2012-01-12 #WikiLeaks News: New developments regarding Bradley #Manning’s case; Press Coverage of WikiLeaks Releases

This is a "WikiLeaks News Update", a daily news update of stories relating directly to WikiLeaks and also freedom of information, transparency, cybersecurity, and freedom of expression.

News

• All charges against Bradley Manning were referred to court-martial today by Investigating Officer Paul Almanza. This is not yet a final decision: IO Almanza forwarded a report to Col. Carl R. Coffman, the Special Court Martial Convening Authority, for review.

  Col. Coffman has to either dispose of these charges or forward the case to the commander of the Military District of Washington, Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, who will have final word on how to proceed with the case. Maj. Gen. Linnington is responsible for having ordered investigation on Bradley Manning to begin with.

  This recommendation was addressed in a press release by the Bradley Manning Support Network, where its legal advisor Kevin Zeese denounces a contradiction between charges brought against Manning and official impact assessments showing WikiLeaks caused no harm to US national security.

• Also today, Bradley Manning’s defense filed a deposition (out-of-court testimony) request for six originally refused witnesses involved in the classification of documents, arguing these witnesses were improperly denied at the Article 32 (pre-trial) hearing.
  It is worth noting Bradley Manning’s defense originally filed for the production of 48 witnesses, out of which the US Government originally denied 38, accepting only those requested in its own list. [Source: Wired]

• WikiLeaks request for its lawyers to have access to the entirety of Bradley Manning’s legal proceedings was rejected yesterday by the US military's highest appeals court, without justification.
  WikiLeaks announced it will appeal this decision to the US Supreme Court.
  Through its twitter account, @wikileaks also commented on the decision:

  “Today's "wordless" judgement against WikiLeaks & the Center for Constitutional Rights is anther sign of lawlessness. wlfriends.org”

• A new list of 15 crucial yet overlooked facts about Julian Assange’s extradition case can be read here. It was based on facts originally tweeted by Christine Assange, Julian’s mother, who uses her twitter account to raise awareness about the true nature of the case and to promote justice for her son.

• Learn how you can Support Julian Assange at the Supreme Court (London), on the occasion of his extradition hearing, February 1 and 2.

• “In the middle of a mass resistance that has virtually shut down Nigeria in response to the government’s abrupt January 1 withdrawal of a subsidy on oil, a previously-unreleased United States 2009 Wikileaks cable has emerged which indicates official manipulation that may have cost Nigeria billions of dollars.” [via Sahara Reporters]
  On a related note, WikiLeaks recently shared the link to 217 WikiLeaks cables on Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

• Using WikiLeaks documents, Guatemalan newspaper Plaza Publica unveiled unaccountable businessmen using child labor in sugar cane plantations.
  [via Renata Avila]

• Three new articles were published by Nikolas Kozloff, where he analyses WikiLeaks revelations pertaining to Latin America:

  - US Saber Rattling Over Iran: From the Straits of Hormuz to South American “Backyard” and the WikiLeaks Cables;
  - Ahmadinejad in Managua: WikiLeaks Reveals U.S. Fears of Nicaraguan-Iranian Rapprochement
  - Argentina to Brazil: Please Don't Get the Bomb

• Join wlfriends.org today.

• new You can help beat the banking blockade by purchasing a WikiLeaks Supporter Item from the official shop.

Julian Assange
402 days under house arrest without charge.

• Show your support for Julian Assange at the Supreme Court of London, February 1 and 2, at 9 AM. More information on how to attend at Free Julian Assange Now campaign by Liberté Info.

• Australia: Contact your Senator demanding Justice for Julian Assange! Threaten your vote if action to defend the rights of Julian Assange, an Australian citizen, is not taken.

• Nominate Julian Assange and WikiLeaks for the Nobel Peace Prize 2012: campaign website.

• Contribute to the Julian Assange Defense Fund.

• Send at least one of the several call to action draft letters addressed to European organizations and Members of the European Parliament requesting action over the unjust treatment of Julian Assange.

Bradley Manning
599 days detained in military jail.

• I am Bradley Manning campaign website with photos of supporters from around the world. Submit your own!

• A challenge proposed by the Bradley Manning Support Network: Stand with Bradley until his trial is over - pledge a monthly donation for the length of the trial. For more details see bradleymanning.org

Rudolf Elmer

• Liberté Info started a campaign to make whistleblower Rudolf Elmer’s trial an international issue. The campaign page is constantly updated with new developments on his case. Readers are encouraged to share.

January 12: Officer Almanza recommended court-martial on all charges against Bradley Manning. A final decision on the matter is yet to be made.

January 14: Bradley Manning will have been in prison for 600 days.

January 21: “War on the Internet” panel in Melbourne with Jacob Appelbaum, Bernard Keane, Senator Scott Ludlam and Suelette Dreyfus. More information here.

February 1 & 2: (updated) Julian Assange’s extradition appeal will be heard by the Supreme Court. Hearing will likely last 2 days. A support demonstration is planned outside of the Supreme Court, starting at 8:30AM. How to attend.

April 25-29: WikiLeaks spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson and L’Espresso journalist Stefania Maurizi, who has worked on several WikiLeaks releases, will speak at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia (Italy).

May 23: Julian Assange will speak at the Enterprise Information Management Congress 2012 (Netherlands).