The open letter below was released on May 29.
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There have been many public statements made about WikiLeaks and its editor-in-chief Julian Assange that are factually inaccurate.
For example, Prime Minister Julia Gillard: "It's illegal." Attorney General Nicola Roxon: "He fled Sweden" and the media generally: "Assange is charged/facing charges" (in relation to Swedish sex allegations).
Some of these inaccurate statements are due to misinformation, but others are designed to smear Julian, to erode his public support and to discredit WikiLeaks to prevent the further publishing of uncomfortable truths.
Many Australians including leading lawyers, academics and journalists believe WikiLeaks is a legitimate, ethical and courageous media organisation, and that Julian is an innocent man; a political prisoner persecuted for exposing the US government and its big corporations for the complicity in war crimes, fraud and corruption, exploitation of the Third World, bullying and diplomatic manipulation in other countries, lying to the public and other shady dealings.
They were appalled as the Australian government stood by in silence as furious US politicians and commentators called for the brutal murder of my son. It stood silent when Julian's personal bank accounts were frozen and the US government cut off 95% of WikiLeaks’ funding by pressuring credit card companies to refuse to process voluntary donations (this was despite the fact that the US Treasury stated there was no reason to blacklist WikiLeaks).
They are deeply concerned that the government refuses to protest against the many documented abuses of Julian's legal and human rights in the Swedish extradition case or his right to a fair legal process in an imminent US extradition application.
Moreover, many feel his treatment signifies other wider concerns that the Australian government has become an echo chamber of the US government and US big business, which is increasingly dictating Australian policy and new legislation against the interests of Australian security, the privacy and civil rights of Australian citizens, Australian businesses and Australian democracy.
I implore you as a mother and urge you as an Australian citizen to look at the facts I have listed and to make up your own mind.
Included also are links to more factual information, what we are asking the Australian government to do to protect Julian and some actions you may take to support Julian's right to justice.
