Forum Topic

Julian Assange

I'm sticking my neck out here because I know that his situation is a divisive subject but, love him or loathe him, I'm deeply concerned about how politicians and the media have been able to shut down Julian Assange in a society where we supposedly have a free press.I realise this doesn't immediately fit into being a local issue, but in Putney we live within spitting distance of the Ecuadorian embassy where he's holed up and the implications of being deprived of a voice could ultimately affect us all.I try not to concern myself with his guilt or innocence over Swedish rape allegations, whether he was right to publish damning war crimes or even if he was instrumental in influencing the US elections - but if someone with his profile can be silenced, it's a dangerous precedent for the rest of us who still enjoy the right to express our opinions on social media or public forums such as this.I wrote a short blog about this here: http://roysbleet.blogspot.com/2018/09/will-you-be-silenced.html.In replying, please don't get into the background of his case - we have Google for that and for every accusation on social media, someone else makes a case to defend him.I just want to know ... Will YOU be silenced?

Roy Robart ● 2384d6 Comments

It's a murky area: Wikileaks seemed to expose some dubious government and commercial activities, certainly in its early days; however, it would seem some of there methods of obtaining information would have transgressed the laws of some states. Has cyber warfare reached the stage where one person's freedom fighter is a another's terrorist? Difficult to assess JA as an individual, I'm sure he had good intentions at one time but has his ego outgrown his other attributes? Insufficient data to know, I suspect the facts will only come to light as official government and possibly WL documents are released over the years? (Sorry, haven't had an opportunity to listen to the podcast.)

Michael Ixer ● 2382d

While not wanting to get into the rights or wrongs of his actions, as I was keen to avoid, I guess it comes down to whether that action was justified when it was almost certain that the States wanted to extradite him to an unknown fate on matters unrelated to the bail conditions. Not so much avoiding justice, but possibly escaping potential injustice.

Roy Robart ● 2382d

The impression of "having a voice" is, I fear, the last bastion of our desire to have free will and live in a democratic society.  Sadly, I think it has gone way past that, sorry to be so pessimistic but there you are.

Bunny Payne ● 2383d

Should fugitives have a voice?  Maybe he forfeited his rights when he broke bail?

John Gorst ● 2383d

Objectivism is too heavy for me but, yes, it's mostly about individual rights we should all be afforded both in our private lives and in keeping imperialism at bay.

Roy Robart ● 2383d

Good question - a touch of "ATLAS SHRUGGED"

Patrick Barrs ● 2384d