Europe
Assange is Le Monde's 'Man of the Year'
Indo-Asian News Service
Paris, December 23, 2010First Published: 19:46 IST(23/12/2010)
Last Updated: 20:34 IST(23/12/2010)
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange prepares to speak to the media in the grounds of Ellingham Hall in...
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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been named "Man of the Year" by the French newspaper Le Monde, which on Friday devoted the front page of its weekly magazine to the 39-year-old Australian. The paper is one of five international media outlets that have been evaluating confidential US diplomatic cables being released by Assange's whistleblower website.
Assange told the Paris Match magazine for its Thursday edition that WikiLeaks has completed only "one fiftieth" of its mission, with 1,800 of the 251,000 documents reportedly in its possession released.
He said he has so far felt protected by his notoriety, but realises that he is the main target of critics.
Assange is currently living in Britain under strict bail conditions.
Swedish prosecutors have accused him of sex offences against two women and have demanded his extradition.
Assange has argued that the sex he had with the two women was consensual.
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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to become MEAA member
AAP December 23, 2010, 1:01 am
• 20 Comments
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to become a member in good standing of the Australian journalists' union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA).
ACTU president Ged Kearney will present a membership card to Mr Assange's Australian lawyer, Rob Stary, at a ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday morning.
Victorian MEAA branch secretary Louise Connor said Mr Assange had contacted the Alliance in November just as the "cablegate" story began to break.
She said he noted at the time that his credit card had been cancelled and he might not be able to pay his union dues.
It had been decided to waive his union dues, she said.
"Julian Assange has been a member of the Media Alliance for several years. Clearly, with banking corporations freezing his accounts, his situation is quite extraordinary," she said in a statement.
"We've drawn up a new union card for him and offer him the full support of his union and professional association."
Australian-born Mr Assange remains in the UK on bail over Swedish sexual assault allegations.
WikiLeaks continues to progressively release 250,000 leaked US diplomatic cables, as promised.
Ms Kearney said Mr Assange and WikiLeaks deserved support.
"WikiLeaks is simply performing the same function as media organisations have for centuries in facilitating the release of information in the public interest. Mr Assange's rights should be respected just the same as other journalists," she said in a statement.
"WikiLeaks has broken no Australian law and, as an Australian citizen, Julian Assange should be supported by the Australian government, not prematurely convicted."
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Frost over the World
Julian Assange
The WikiLeaks founder about secrets, leaks and why he will not go back to Sweden.
Frost over the World Last Modified: 22 Dec 2010 13:52 GMT
Julian Assange, the co-founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks - which is currently releasing over 250,000 confidential American diplomatic cables - is in the UK fighting extradition to Sweden where he is wanted on charges for sexual assault.
He joins Sir David to talk about a host of issues, from his personal situation to the role of WikiLeaks as a bastion of transparency, championing the right to reveal government secrets, when it is in the publics' interest.
When he co-founded WikiLeaks he saw that he could encourage, through successful examples, people to step forward to reveal abuses by governments - to produce more justice. Subscribing to the motto that 'courage is contagious', Assange claims not to be an anarchist, rather his modus operandi is to promote responsible governance.
Now his lawyers are concerned that he will end up in an American jail, either directly through extradition from the UK, or through extradition from Sweden.
Assange heavily implies that receiving a fair trial in Sweden is doubtful. Why was the most senior prosecutor in Sweden removed (and replaced) after he said there was "no evidence or even suspicion" of rape? Why do Swedish authorities refuse to provide British officials with any evidence of crimes Assange allegedly commited - including witholding the statements of the victims?
He is hesitant to blame his two accusers for their allegations against him, suggesting they could be innocently caught up in a greater political scheme.
This special episode of Frost over the World can be seen from Tuesday, December 21, at the following times GMT: Tuesday: 2330; Wednesday: 0830, 1430, Thursday: 1930.
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