Glenn Greenwald discusses the arrest in London and ongoing persecution of Julian Assange founder of Wikileaks.
“What is really going on here is a war over control of the Internet, and whether or not the Internet can actually serve its ultimate purpose—which is to allow citizens to band together and democratize the checks on the world’s most powerful factions.”
Glenn Greenwald – And, of course, the real concern is—and it’s the concern that Assange and his lawyers have—is that what this really is is just a ploy to get him into custody in a country, which is Sweden, that is very subservient to the United States, that is willing to extradite him to the United States or turn him over with the slightest request. And any person who has followed the United States, quote-unquote, “justice system” over the last decade knows that there’s good reason to fear that, that anybody who’s accused of national security crimes, especially if they’re not an American citizen, is treated in violation of virtually every Western norm of justice, without almost any due process.
Assange’s editorial written in advance of turning himself in to the British authorities today. Bail was denied
3.32pm: “This case is not about WikiLeaks,” district judge Howard Riddle told the court, according to my colleague Sam Jones, who was there.
Riddle refused bail on the grounds there was a risk he would fail to surrender. He rejected the prosecution claim that bail should be rejected on the grounds of Assange’s safety.
John Pilger, Ken Loach, and Jemima Khan were among six people in court willing to offer surety. They all offered at least £20,000. An anonymous individual offered surety of £60,000.
Assange appeared in court in a blue suit, white shirt and no tie.
Asked to give an address he replied “PO Box 4080”. When the question was asked again, he said: “Do you want it for correspondence or for some other reason?” Later he gave an address in Australia.
