TUKUA TE PONO 

FREE THE TRUTH

The Assange case is the most consequential Human Rights case of our time, because how can we solve abuses we aren't allowed to see?

The United States is attempting to create a legal precedent that makes it a crime to reveal their state crimes anywhere in the world.

Australian journalist Julian Assange published evidence of  environmental corruption, war crimes, and illegal mass surveillance. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture the UK, Sweden and US have been 'literally torturing him to death'. He has been kept in solitary confinement in a UK Supermax prison for the last 3 years, and hasn't been free for almost 14 years. 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.

The UN has repeatedly called for his release from arbitrary detention. 

But this case is not only about Julian Assange. It's about our collective right to know.
According to every credible authority, the charges against him criminalise 'common journalistic activity'. Committee to Protect Journalists

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 doesn't he go and fight it in the US?

The US has dug up a vague old law they promised would never be used against publishers creating a dangerous new legal precedent. Under the 1917 Espionage Act, a secret Grand Jury is only permitted to decide whether the material was classified or not. The defendant is not allowed to argue that the information was in the public interest even if it is undisputed evidence of Human Rights crimes.

Furthermore US Security Officials have revealed the CIA called for 'sketches' to assassinate Assange. This rules out any hope of him being treated 'fairly'. Under no circumstances should he be extradited there.

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

Amnesty International have said the extradition trial was like a 'circus'. UN Special Rapporteur Nils Melzer said 'this extradition proceeding has become irreparably arbitrary.'

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. There is no chance of justice in this prosecution.

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? Did his publications cause harm?

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.

Global threat

The US is attempting to assert a tyrannical global precedent. That they can imprison anyone, anywhere in the world, who publishes leaked evidence of US state Human Rights crimes. It completely undermines the US' stated principles of free speech and democracy.

While this undermined court process is being dragged out, Julian is slowly dying in torturous solitary confinement. According to medical experts he is likely to die if we don't free him in the next few months. 

Allies of the US / UK can no longer stay silent and still say they stand for Democracy and Press Freedom. This case threatens South Pacific journalists, the integrity and safety of our Defense Forces, and the wider public's right to know.

As a small principled nation New Zealand must stand with a South Pacific journalist, and ask our allies the UK & US, to bring an end to this NOW.