TUKUA TE PONO 

FREE THE TRUTH

The Assange case is the most consequential Human Rights case of our time. The United States is attempting to set a precedent that makes it a crime to reveal their state crimes anywhere in the world.

How can we solve abuses we aren't allowed to see? Our Right to Know is the master key to all our rights, and it's in a prison cell with Julian Assange.

Australian journalist Julian Assange published evidence of  war crimes, torture, environmental corruption, and mass surveillance. 

Despite the UN repeatedly calling for his freedom since 2016, he has been kept in solitary confinement in a UK Supermax prison for the last 4 years. A UN Special Rapporteur on Torture says the UK and US have been 'literally torturing him to death'. He recently suffered a stroke, and a letter signed by hundreds of doctors warns he is likely to die in the next few months if not freed.

But this case is not only about Julian Assange. It's about our collective right to know.

Aren't there many jailed journalists? Why is this special? 

This is an unprecedented test case for GLOBAL press freedom. Never has a powerful nation like the US reached out to jail a foreign journalist before. The charges also don't allow for a fair trial, because he cannot argue he published information in the public interest.

This ‘is a direct threat to journalists everywhere in the world.’ - Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, Joel Simon

If he's done nothing wrong, why can't he just fight it in court in the US?

The US has dug up a controversial old law they promised would never be used against a publisher. Under the 1917 Espionage Act, the defendant is not allowed to say why they published secret docuemnts or argue that the information was in the public interest - even if it is undisputed evidence of Human Rights crimes.

US Security Officials have said top White House and CIA Officers called for 'sketches' to assassinate Assange. We cannot expect his basic human rights to be safe in the US.

Surely we can trust UK justice to fairly determine this extradition request?

Amnesty International have said the UK extradition trial was like a 'circus'.
The International Bar Association Human Rights Insititute said the proceedings against Mr Assange 'seriously undermine due processes and the rule of law'. All his private meetings with his lawyers were spied on and that alone is enough to throw out most cases. UN Special Rapporteur Nils Melzer said 'this extradition proceeding has become irreparably arbitrary.' There is no chance of justice.

Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders were denied access to monitor the hearings. No one can credibly say that justice is being done.

He must have done something wrong?

The US prosecution has admitted under oath in two separate trials, that they have found no evidence that Wikileaks publications caused any harm to anyone.

A number of experts, including New Zealand investigative journalist Nicky Hager, testified that Assange took 'extraordinary precautions' to redact sensitive information and to protect sources.

The indictment criminalises 'common journalistic activity' - Committee to Protect Journalists.

An unprecedented threat to Global freedom

The US is attempting to assert an unprecedented tyranny, that they can imprison anyone, anywhere in the world, for revealing their Human Rights crimes.

The US cannot continue this legal attack and still claim to stand for free speech and democracy. Allies of the US and UK who stay silent cannot either. This case threatens South Pacific journalists, the integrity and safety of our Defense Forces, and the wider public's right to know.

Julian is suffering profoudly in arbitrary solitary confinement according to his wife Stella Assange. He is likely to die according to medical experts if we don't free him. We must free Julian before a terrible black mark is left in history threatening anyone prepared to stand up and tell the truth.

New Zealand must stand up for a South Pacific journalist, and call on our allies to bring an end to this NOW.