Australian MPs to Challenge US Indictment in Washington, Urging Release of Julian Assange
A group of Australian MPs from across the political spectrum are set to challenge the US indictment against WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange during a visit to Washington. The delegation aims to test the ground and advocate for the dropping of charges against Assange, who faces a potential prison sentence of 175 years. Currently, the United Kingdom acts as his custodian, with ongoing legal battles in the UK.
In a surprising twist, both the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton agree that Assange has suffered enough and should be released. This shift in consensus among Australian politicians reflects a growing recognition of the importance of press freedom and the need to protect journalists.
The delegation, which includes former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, Labor MP Tony Zappia, Greens Senators David Shoebridge and Peter Whish-Wilson, Liberal Senator Alex Antic, and independent member for Kooyong, Dr. Monique Ryan, aims to present a united front in Washington.
Senator Shoebridge, in particular, plans to make a case for Assange’s actions being in pursuit of the truth regarding US war crimes, which is expected to create tension among US officials. However, Joyce clarified that the delegation does not intend to provoke a confrontation and emphasized that Assange had not committed any offenses as a US citizen. He further highlighted that Assange had received the published material from Chelsea Manning, a US military source who is now free.
The delegation hopes to shed light on the importance of journalism and the potential threats to free speech posed by Assange’s indictment. Furthermore, they seek to remind US lawmakers that Australia ally’s stance on Assange’s treatment will impact the bilateral relationship.
While these efforts are commendable, they highlight the limited influence of the Albanese government in Washington regarding Assange’s case. As the government awaits the legal process in the UK to conclude, a diverse group of Australian politicians has taken the lead in advocating for Assange’s release.
Australia’s request to the US to cease the extradition attempt on Assange is seen as a reasonable request given the strong alliance between the two countries. They assert that Assange should not be prosecuted for crimes against journalism as he is a journalist himself.
Overall, the mission of the Australian MPs is to challenge the US indictment against Julian Assange, advocating for his release and using their distinctive voices to convey the Australian perspective on this contentious issue.
