Category Archives: Wikileaks

SAS soldier Braden Chapman speaks out about War Crimes

The article below is from the ABC and discusses Australian SAS war crimes in Afghanistan. War is not a game, real people die. No-one thinks deeply about the real suffering for families of each death, how terror impacts communities and the reality that violence cannot bring peace no matter how you dress it up. Only peace brings peace.

All violence has the same root, powerlessness. The destruction of war or violence deepens powerlessness which expands violence. It is a formula that has never been about peace, it has always been endless war as men believe force works. War is an imbalance with our true nature.

Immediately looking at the story below I contemplate the Australian Federal Police raids on the ABC. The person of interest was David McBride, an SAS officer who was raising concerns about military abuses and as a lawyer investigating humanitarian law.

Refer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXWoKgKyudk
Refer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNp7pHbZ0HE

This issue is a murky one in the sense that where is the line drawn in respect of lawful killing. I always feel uneasy with the words ‘lawful killing’ contrasted to the situation when civilians are arrested and jailed if they commit murder. Yet in the military setting they have safeguards as they are in the business of killing. They use buzz words such as national security, defending democracy, ridding the war of terrorism when it is evident through important whistle-blowers that the wars are not about defence but oil interests. It is evident that there is a revolving door into government by commercial interests who are making money out of disasters, a term coined ‘disaster capitalism’. Disaster capitalism makes clear that defence contractors are paid in one day what a regular soldier makes in one week and do not have government oversight at all. The large military industrial complex is embedded in government as contractors alongside government employees with high level secret clearances. This is called the ‘deep state’.

My heart goes to the Afghan citizens who have experienced decades of heart wrenching abuse, who are the poorest people on the planet and who have suffered like no other with no outpouring of compassion for their plight. They have experienced their families murdered, Taliban oppression, harassment and murder of women who break (in their eyes) sharia law, they witness their country invaded, ransacked, polluted with depleted uranium and turned to rubble with no legal consequence. They have been so hungry that they eat grass and dirt. The perpetuated violence was the continuance of the cold war orchestrated by elements in the United States attempting to create another Vietnam for Russia. The CIA paid mercenaries (extremists) to come in to Afghanistan and fight the Russians. The violent war lords had no allegiance other than to money were ruthless in their violation of human rights, executions and exploitation. This country which was once a peaceful country where families were incredibly close, poetry and music was their entertainment as they survived the harshest winters and invaders to become a hardy people. Their innocence was shattered.

I recall Donald Rumsfeld regarding Afghanistan as not a good target as it was a pile of rocks. He wanted more spectacular targets to feel he was fighting a real war and could test out weaponry. Thus, we are not talking responsible leadership focused on the noble vision of securing peace and security, but rather an cold and calculated interest in perpetuating violence without any regard for civilians using the name of national security which is today code for commercial interests who have co-opted the US government through donations or political status. It was Scott Ritter, the former weapons inspector in Iraq who stated the US was engaged in an illegitimate war of aggression. The same applied to Afghanistan. He was critical of John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister who he regarded as turning Australian into the 51st State of the US. He advised for us to take down the Australian flag and hoist up the US flag. Thus, Australian military activities in Afghanistan are under the command of the US and the real issue is under humanitarian law how are civilians (unarmed) protected.
Refer my recordings of Scott Ritter at the University of Melbourne: https://www.worldpeacefull.com/peace-journalism/

This link is how a few US Generals viewed the leadership of Donald Rumsfeld. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/04/donald-rumsfeld-iraq-war

The Australian government followed US policy and entered Afghanistan to fight ‘terrorism’. The close ‘oil’ relationship between the Bush family and the Saudi Royal family and the revelations about the Clinton Foundation and Isis funded by the Saudi’s, suggests the interests having nothing to do with the public interest but are commercial profiting from conflict. The fact that the Saudi’s funded the US invasion of Afghanistan matching dollar for dollar (see Charlie Wilson’s war) reveals foreign interference and collaboration with other agenda’s playing out. The US nationally promoted the cold war fight with Russia and ironically the Taliban went to Texas to meet with Unocol to construct a gas pipeline. The profits from the deal between oil barons, the US government and the Taliban provided material aid to an extremist regime (created by the war with Russia) that violated human rights justified by extreme Islam. The Taliban hung people in Kabul stadium, religious police raids, oppressed and stoned women to death and applied harsh punishments for anyone violating Sharia law.

Ref https://www.counterpunch.org/2002/01/10/bush-enron-unocal-and-the-taliban/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/west_asia/37021.stm

The is the “pink elephant” in the room where all look the other way, it is the profit that matters not the human rights of people. Torture emerges from the same indifference to humanity that is profiled in the psychopath. I always remember Bill Clinton’s announcement of decoupling of human rights from trade (as a red flag) and later the US exited the UN Human Rights Council as a statement of ‘who they have become’. That should alarm the Australian government given the Australian people’s values and what we regard as the very basis of democratic principles and the rule of law. This demonstrates a culture of violent abuse that is called business as usual, as it is profit that matters not human life. Does this make America great? I am sure Abraham Lincoln would turn in his grave as life, liberty and happiness is distorted for the benefit of the few not the many.

Afghanistan is the poorest country on earth and was used for a proxy war benefiting commercial interests without any regard for civilians. There has been no compassion for these long suffering people who survived against the odds. They would see the great evil in the West as their country was polluted with depleted uranium, villages bombed, civilians addicted to heroin, women turning to prostitution and an illegal child trafficking trade. They are a beautiful and kind people, very humble and simple who had no defence against forces greedily seeking their resources and not standing in nobility to protect an abused people. The greed is a core issue.

The most important issue in this sad tale is the US shadow government and deep state has to be put on the global agenda and referred to the International Criminal Court for ‘crimes against humanity’. These are unaccountable powerful organisations, corporations and non profits engaged in illegal endless wars, the drug trade, guns and trafficking. Kevin Shipp (former CIA) stated Hillary Clinton heads up ‘a criminal cartel’ in Washington D.C.. This must be investigated in an international court of law. Otherwise the dark intelligence war becomes one of assassinations to silence whistle-blowers furthering the targeted killing of civilians rather than justice. Refer https://www.fortheloveoffreedom.net/

Refer https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/julian-assange-clinton-foundation-isis-same-money-saudi-arabia-qatar-funding-a7397211.html

As a peacemaker it is vital that the truth comes out if peace is what we truly desire for our children and grandchildren. Yes, it can be scary as those who feel threatened will use legal or bullying means to silence others. The rule of law by neutral judges holding the real scales of justice must be the nonviolent pathway that leads to peace and reconciliation as accountability is central to trust in government. This has to be done as the violence is ‘not who we are’ as we become awakened to the fact that we live in a global village where not only are we each others keepers (responsible for each other) but to know ‘what you do to another returns to the self’ (universal law). For those who believe they are fighting for a higher power I can assure you that power is love as truth. Denial and powerlessness stays silent in the shadows. True power is the love that shines the light on the darkest corner, for even those languishing in ignorance and hatred are calling for the light of change. Karma can only be removed by unconditional love. So there is a way out of darkness.

My last point is I want my country to become sovereign and protect the civilians interests not follow the unofficial licence to abuse and murder civilians in illegitimate wars that do not benefit our country. May those in positions of power find the wisdom to Advance Australia fair for the highest good of all. Australia could position itself as a mediators not accomplice in crimes against the people. What stops them bringing this behaviour to Australian citizens when oppression orders a crack down and criminalises dissent? We must all remain vigilant to the wolf in sheep’s clothing or the smiling assassin.

It is the truth that sets us free. ‘us’ has two meanings.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/former-australian-sas-soldier-braden-chapman-speaks-out-about-unlawful-killings-and-war-crimes-in-afghanistan/ar-BB11gHcQ?ocid=spartandhp

 

Special Air Service Regiment sandy berets © Commonwealth of Australia Special Air Service Regiment sandy berets They are Australia’s elite special forces, the lethal operatives of the Special Air Service Regiment, the SAS.

For years, the secrets about what they did in the valleys, fields and mud villages of Afghanistan have remained hidden.

Until now. 

Former SAS operative Braden Chapman first deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, when the brutal conflict there was in its 11th year.

With a major inquiry soon to report on suspected war crimes, Chapman, who was on many covert missions, has decided to speak out about what he saw.

He said he witnessed soldiers in SAS patrols commit executions in cold blood.

A Four Corners investigation has uncovered a culture of impunity and cover-up within the SAS.

“When you’re back at the unit, people would make jokes about the size of the rug that they’ve swept everything under, and that one day it’ll all come out and people are going to be thrown in jail for murder or anything else that they’ve done,” Chapman said.

Attached to 3 Squadron SAS as a signals intelligence officer, Chapman’s mission was to track Taliban targets.

He said there was a “buzz of elitism” being part of the SAS.

“It is the best thing you could do for your career to go to that unit, especially when you’re a lower rank and you’re actually gonna get to do a lot of hands-on stuff.” 

But he was soon shocked at the behaviour of some of his comrades. 

“They’re going to look back and see that we were the guys in there murdering people, and invading, and not there to do something that is honourable,” he said.

‘Almost like target practice’

In May 2012, Chapman was on patrol with 3 Squadron SAS in a village.

The unit was moving towards a target building, when they saw an Afghan man leave the area.

“When we got to within maybe 20 to 30 metres away and he saw us, he quickly grabbed his phone from his pocket and he threw it. And at that stage he stopped. He put his hands up just like that, then just stood there,” Chapman said.

“As we got closer to him, the soldier then just fired and hit him twice in the chest and then shot him through the head as he walked past him.”

Chapman said the soldier was an experienced member of 3 Squadron SAS.

“I was only 5 to 10 metres behind him at the time,” he said.

“The visual image to me was, the guy had his hands up and then it was almost like target practice for that soldier.”

Chapman was ordered to go through the dead Afghan man’s pockets.

Another Australian patrol with an assault dog then arrived at the scene.

3 Squadron SAS soldiers during deployment in Afghanistan in 2012.

“It [the dog] actually came and started chewing on the head of the man who’d been shot. And I remember looking to the dog handler and saying, ‘Can you get this thing away from it,’ because it was pretty gruesome,” Chapman said.

“And he’s just like, ‘Oh, let him have a taste.'”

Chapman said the killing by his fellow SAS patrol member disturbed him greatly.

“In my books, it’s murder.”

Just days later the helmet camera of another SAS operator captured members of 3 Squadron discussing the soldier who had killed the Afghan man with his hands up. 

“F***ing bullshit. Not happy with it.”

“[The soldier is] a brother, but, ‘Bash who I want. Shoot at whoever. Kill a kid. Oh well, just keep shooting c***s.'”

The soldier who shot the man is still serving in the special forces.

‘Straight-up execution’

During the same month, a 3 Squadron SAS patrol was searching for an insurgent bombmaker when another unlawful killing took place.

The patrol’s dog handler and another SAS soldier, who Four Corners has called Soldier C, were headed towards a mud compound when a young Afghan man in his 20s was spotted in a wheat field by one of the Black Hawk helicopters ahead.

What happened next was captured on a helmet camera. 

Soldier C aims his assault rifle at the Afghan man.

The man is cowering on the ground and appears to only have a set of red prayer beads in his right hand.

Soldier C turns to the dog handler and asks: “You want me to drop this c***?”

The dog handler tells him to ask the patrol commander.

Soldier C then asks the same question twice to the patrol commander, whose response is inaudible on the video.

Within seconds, Soldier C squeezes the trigger and the bullet tears into the Afghan man on the ground.

The Australian shoots him twice more and then walks off.

Chapman was not aware of this shooting until Four Corners showed him the video, but knows the identity of the soldiers involved.

“He’s asked someone of a superior rank what he should do. But it comes down to the soldier pulling the trigger. It’s a straight-up execution.”

The killing of the civilian, identified as Dad Mohammad, was later investigated by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), after Afghan tribal elders complained.

Soldier C told ADF investigators he had killed the Afghan man because he had been seen with a radio.

He also said he shot the young man from 15 to 20 metres away, in self-defence.

But the video shows he was fewer than two metres away while the man was lying on the ground.

Dad Mohammad's father Abdul Malik said his son had face wounds. © ABC / Four Corners Dad Mohammad’s father Abdul Malik said his son had face wounds. The ADF investigators concluded that Dad Mohammad was lawfully killed because he posed a direct threat to the Australians.

Four Corners can reveal that Soldier C is still serving in the special forces.

As part of a major inquiry into allegations of war crimes within the special forces in Afghanistan, the Inspector-General of the ADF is investigating whether it was common practice to plant radios on bodies.

Chapman said throughout his deployment, there was systematic use of planted weapons and radios to justify killings.

“I did see plenty that were planted,” the former soldier said.

“They definitely got them off somebody else and walked over and sat it next to a body.”

Chapman said weapons were also planted on dead Afghans.

“Other members of my troop back in Australia, they did use to joke about how the same serial number [of a gun] was in every single photo of a dead Afghani,” he said.

“So, you know, inferring that somebody was planting these AK-47s.”

‘Someone’s lied giving evidence’

Another incident that still haunts Braden Chapman involved the death of an elderly Afghan man, Haji Sardar, during a raid on the village of Sarkhume in mid-March 2012.

Chapman is the only Australian witness to speak publicly about what happened to Haji Sardar.

He said Haji Sardar was initially shot in the leg by the SAS-led patrol.

An Australian medic helped patch up the wound, which was not life-threatening.

A senior SAS soldier then took the injured man away.

“Some time later he came back and our medic asked him, ‘What happened, where is he?’ Because he’d worked on him, he [the medic] considered him his patient. And then he [the soldier] just…shook his head and said, ‘He didn’t make it.'”

Chapman said the SAS medic was upset, because he believed the man had been killed.

“He was just saying that the man, he was fine. There was no way he would have died, and he knew that the soldier had killed him,” he said.

After complaints by villagers, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) found Haji Sardar had been beaten to death by an Australian soldier.

“Haji Sardar was first injured and then taken away for investigation and died as a result of torture,” said AIHRC chairwoman Shaharzad Akbar.

AIHRC chairwoman Shaharzad Akbar and Haji Sardar after he was killed.

Australian Defence Force investigators later determined that Haji Sardar had been carrying a weapon and that his killing was lawful.

AIHRC was told by villagers that Haji Sardar was an unarmed civilian.

“I’d say that someone’s lied giving evidence because there’s no way that you can justify an execution,” Chapman said.

Four Corners has obtained hours of footage shot by members of 3 Squadron SAS during the unit’s 2012 rotation through Afghanistan.

It shows the destruction of buildings, motorbikes and the shooting of dogs.

“We try and say that we’re there to help and the Taliban are bad. But if we go in and we start destroying infrastructure or destroying their private vehicles and burning down their homes it doesn’t really send the right message,” Chapman said.

“They’re going to run straight back to the Taliban, who usually are not doing that.”

Potential for war crimes charges

Braden Chapman’s squadron and its time in Afghanistan in 2012 are of key interest to the Inspector-General’s investigation.

Glenn Kolomeitz, a former special operations lawyer for the ADF in Afghanistan, said the special forces were highly trained in the rules of war.

“These guys were given training throughout their work,” he said.

“[There’s] no excuse in terms of the training as provided and the understanding, absolutely.”

Mr Kolomeitz said he believed there was potential for charges to be laid under the war crime murder provisions of the Commonwealth criminal code.

“We have obligations at international law, domestic law, and indeed moral obligations, to not ignore these sorts of allegations,” he said.

3 Squadron SAS successfully captured many targets during its deployment in 2012.

Chapman said the unlawful killings he witnessed may constitute war crimes, and he believes the soldiers responsible deserve to go to jail.

“I just want the truth to come out, and people who did commit crimes to be held accountable,” he said.

He said he also believed officers who ran the special forces should wear some of the blame.

“It is a culture issue as well, and these incidents that are happening would filter through to them. They know what’s going on over there,” he said.

Chapman said a strict code of silence was observed by members of the regiment.

He said he learned this early on in his deployment when talking with one of the more experienced operators.

“He said to me, ‘I hope you’re ready and prepared for this deployment because you need to make sure that you’re OK with me putting a gun to someone’s head and pulling the trigger. Because I don’t want to read about it in 10 or so years.'”

Chapman said that soldier was the one who later dragged the wounded Haji Sardar away before he was found allegedly beaten to death.

For Chapman, speaking out is his chance to atone for staying silent about what he witnessed in Afghanistan.

He believes even if he had made a complaint at the time, it would have gone “nowhere”.

“I didn’t break any rules of engagement,” he said.

“But I feel now that even if it had ruined my career back then, I probably should have made that complaint.

“It’s definitely affected me. You try to look back at your career, try and be proud of it, but then you’ve got all these incidents. You see yourself as part of the bad guys.”

Defence did not answer Four Corners’ questions about particular incidents involving the killing of Afghans.

In a statement, it said the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force was investigating “whether there is any substance to rumour and allegations” about possible war crimes committed by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.

It said the inquiry was ongoing. 

Four Corners: The United States vs Julian Assange

In the public interest.

The irony is that Julian Assange is considered a criminal for publishing large swarths of information in the public interest.  Yet the 5 Eyes intelligence networks all gather large swarths of information on the public (without their knowledge) and keep these activities secret.

This is the real story.

As a citizen I want to know if I am surveilled and my data gathered. I do not want facial recognition, or electronic finger printing, iris prints.  I do not give consent. 

Why?  I no longer trust the authorities given their treatment of whistle-blowers and those working in the public interest. Moreover, when you look around the world and see how civilians are being murdered with impunity and no war crimes hearings raises issues of pathological leadership. I feel that is the real issue in the story.  We can be bogged down on emails and Russians but ultimately it is about indifference to the harm caused in activities done in so-called the national interest.  Many of the characters involved in these activities are unsavoury and ruthless.

I do not think these leaders are safe for civilians as they are not working for the public interest and future. I do not feel secrecy makes the public safe, it puts us in harms way as activities are given the green light to profit the few over the many.  I do not feel security in secrecy.  It is not a question of giving up liberties for security.  The giving up of liberties (rights) is why security is undermined as those engaging in corrupt activities have less barriers or scrutiny. Transparency is critical for security.

The Australian Four Corners documentary gives insights into Assange and his focus on Hillary Clinton.  I suspect he focused on her out of great fear given what he found out about the Clintons and their misconduct and criminal allegations about them. The media has published about the Clinton Foundation, Whitewater murders, Burnie Sanders , Tony Podesta criminal allegations, sexual misconduct ‘Lewinsky affair’, Epstein visits and Pedophilia links and drug trafficking to name a few. I believe it was the corruption that drove Julian Assange to pursue Hilary Clinton.

He has concerns about the future.  

References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewater_controversy
Clinton Foundation: https://hangthebankers.com/clinton-corruption-10-facts-clinton-foundation/
https://www.wnd.com/2015/05/here-they-are-hillarys-22-biggest-scandals-ever/
https://www.theepochtimes.com/bill-clinton-visited-jeffrey-epsteins-pedophile-island-unsealed-court-documents_3036883.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Project Note: “…strip the courts of their jurisdiction to oversee the actions of the executive and legislative branches”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Podesta
Burnie Sanders: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders

I doubt it was about the Russians, but I’d say they were keen to use Julian as a channel for leaks as they are in a political trade war.  The war is about domination of the spectrum to maximise profit that excludes the global public in all quarters.  I know it is about power over ideology as the global elite seek concentration of power without public participation.  

The cold war still plays out as peace is the last thought not the first. When peace becomes the first thought these war games will fade to grey. Julian Assange wouldn’t exist.

I will sit with this for a moment before I conclude. Julian Assange has proven that a small group of people can change the world when truth becomes the light on the Hill exposing what is dark.  Hillary Clinton has proven that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely unless it is held in check by systems of checks and balances. 

When those systems break down external parties enter becoming another front in order to restore balance, this is a natural response to dysfunctional abuse of power which uses language to demonise and target whistle-blowers.  In truth they are the ones who blow the whistle and say time out, reflect, think and awaken to other perspectives outside of controlled narratives.  

What you resist persists what you look at disappears. 

What you put out returns.  Those who know they are making accusations that they have done. There are two faces behind the mask of fear that seeks to silence dissent which reveals truth not secrets.

The declining values of leaders and influences together with a defiant lack of conscience and Justice is what is on trial.

Mass surveillance attracts surveillance of those engaged in secrecy as the mirror.

The truth will set all free is a universal truth. 

Truth in action is activism or active citizenship which is a duty of CARE.

The documentary provides insights.

The United States vs Julian Assange | Four Corners

 

 

Julian Assange Speaks about Edward Snowden

In the public interest. 

The public have the right to know as criminality is occurring at the highest levels and civilians are being murdered. Those in the highest positions are unaccountable as privatisation is expanding control over public assets and removing the right to know.  The public/private nexus is blurred.  The public are very concerned at the lack of accountability, the pedophile rings, the human trafficking, the drug trade and the buying of access to politicans by private interests.  At the highest levels surveillance technologies are being given the ‘green light’ to enable the collection of data to profile people so that they can be targeted if they do not comply.  We live in a democracy and We The People do not want surveillance, corruption or control by unaccountable shadow figures.

Disclosure is essential and will save lives.  It will enable the world to redirect resources into solving the climate challenges and to evolve our civilisation in ways that promote peace.   The corrupt practices have to stop and be held to account by the International Criminal Court.

Whistleblowers are incredibly courageous as the can lose their lives, there is no money involved, it is about the public interest and this gives credibility to their actions.  The public interest is central as all governments are supposed to be acting in respect of what the people want.

Julian Assange is not in good shape, he has been jailed without trial when habeus corpus is a right (to be placed before a judge, and to be informed about charges) and his incarceration in the Embassy through legal means is against international law. He has not been protected by his own government which raises questions of allegiances and foreign interference. 

Unlawful interception of communications is against the law.  Freedom of speech and privacy is the secret war. 

Julian Assange Interview 2013 On Edward Snowden on ‘This Week’: “Asylum is a Right We All Have”

 

Roger Waters from Pink Floyd Sings for the Release of Julian Assange

I am a fan of Pink Floyd who were indeed ahead of their time.  Roger Walters is a talented and insightful artist who was invited to play as part of the calls to release Julian Assange who clearly is operating in the public interest.  He is a prisoner of conscience.  I note John Pilger, an Australian journalist has organised this event. t would be nice to hear of Australian artists doing the same.  He has not received equal consular support given his situation and the alliances that appear to take precedence over sovereignty.  

It is the highest love to stop tyranny.  The United States if it believes in democracy and human rights has an opportunity to demonstrate this. Its leaving of the UN Human Rights Council, along with Israel, is very concerning and sends a message that they are not defenders of human rights which is civilian protections.  I spoke in my video about resurrection, I sense that is how they turn around the war crimes and corruption.  You cannot speak values and not live them, if you do then the world loses respect and you lose face (as the Chinese say). 

I add to the calls for the release of whistleblowers and those who truly represent the people above self interest.  It takes enormous courage to reveal secrets, r crimes and criminality.  It is a duty to reveal corruption. In many respects these whistleblowers are doing the job of the ‘opposition’ who no longer is opposing but compromising in order to gain re-election, this is not in the public interest.

This case should be taken to an international Criminal Court, a precedent started whereby citizens can defend themselves against criminal allegations by foreign governments. He is not a US citizen I would place him in the realm of as a global citizen.  

Videos in this article can be found by pasting the link below.

Link: https://21stcenturywire.com/2019/09/03/roger-waters-serenades-british-home-secretary-calling-for-release-of-julian-assange/

Roger Waters ‘Serenades’ British Home Secretary, Calling for Release of Julian Assange

Roger Waters ‘Serenades’ British Home Secretary, Calling for Release of Julian Assange

Thousands of supporters gathered last night outside the British Home Office demanding to end to the unlawful detention and persecution of Julian Assange, who is currently being held in London’s notorious Belmarsh Prison. 

Crowds cheered as award-winning journalist John Pilger introduced Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, performing on a small stage whilst serenading the British Home Secretary Priti Patel with an acoustic rendition of “Wish You Were Here.” Watch:

Barnaby Nerberka@barnabynerberka
 
 

VIDEO: Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters performs ‘Wish You Were Here’ outside the UK Home Office in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange @Ruptly

 
 
3,545 people are talking about this
 
 

After crowds chanted “Free, free Julian Assange,” Waters spoke to the crowd saying that he was “ashamed to be an Englishman” after the UK extraordinary rendition of Assange from Ecuadorian sovereign soil.

21WIRE editor Patrick Henningsen was on site reporting on the event and remarked on the crowd dynamics and the lack oj mainstream media presence, saying, “About one hour before the speakers arrived there were only a few hundred people around a small makeshift stage, but that soon turned into a few thousand ten minutes beforehand. This was an incredibly well-organized event, but interestingly, there was almost no mainstream media presence to speak of – no big UK print or broadcast names were in the press pit – which in itself is amazing considering the musical and cultural stature of someone like (Roger) Waters. But those who did attend were party to something really historic.”

SEE ALSO: Julian Assange: Deprivation of Justice and Double Standards in Belmarsh Prison

Watch the full performance by Roger Waters, including the introduction by John Pilger here:

YouTube Video Preview

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Youtube:  https://youtu.be/DwPgIbnyX5s

In addition, Gabriel Shipton, the brother of Julian Assange, also spoke outside UK Home Office protest, describing the cruel conditions of the detention suffered by his brother. Watch:

YouTube Video Preview

YouTube: .https://youtu.be/G9ehKPp-5M0

Assange was apprehended and jailed for violating bail conditions following nearly seven years in residence under political asylum Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

Assange is now being lined up for extradition from the UK to the US, supposedly for his role in the 2010 leaks in conjunction with US Army intelligence whistleblower Chelsea Manning who is also currently being held in custody in the US as federal officials attempt to force Manning under duress to help federal prosecutors create new charges to convict Assange with.

READ MORE ASSANGE NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Assange/Wikileaks Files