MOTIONS PASSED
CLP: Cities of London and Westminster Feb 2022
MODEL MOTION TO DEFEND JULIAN ASSANGE FROM US EXTRADITION
This meeting of ___________________notes that:
• From 2010, Julian Assange and WikiLeaks published millions of secret leaked government documents revealing human rights violations including war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan – the murder of civilians, torture, rendition and death squads.
• He has been isolated in Belmarsh maximum security prison for over two and a half years awaiting extradition to the USA on Espionage Act charges which solely relate to the publication of these leaks. These charges carry a prison term of 175 years. This is an unprecedented attack on a journalist and publisher.
• He has already suffered 11 years of loss of liberty and arbitrary detention. UN Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer found that Assange has been subjected to “psychological torture” and unprecedented state persecution in violation of his fundamental human rights. His mental and physical health has seriously deteriorated as a result. His legal rights have been consistently denied most seriously by the bugging and surveillance by US intelligence inside the Ecuadorian Embassy where his lawyers’ meetings were recorded.
• A September ’21 Yahoo! News investigation which interviewed 30 former US government and intelligence insiders revealed that the US government/ CIA had sketched plans to kidnap Julian from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he had been granted asylum, to render him to the USA and even assassinate him.
• A large coalition of international press freedom organisations led by ACLU has said that: ‘the criminal case against him poses a grave threat to press freedom both in the United States and abroad. …The proceedings against Mr. Assange jeopardize journalism that is crucial to democracy. In our view, a precedent created by prosecuting Assange could be used against publishers and journalists alike, chilling their work and undermining freedom of the press.’
• The NUJ and the International Federation of Journalists have demanded that the charges be dropped and Assange released. Amnesty International has said “The US government’s unrelenting pursuit of Julian Assange makes it clear that this prosecution is a punitive measure, but the case involves concerns which go far beyond the fate of one man and put media freedom and freedom of expression in peril.’
• With the 10 December ’21 High Court decision to allow his extradition to the US Julian Assange’s life is in greater peril than ever. Reporters without Borders condemned this decision saying: ‘It is time to put a stop to this more than decade-long persecution once and for all. It is time to free Assange,”
This meeting resolves:
1. To call for the immediate release of Julian Assange and to campaign to stop his extradition to the US.
2. To write to the Home Secretary, the Shadow Home Secretary, the Justice Secretary and the Shadow Justice Secretary on this issue.
3. Agrees to write to …………………………………………… requesting that they urgently raise these matters in the House of Commons or to the relevant appropriate public body.
2019/2020 model motion:
PASSED MOTIONS
Ryde Branch Labour Party September 2019
Lewisham Stop the War September 2019
Lewisham West and Penge Constituent Labour Party October 2019
Canonbury ward, Labour Party Islington South February 2020
Abbey Wood Labour Party February 2020
Isle of Wight CLP February 2020
British society is waking up, Civil Society Institutions through their members mobilising are declaring their support of WikiLeaks Julian Assange opposing his extradition to the US. Over the next few years as the Extradition case goes through the British Courts, such institutional support is essential for a successful outcome not just for Julian Assange, saving his life, but such support is the natural defence of our democratic rights for free speech and free press, the people’s right to know and in unequivocal protection of journalists, publishers and members of the public revealing war crimes, corruption and conspiracies to undermine the democratic function of British society.
We have been inundated by requests from people who wish to help this vital campaign. A recurring request is for a model resolution that can be put forward in civil society institutions where members congregate and decide on policy and campaigns. Please share our model motion. By saving Julian Assange we save our own rights and freedoms from this onslaught assault of the Trump administration on civil society.
MODEL MOTION TO DEFEND JULIAN ASSANGE FROM US EXTRADITION
This meeting of ___________________notes that:
• Journalist and WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange is in prison awaiting extradition to the USA on Espionage Act charges. These charges carry a prison term of 175 years.
• The conspiracy charges against Assange criminalise core journalistic practices and are a frontal assault on the freedom of the press. Over 800 journalists have now signed an open letter condemning the ‘campaign being waged against him for the crime of revealing war crimes’ and demanding his immediate release.
• On May 31, the UN Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer found that Assange has been subjected to “psychological torture” and unprecedented state persecution in violation of his fundamental human rights.
• Julian Assange is being kept in Belmarsh maximum-security Prison. He is suffering a repressive regime of isolation and is being denied his fundamental legal right of access to his lawyers and legal papers that he needs in order to defend himself. Evidence has now emerged showing that extensive video and audio recording of Julian Assange and his visitors was carried out in the Ecuadorian Embassy The recordings were passed over to the USA. His consultations with his legal team were taped, breaching one of the most fundamental legal rights for defendants.
• His health has continued to seriously decline in Belmarsh and in November Nils Melzer warned: ‘Unless the UK urgently changes course and alleviates his inhumane situation, Mr Assange’s continued exposure to arbitrariness and abuse may soon end up costing his life.’
• Over 65 doctors have signed a letter to the British Home Secretary calling for urgent medical assessment and treatment of Julian Assange in hospital. They warned that ‘on the evidence currently available, that Mr Assange could die in prison. The medical situation is thereby urgent. There is no time to lose.’
This branch:
Condemns the British government’s complicity with the US persecution of Julian Assange
Calls on the British government to refuse to extradite him to the USA
Agrees to campaign against his US Extradition the prison regime being imposed on him and for his immediate release.
Agrees to write to …………………………………………… requesting that they urgently raise these matters in the House of Commons or to the relevant appropriate public body.
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