WikiLeaks support rally a success: Pirate Party

Future action likely pending Assange and US embassy cable leaker, Bradley Manning, trial outcomes

The Australian Pirate Party has declared the rally held in Sydney over the weekend in support of WikiLeaks a success, claiming attendance of up to 1000 people.

Speakers at the event – organised by the WikiLeaks Support Coalition – included Pirate Party Australia president Rodney Serkowski, NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, and a statement read out by social commentator and columnist, Phillip Adams.

According to Pirate Party Australia acting secretary, Brendan Molloy, the rally and march were intended to show support and solidarity with WikiLeaks.

“[We want] to spread the word about [US embassy cable leaker] Bradley Manning and his detention and what [the US government] is doing with his pre-trial and to bring attention to Julian Assange’s situation, and that we will not concede freedom of press and information,” he said.

Speaking at the rally, NSW Greens MP, David Shoebridge, said the Australian government should support Assange and WikiLeaks.

"The actions of WikiLeaks are not only lawful, they're essential for fostering free speech in the 21st century,” Shoebridge said. “That's why we're here to support those actions."

The rally was also part of a global effort to raise awareness of issues surrounding freedom of speech and information, which included rallies in North and South America, Europe as well as Australia, Molloy said.

Further protests and rallies were likely to follow, depending on the outcome of the current case against Julian Assange, Molloy said.

“We do hope that he does receive a fair trial and that he does not get extradited to America and we continue to hold hope for his situation,” he said.

Molloy said the Pirate Party was also currently working to carry out its freedom of speech and information agenda through helping mirror sites hosting video of protests in Tunisia.

“Three or four Pirate Party members in Tunisia have been arrested without charge and one or two were beaten,” he said.

“So what many internet activist sites groups have been mirroring the Tunisa riot videos and assisting Tunisians access these videos to see what their government is doing to them… it is basically censored material in Tunisia.”

Follow Tim Lohman on Twitter: @tlohman

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAu

References show all

Comments

1

Hellfire

Mon 17/01/2011 - 17:22

I am afraid I do not see any reason to show any more support for Julian Assange than for any other Australian who breaks or has trouble with the law elsewhere. It should now be obvious to all that in relation to the leaks he has broken no laws at all. However he should appear in Sweeden if for no other reason than to clear his name if possible. Just because he is head of Wickileaks does not make him above the law not here and not in Sweeden. I would have more respect him if he went voluntarily to Sweeden and by opposing extradition it seems to me he may have something to hide. The leaks and the Sweedish charges are completely different issues.

2

Matt

Mon 17/01/2011 - 17:57

The above author has no idea what happens in the world.

The support is not so much for J.A. but rather that governments should be held to account and completely transparent. Freedom of speech and other basic human rights that are being slowly eroded should be fought for.

True the leaks are a different issue to the alleged incident in Sweden, however the fear is that he may be extradited to the U.S. in an attempt to further suppress the release of 'cables' ensuring the peoples' representatives are not held to account.

Lastly. if you're going to post your drool here, the least you could do is the spelling correct of a country and the main subject matter. IE. Hellfire = EPIC fail.

3

Fred

Mon 17/01/2011 - 18:09

We are living in a world of secret renditions - Assange has every reason to be running scared. Wild horses would not drag me to Stockholm in his shoes.

4

garth

Mon 17/01/2011 - 20:23

cant wait to hear the swiss banker's info.
killuminati.

5

Fred

Tue 18/01/2011 - 10:33

Garth - if you were banking in Switzerland you'd be off to your private island and cutting all links with outside world.

6

Julie in Austin

Wed 19/01/2011 - 07:35

By engaging in the actions Assange and his supporters are engaged in, he demonstrates that he has exactly =no= respect for Democratic principles, or the actions of democratically-elected governments.

Juliann Assange was not elected to decide which secrets the American people do or don't want kept secret. He isn't Secretary of State, or President, or even an elected official. The United States, and Australia, and Sweden, is a democracy, not the personal playground of Juliann Assange.

As for whether or not he's committed a crime, there are quite a few related to his Wikileaks "work", not the least of which is extortion. Don't deny it isn't a great "show", but he's not exactly a hero.

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