08/03/12

WikiLeaks has been financially blockaded without process for 609 days.
Julian Assange has been detained without charge for 606 days. 
 - 46 days at the Ecuadorian Embassy.

Bradley Manning has been in jail without trial for 803 days.  
A secret Grand Jury on WikiLeaks has been active for 689 days.

WikiLeaks News:

• Peter Kornbluh, guest editor of The Nation's double issue on WikiLeaks and Latin America, was on Democracy Now! discussing WikiLeaks' impact in the region where Julian Assange is seeking asylum.
• WikiLeaks cables reveal that an Olympic Azerbaijani boxer, accused of bribery in 2011, was described by an American diplomat as an important and corrupt player in the country's government.
• Syria Files reveal that the Schindler Group (elevator/escalator manufacturers) was not comfortable with Syria's connections to Rami Makhlouf.
• An article at Political Gates looks at how Stratfor analysts described Sarah Palin, using information from WikiLeaks' GI Files.
• The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission released 52 documents related to the WikiLeaks banking blockade. They can be seen at the ACCC website under "ACCC FOI Request 36/2012". 
• WikiLeaks.org experienced down time for unknown reasons earlier today, but is back online again. WikiLeaks is investigating the cause.

Julian Assange News:

• Firedoglake's Kevin Gosztola wrote about Ecuador's upcoming decision on Julian Assange's asylum, his mother's meetings with Ecuadorian political figures, and the continued refusal of Sweden to question him in the UK.
• There is a new petition at Just Foreign Policy calling on the UK to not allow onward extradition of Julian Assange to the US.
• Christine Assange held a press conference with Baltasar Garzon about her son's asylum bid and legal proceedings in the UK, Sweden, and U.S (video via El Ciudadano Web TV). Judge Garzon discussed how Mr Assange is in a state of limbo due to the U.S. secrecy over plans to charge him. She also met with youth and social organisations yesterday.
• RT's exclusive interview with Christine Assange about her son and his asylum bid is available in English, Spanish, and Russian.

 Bradley Manning News: 

• The Bradley Manning Support Network issued a news update for August 3 which covers a new petition for Bradley, his 800th day in jail, how his pretrial confinement will be discussed in October, and FOIA requests to challenge military secrecy.
• The Bradley Manning Support Network published an open letter about how in order to defend Bradley, the public must be educated about WikiLeaks. The letter was written in response to recent media reports.