Assange petition receives support in Ettalong
A petition to free Wikileaks' Australian publisher Mr Julian Assange has received strong support when signatures were collected in Ettalong on Sunday, January 14, according to local organisers.
Woy Woy resident Ms Karin Solondz and Adriana Navarro collected the signatures on behalf of the Central Coast Assange Campaign.
"It was quite heartening to see such enthusiastic support for Julian in the local community," said Ms Solondz.
She said she hoped local Members of Parliament would join other Australian MPs who had called for his release.
"Julian Assange has been detained for close to five years in 22 hours daily solitary confinement in a 2x3 metre cell in London's Belmarsh Prison without a conviction.
"He faces charges under the USA Espionage Act for publishing leaked material exposing US war crimes, human rights abuses, anti-democratic conspiracies and diplomatic intrigues.
"He is living under conditions that the former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Professor Nils Melzer, has described as psychological torture.
"His life, and psychological and physical health, are at severe risk due to such extended inhumane treatment.
"It is now time for more urgent, concerted and intensified action."
She said an overwhelming majority of the Australian population favoured the publisher's release.
SOURCE:
Media release, 17 Jan 2024
Karin Solondz, Central Coast Assange Campaign