[Peace-discuss] Julian Assange’s safety

[Carl G. Estabrook]

[Letter to The Telegraph, UK 19 December 2011]

SIR – To date, no charges have been laid against Julian Assange by  
Swedish authorities. But we understand that, should he be sent to  
Sweden, he will be held on remand, incommunicado. We are concerned  
that should Mr Assange be placed in Swedish custody, he will be  
subject to the process of “temporary surrender”, enabling his removal  
to the United States without the appropriate legal processes that  
accompany normal extradition cases.

Any prosecution of Mr Assange in the United States would be on the  
basis of his activities as a journalist and editor – Mr Assange’s  
status as such has been recently confirmed by the High Court in  
England. Such a prosecution would be a serious assault on freedom of  
speech and the need for an unfettered, independent media.

Further, the chances of Mr Assange receiving a fair trial in the  
United States appear remote. A number of prominent political figures  
have called for him to be assassinated, and Joe Biden, the Vice- 
President, has called him a “hi-tech terrorist”. Given this atmosphere  
of hostility, we hold serious concerns about his safety once in  
American custody.

As an Australian citizen, Mr Assange is entitled to the best  
endeavours of the Australian government to ensure he is treated  
fairly. He is entitled to expect that his government will not remain  
silent while his liberty and safety are placed at risk.

Australians also expect their government to speak out against efforts  
to silence the media and to intimidate those who wish to hold  
governments to account.

Malcolm Fraser [former PM of Australia]
Professor Noam Chomsky
The Marchioness of Worcester
Ken Loach
Rachel Ward
John Pilger
David Gilmour
Polly Samson
Elizabeth O’Shea
Bernard Keane
Julian Morrow
Professor Stuart Rees
Mary Kostakidis
Roy David
Rebecca O’Brien
Spencer Zifcak
Justin Randle
Antony Loewenstein
Rob Stary
Andrew Denton
Dr Scott Burchill
Eva Cox
Jeff Sparrow
Raimond Gaita
Michael Pearce SC
Guy Rundle
Adam Bandt MP
Robert Manne
Dr Leslie Cannold
Professor John Keane
Alex Miller
Julian Burnside QC
Wendy Bacon
Lieutenant Colonel Lance Collins (retd)
Ken Macnab
Steve Killelea
Professor Sarah Joseph
Marius Smith
Sophie Cunningham
Professor Theo van Leeuwen
Alastair Nicholson QC
Senator Scott Ludlam
Senator Bob Brown
Senator Christine Milne
Senator Rachel Siewert
Senator Richard Di Natale
Senator Penny Wright
Senator Larissa Waters
Senator Lee Rhiannon
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young
Greg Barns
Associate Professor Jake Lynch
Phillip Adams
Stephen Keim SC
Brian Walters SC
Reg Mombassa
Mike Carlton
Alex Mitchell
Lex Marinos
Anna Funder
Andrew Knight
Kara Greiner
Peter Fitzsimons
Angus Sampson
David Lyle
David Collins
Nicolé Nolan
Liz Humphrys
Dr Tad Tietze
Susan Benn
Gordon Morris
Jane Morris
Stephen Thompson
Mike Unger
Dale Vince