Julian Assange is currently in Rome after attending the funeral of Pope Francis. This message from Julian was sent via his brother Gabriel Shipton …
“With the federal election fast approaching, many Australians have asked me: What role did Prime Minister Anthony Albanese truly play in bringing you home to Australia? Haven’t Albo supporters overstated his involvement? And does Albo really have the backbone to stand up for Australians on other tough issues?
The truth is, in what became an impressive field of advocates, Albo did more to secure my freedom than any other politician or public figure-even more than the late Pope, whose support was both moving and significant. Even while in opposition, Albo listened to the Australian public (and my family) and promised to take action. But talk from opposition is easy. What did he actually do when he became Prime Minister?
Six previous prime ministers came and went during my long detention. Not one agreed to meet with my lawyers. In a crowded line up, Scott Morrison cut a particularly craven figure-publicly supporting my extradition to the US. After leaving office, Morrison joined US weapons contractor DYNE Maritime along with his mate, former CIA chief Mike Pompeo, who had openly boasted in his memoirs about orchestrating my detention. DYNE was set up to profit from the billions funneled into AUKUS, a program Morrison himself initiated.
So, what about Albo? Against all expectations for an Australian politician, once elected, he kept his word. He personally and repeatedly raised my case with president Biden, and empowered Kevin Rudd in Washington and Stephen Smith in London to walk into meetings and say, “The Australian Prime Minister and the Australian people want him free.”
Albo hasn’t just stood up to the US to end the political imprisonment of an Australian-he’s also intervened for other Australians detained in difficult circumstances, including in China. This government has proven itself unusually capable of rescuing Australians caught up in sensitive political situations.
Does this mean Albo will put Australian interests first and skillfully navigate tensions between the US, EU, and China? I can’t say for sure. But I do know this: He can. Albo did right by me, and he is worlds apart from Morrison. You don’t need to be a bully to have a backbone.” – Julian Assange
Julian Assange also expressed his thanks to all of you who contributed to his freedom in ways big and small, and those that continue to urge President Trump to pardon Julian. Please consider donating to the Pardon Campaign for Julian Assange here.
See out coverage of the Julian Assange and Wikileaks saga here.
