaks]], for conspiring to commit computer intrusions by assisting [[Chelsea Manning]] with breaking a US government password. The [[Grand Jury]] charged violations of U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 371, 1030(a)(1), 1030(a)(2) and 1030(c)(2)(B)(ii), and if convicted "each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."
 +
 
 +
===17 additional charges===
 +
{{YouTubeVideo
 +
|code=wX4RdK2wYfg
 +
|align=right
 +
|width=300px
 +
|caption=Facing up to 175 years in prison?
 +
}}
 +
On 23 May 2019, the [[USDOJ]] unveiled a further 17 criminal charges against Julian Assange, saying he contravened the [[Espionage Act of 1917]] by publishing the names of classified sources and conspired with and assisted ex-Army intelligence analyst [[Chelsea Manning]] in obtaining access to classified information. Each charge carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years.
 +
 
 +
He now faces a total of 18 criminal counts, which could result in up to 175 years in prison if convicted:
 +
:“These unprecedented charges demonstrate the gravity of the threat the criminal prosecution of Julian Assange poses to all journalists in their endeavour to inform the public about actions that have been taken by the US government,” said [[Barry Pollack]], an American attorney for Assange.
 +
 
 +
The [[USDOJ]]’s quick turnaround with the filing of a more substantial indictment against Assange is not surprising. Under extradition rules, the [[United States]] had only a 60-day window from the date of Assange’s arrest in London to add more charges. After that, foreign governments do not generally accept superseding charges.<ref>''[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wikileaks-assange-usa/u-s-unveils-espionage-charges-against-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-idUSKCN1ST2L4 "US charges WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with espionage"]''</ref>
 +
 
 +
[[Kristinn Hrafnsson]] tweeted:
 +
:"I find no satisfaction in saying ‘I told you so’ to those who for 9 years have scorned us for warning this moment would come. I care for journalism. If you share my feeling you take a stand NOW. Either you are a worthless coward or you defend Assange, [[WikiLeaks]] and [[Journalism]]."<ref>''[https://twitter.com/khrafnsson/status/1131663637687558146 "I told you so"]''</ref> 
 +
 
 +
==Opinions==
 +
=== September 11th===
 
{{YouTubeVideo
 
{{YouTubeVideo
 
|code=XPMC_IVJDNo
 
|code=XPMC_IVJDNo
Line 131: Line 136:
 
|caption="Following [[9-11|9/11]], the [[CIA]] paved the way for the creation of [[ISIS]]"  
 
|caption="Following [[9-11|9/11]], the [[CIA]] paved the way for the creation of [[ISIS]]"  
 
}}
 
}}
[[Webster Tarpley]] is highly critical of Julian Assange, describing [[Wikileaks]] as a "[[modified limited hangout]]". Perhaps the most convincing single piece of evidence of this is his public support for the US government's {{on}} as regards the [[September 11th attacks]].<ref>http://www.unwelcomeguests.net/515</ref>
+
[[Webster Tarpley]] is highly critical of Julian Assange, describing [[Wikileaks]] as a "[[modified limited hangout]]". He cites Assange's public support for the [[9-11/Official narrative]].<ref>http://www.unwelcomeguests.net/515</ref>
{{QB |"I'm constantly annoyed that people are distracted by false conspiracies such as [[9-11| 9/11]], when all around we provide evidence of real conspiracies, for [[war]] or mass [[financial fraud]]."<br/>
 
''Julian Assange''<ref name=bt><cite>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/features/wanted-by-the-cia-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-14880073.html "Wanted by the CIA: Julian Assange - Wikileaks founder"]</cite></ref>}}
 
It is an open question whether this is his sincere belief.
 
  
==More leaks to come==
+
===Tweets===
[[WikiLeaks]] is planning new releases of secret documents on controversial negotiations and intelligence agency operations, according to the anti-secrecy organisation's Australian founder, Julian Assange.
+
On 6 October 2017, Assange tweeted:
 +
:"The [[Nobel Peace Prize]] has finally been awarded to a group that fits the criteria: the [[International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>''[https://twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/916238191941898240 "The Nobel Peace prize has finally been awarded to a group that fits the criteria: the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons"]''</ref>
  
In an interview with ''Fairfax Media'', Assange said that while he does not expect to leave Ecuador's London embassy any time soon, [[WikiLeaks]] very much remains in the business of publishing the secrets of diplomats and spies:
+
On 12 February 2018, he tweeted:
:"There'll be more publications – about large international so-called [[free trade deal]]s, and about an intelligence agency," Mr Assange said.<ref>''[http://www.smh.com.au/national/assange-more-leaks-to-come-20150501-1mxmqz.html "Assange: More leaks to come"]''</ref>  
+
:My arrest warrant judgment is tomorrow 2pm (Feb 13), Westminster Magistrates Court, London.<ref>''[https://twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/962996567576899584 "My arrest warrant judgment is tomorrow 2pm (Feb 13), Westminster Magistrates Court, London"]''</ref>
  
==Whacking Megrahi==
+
And on 13 February 2018, he tweeted:
[[File:Abdelbaset_al-Megrahi_1.jpg|360px|right|thumb|Diagnosed with terminal cancer [[Abdelbaset al-Megrahi]] arriving at Tripoli airport, 20 August 2009]]
+
:[[Emma Arbuthnot|Judge]] refuses to withdraw Julian Assange arrest warrant.<ref>''[https://twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/963422943094214656 "Judge refuses to withdraw Julian Assange arrest warrant"]''</ref>
Julian Assange and [[Wikileaks]] have been pilloried by many as traitorous to Western interests. Yet those who maintain that [[Abdelbaset al-Megrahi]] was convicted of the 1988 [[Pan Am Flight 103|Lockerbie bombing]] due to false evidence, concealed police diaries and other misrepresented evidence have cause to be grateful to Assange and those who support and assist him. In December 2011, six weeks after the end of the Libyan maelstrom of war and bloody death, with its brutal killing of [[Muammar Gaddafi]], [[Jim Swire]] secretly travelled to Tripoli for his final meeting with [[al-Megrahi]], a man shortly to die of cancer. The NATO bombing campaign was over, and the conflict had reduced to sporadic outbreaks of firing and killing in several outlying parts of the country. Tripoli seemed at peace and the quiet streets offered no hint of the evil that had rampaged across the nation over the previous ten months.
 
 
 
Unknown to [[Jim Swire]], American intelligence and some within the American administration had three months previously been discussing the illegal rendition and assassination of [[Abdelbaset al-Megrahi]]. [[Stratfor]] is a Texas headquartered global intelligence supplier to large corporations such as the Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US [[Defense Intelligence Agency]]. Wikileaks had been provided internal Stratfor emails and published them. One of the company’s Vice President is [[Fred Burton]], a man much respected by those who see all foreigners as inferior to Americans. A contributor to US chat shows and Fox News, Burton has written several books and is a welcome speaker at Republican and right-wing gatherings.
 
 
 
On 19 August 2011, in a widely circulated email, [[Fred Burton]] of [[Stratfor]] wrote:
 
:"I would like to kill the terrorist [[al-Megrahi]] myself. I'm hunting for him on my own thru a few channels. If he can be found, I'll have him whacked."<ref>''[https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/23/2358574_re-unique-t-line-idea-.html "The Global Intelligence Files"]''</ref>
 
We can be sure that if Burton and friends had carried out an assassination they would have killed any witnesses including members of the [[Megrahi]] family who were continually at Baset’s bedside. Five days later on 24 August 2011, Chief Security Officer [[Fred Burton]] added a further statement:
 
:“While the world is focusing on the chaos in Libya counterterrorism agents could take advantage of this window of opportunity to capture [[al-Megrahi]]. The symbolism of grabbing and bringing him back to stand trial in a US court would resonate around the world.”<ref>''[https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/39/3984630_above-the-tearline-a-window-of-opportunity-for-a-rendition.html "Above the Tearline: A Window of Opportunity For a Rendition in Libya"]''</ref>
 
 
 
The Burton emails were revealed solely through the brave actions of Julian Assange and [[Wikileaks]]. Those who believe in the freedoms of an informed democracy should have cause to be grateful.<ref>''[http://www.lockerbietruth.com/2015/05/julian-assange-and-assassination-of-al.html "Julian Assange and the assassination of Al-Megrahi"]''</ref>
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 04:53, 12 December 2019

"hacktivist, whistleblower"
Person.png Julian Assange   History Commons Keywiki Sourcewatch WikiquoteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(Publisher, hacker?, spook?)
Julian Assange.jpg
BornJulian Paul Hawkins
1971-07-03
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Alma materCentral Queensland University, University of Melbourne
Parents • Christine Assange
• John Shipton
Children4
SpouseTeresa Doe
Founder ofWikileaks
Interest ofPolona Florijančič, Sarah Harrison, Taylor Hudak, John Jones (lawyer), Joe Lauria, Elizabeth Vos
PartyIndependent, (since 2015), WikiLeaks, (2012—2015)
SubpageJulian Assange/Imprisonment
A "hacktivist" of mysterious background, whose website, Wikileaks, has been the conduit for a lot of whistleblowing. His pronounced disinterest in 9/11 is particularly notable.

Employment.png Editor-in-Chief

In office
2006 - 26 September 2018
EmployerWikiLeaks
Succeeded byKristinn Hrafnsson

Employment.png Chairman of the WikiLeaks Party

In office
2 July 2013 - 23 July 2015

Julian Assange, né Julian Paul Hawkins, is an Australian programmer. In 2006 he founded Wikileaks.

“I'm constantly annoyed that people are distracted by false conspiracies such as 9/11, when all around we provide evidence of real conspiracies, for war or mass financial fraud.”
Julian Assange (19 July 2010)  [1]
By 2019, the original Belfast Telegraph page was changed to hide the 9-11 quote to anyone who had not logged in. The citation uses an archived version.

Facing arrest, he took refuge in 2012 in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he remained for years. TheUN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) that he was being "arbitrarily detained". He was arrested in 2019 and imprisoned in Belmarsh. In May 2019 allegations surfaced that he was being chemically lobotomized.[2]

Background

Julian Assange was born in Australia to Christine Ann Hawkins, a visual artist, and John Shipton, an anti-war activist and builder, who separated before their son was born. His mother married Richard Brett Assange when Julian was a year old. Assange had a nomadic childhood, and had lived in over thirty Australian towns and cities by the time he reached his mid-teens, when he settled with his mother and half-brother in Melbourne, Victoria. His mother "became involved with Leif Meynell, also known as Leif Hamilton, a member of Australian cult The Family, with whom she had a son before the couple broke up in 1982." Assange’s hacker alias, which he used from the age of 16, was Mendax[3], (Latin for "lying").[4]

Assange was arrested for hacking in 1991, in 1996 he plead guilty and was sentenced leniently in light of his disrupted childhood[3]

Wikileaks

Full article: Wikileaks
WL Hour Glass.png

In 2006, Assange set up Wikileaks, a website intended to publish leaked information. This has published a lot of information. Webster Tarpley, noting that Assanges's statement on the attacks of September 11th, termed it a modified limited hangout.

Ecuadorian embassy siege

In June 2012 Julian Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex assault claims, which he denies.[5] Assange was effectively imprisoned in the Ecuadorian embassy as a result of establishment allegations of sexual offences. He is under a siege by the Metropolitan Police which has cost over £10million.[6] On 13 March 2015, it was reported that Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny had asked for Julian Assange to be interviewed in London about the rape and sexual assault allegations, despite previously insisting talks should be held in Stockholm. Assange's lawyer Per Samuelsson said:

"I have spoken to him early this morning - I think I even woke him up - and he said 'this is a great victory for me' in the case. But simultaneously he was irritated that it took so long for the prosecutor to do her job properly...there is a mixture of feelings."[7]

In 2014, Julian Assange complained to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) that he was being "arbitrarily detained" as he could not leave the embassy without being arrested.[8] The panel of legal experts, which has taken evidence from the UK and Sweden, was due to announce the findings of its investigation into the case on 5 February 2016 but the BBC leaked the result a day early under the headline "UN panel 'rules in Julian Assange's favour'".[9] Commenting for the first time on the UNWGAD panel's ruling, Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny said on 9 February 2016 she was "currently working on a renewed request to interview Julian Assange at Ecuador's embassy in London".[10]

In a 2015 interview with Fairfax Media, Assange said that while he does not expect to leave Ecuador's London embassy any time soon, WikiLeaks very much remains in the business of publishing the secrets of diplomats and spies:

"There'll be more publications – about large international so-called free trade deals, and about an intelligence agency," Mr Assange said.[11]

On 4 February 2016, Julian Assange tweeted:

"Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal. However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me. Julian Assange, Embassy of Ecuador, London (https://justice4assange.com/)."[12]

On 28 November 2016, Assange said:

“Today, marking the six-year anniversary of Cablegate, WikiLeaks expands its Public Library of US Diplomacy (PLUSD) with more than half a million (531,525) diplomatic cables from 1979. If any year could be said to be the ‘year zero’ of our modern era, 1979 is it. (…) In 1979 it seemed as if the blood would never stop. Dozens of countries saw assassinations, coups, revolts, bombings, political kidnappings and wars of liberation.”

This, in turn, he said led to the 9/11 terror strikes, the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq by the US, and the creation of ISIS.[13]

"Free Julian Assange"

On 1 March 2016, Britain and Sweden were called upon to respect the UNWGAD decision and free Julian Assange. The following statement, signed by more than 500 high profile signatories from more than 60 countries including William Blum, Noam Chomsky, John Goss, Craig Murray and John Pilger, was delivered to the Swedish and UK Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in Geneva:

“We the undersigned, including legal and human rights organisations, academics, and policymakers condemn the reactions of the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom to the finding by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that Julian Assange is arbitrarily detained.
"The governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom are setting a dangerous precedent that undermines the United Nations Human Rights system as a whole. We urge Sweden and the United Kingdom to respect the binding nature of the human rights covenants on which the decision is based, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; as well as the independence, integrity and authority of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
"We therefore call on the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom to comply without further delay with the Working Group’s findings and 'ensure the right of free movement of Mr. Assange and accord him an enforceable right to compensation, in accordance with article 9(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights'.”[14]
Metropolitan Police arrest Julian Assange

Arrest

A US Justice Department statement confirmed press reports that Assange was arrested in the United Kingdom on Thursday morning under the US/UK extradition agreement.[15] The full indictment is here.[16]

On 11 April 2019, Craig Murray tweeted:

"Have to head back to London to help in light of Ecuadorian betrayal and Julian's sad arrest. The fight is now on whether a journalist should be imprisoned for publishing documents from a whistleblower on war crimes."[17]

Wikileaks tweeted:

"Ecuador has illegally terminated Assange political asylum in violation of international law. He was arrested by the British police inside the Ecuadorian embassy minutes ago."[18]

Publishing a video of the arrest, RT reported:

"WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has spent the last six years. Ecuador's president Lenin Moreno has announced that the country has withdrawn asylum from Assange."[19]

Imprisonment

On the day of his arrest, Assange appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court where District Judge Michael Snow remanded him to Belmarsh Prison until 2 May 2019,[20] when he was sentenced by Judge Deborah Taylor at Southwark Crown Court to 50 weeks in jail for breaching his bail conditions in 2012.[21]

Journalist Gordon Dimmack receives letter from Belmarsh Prison

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) said it was deeply concerned by the “disproportionate sentence” imposed on Assange for violating the terms of his bail, which it described as a “minor violation”:

“The working group is further concerned that Mr Assange has been detained since 11 April 2019 in Belmarsh Prison, a high-security prison, as if he were convicted for a serious criminal offence. This treatment appears to contravene the principles of necessity and proportionality envisaged by the human rights standards.
UNWGAD reiterates its recommendation to the government of the United Kingdom, as expressed in its opinion 54/2015, and its 21 December 2018 statement, that the right of Mr Assange to personal liberty should be restored.”[22]

On 25 May 2019, Assange addressed a letter to journalist Gordon Dimmack describing the conditions in prison:

"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."[23]


Initial US Charge

On Thursday 11th April 2019, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia unsealed a March 6, 2018 indictment charging Julian Assange, the founder head of WikiLeaks, for conspiring to commit computer intrusions by assisting Chelsea Manning with breaking a US government password. The Grand Jury charged violations of U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 371, 1030(a)(1), 1030(a)(2) and 1030(c)(2)(B)(ii), and if convicted "each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."

17 additional charges

Facing up to 175 years in prison?

On 23 May 2019, the USDOJ unveiled a further 17 criminal charges against Julian Assange, saying he contravened the Espionage Act of 1917 by publishing the names of classified sources and conspired with and assisted ex-Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in obtaining access to classified information. Each charge carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years.

He now faces a total of 18 criminal counts, which could result in up to 175 years in prison if convicted:

“These unprecedented charges demonstrate the gravity of the threat the criminal prosecution of Julian Assange poses to all journalists in their endeavour to inform the public about actions that have been taken by the US government,” said Barry Pollack, an American attorney for Assange.

The USDOJ’s quick turnaround with the filing of a more substantial indictment against Assange is not surprising. Under extradition rules, the United States had only a 60-day window from the date of Assange’s arrest in London to add more charges. After that, foreign governments do not generally accept superseding charges.[24]

Kristinn Hrafnsson tweeted:

"I find no satisfaction in saying ‘I told you so’ to those who for 9 years have scorned us for warning this moment would come. I care for journalism. If you share my feeling you take a stand NOW. Either you are a worthless coward or you defend Assange, WikiLeaks and Journalism."[25]

Opinions

September 11th

"Following 9/11, the CIA paved the way for the creation of ISIS"

Webster Tarpley is highly critical of Julian Assange, describing Wikileaks as a "modified limited hangout". He cites Assange's public support for the 9-11/Official narrative.[26]

Tweets

On 6 October 2017, Assange tweeted:

"The Nobel Peace Prize has finally been awarded to a group that fits the criteria: the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.[27]

On 12 February 2018, he tweeted:

My arrest warrant judgment is tomorrow 2pm (Feb 13), Westminster Magistrates Court, London.[28]

And on 13 February 2018, he tweeted:

Judge refuses to withdraw Julian Assange arrest warrant.[29]

References

  1. http://web.archive.org/web/20100720202218/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/features/wanted-by-the-cia-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-14880073.html
  2. Document:Julian Assange Tortured with Psychotropic Drug
  3. a b https://nowhere.news/index.php/2019/04/14/reasons-not-to-take-the-julian-assange-story-at-face-value/
  4. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mendax#Latin
  5. "Marianne Ny: Making an arse of Swedish law"
  6. "Sweden Tells the UN that Indefinite Detention Without Charge is Fine"
  7. "Swedish prosecutors to quiz Assange in London"
  8. "Julian Assange case: Who is on the UN's expert panel?"
  9. "UN panel 'rules in Julian Assange's favour'"
  10. "Will Swedish prosecutors question Assange in London?"
  11. "Assange: More leaks to come"
  12. "Assange: I will accept arrest by British police on Friday if UN rules against me" More info: https://justice4assange.com
  13. "Julian Assange: '1979 Is Year Zero of Our Modern Era'”
  14. "Urging Sweden and the UK to free Julian Assange"
  15. "Document: Julian Assange Indictment"
  16. "United States of America v Julian Paul Assange"
  17. "Julian Assange arrested"
  18. "Ecuador has illegally terminated Assange political asylum"
  19. "WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has spent the last six years"
  20. "Julian Assange supporters ordered to forfeit £93,500 bail money"
  21. "Julian Assange legal team begin 'big fight' over extradition"
  22. "UN calls for Julian Assange's release from UK high-security jail"
  23. “'Truth ultimately is all we have': Julian Assange appeals for public support"
  24. "US charges WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with espionage"
  25. "I told you so"
  26. http://www.unwelcomeguests.net/515
  27. "The Nobel Peace prize has finally been awarded to a group that fits the criteria: the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons"
  28. "My arrest warrant judgment is tomorrow 2pm (Feb 13), Westminster Magistrates Court, London"
  29. "Judge refuses to withdraw Julian Assange arrest warrant"