The Lifeboat News
[ Message Archive | The Lifeboat News ]

    Re: Assange still imprisoned Archived Message

    Posted by margo on September 14, 2019, 10:16 am, in reply to "Assange still imprisoned"

    That article rightfully points out that J.A. did not abscond from Sweden: he left after Swedish prosecutor said he could go.
    Lawyer Jen Robinson's notes > https://ferradadenoli.blogspot.com/2011/

    A short while later, they suddenly issued a Red Interpol notice... on whose prompting?.

    He also did not abscond in the UK: he sought asylum because he knew a secret Grand Jury in US was after him. The fact that this Grand Jury has finally revealed its face - waving 18 charges and a 175-year jail sentence - vindicates Assange's rational fears.

    So for the judge to refuse Assange the chance to leave jail and have time to prepare properly for the big Feb 2020 trail - on grounds he will 'abscond' due to past behaviour - seems to misrepresent verifiable facts.

    In terms of 'absconding'... are asylum seekers to be re-branded 'absconders' now. Asylum laws also at play here.

    DTJ: If the Judge refused bail before Assange's lawyer asked for it, why didn't they protest in court that this was not an accurate presentation of the facts?

    Quite. This is mystifying. The judge said, though: "your lawyer did not ask for bail"... so the judge blames the lawyer and the WL tweet seems to obliquely blame the judge. No clarity, anywhere.

    Is Assange getting the sort of legal representation he needs?
    I'm not au fait with English law proceedings: are defence teams usually as quiet and unassertive? Perhaps they are advisedly choosing their battles: it remains to be seen.

    Why are Assange's defence silent around this basic fact: HMP Belmarsh looks to be breaking UN "Mandela Rules" as they hold Assange in solitary. The judge sentenced him to yet more of that treatment yesterday. Does this not amount to unlawful imprisonment in the face of abuse?

    Vivienne Westwood (Assange's most recent visitor, last week) reports that he's still in solitary detention in the hospital wing and that when he comes out for his daily 30-minute 'outdoor' time: "the corridor outside is cleared beforehand, so he speaks to no-one."

    This speaks to true solitary detention: no fraternisation with others.
    This is against what's known by the UN as "Mandela Rules" (solitary longer than 15 days):
    Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners aka Mandela Rules
    Ref > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Minimum_Rules_for_the_Treatment_of_Prisoners

    Because of all these legal irregularities, one sees that Assange's case has gone beyond regular due proceedings and is now openly a political case. Thus Assage really is now revealed to be a political prisoner - as the judge said yesterday his remand status has changed from "serving prisoner" to "a person awaiting extradition".
    What rights does "a person awaiting extradition" have?

    Social media comment that got to the heart of it:
    'The UK judiciary now looks to be firmly lodged up the US fundament: not a good look'.

    ----- -
    There's a break in communication here that becomes frustrating for Assange's followers and supporters who are growing in number and include legal community, media communities, etc. One would wish that WL had a dedicated spokesperson who would regularly speak to the case and communicate directly with public, clarifying points of law. The interest is there.
    Of course, The Guardian and other UK newspapers could run informative articles on this global-interest case: the click count would be high and the extra revenue would serve their business models. Nothing but radio silence from The Guardian and other outlets.

    [Though the Guardian today runs an article on a young 20-something Australian-British Cambridge graduate, ostensibly working as a journalist in Iran, being held in an Iranian jail. Guardian expresses concern and compassion over her prison conditions: compare and contrast... ]

    Message Thread: