Dear supporters of justice and democracy
Just a short update at the moment, as we still don’t know when the decision will be brought down on Bernard’s appeal, but it could happen at short notice, so please keep an eye out for news on that. There is a date of 29 July on the court lists, but I understand that date may just be a mention. I’ll keep you posted.
We are calling for a pardon for Witness K and compensation for the years of stress he has been put through. Here’s a recent article: Albert McNight, Witness K: redacted documents reveal the life of spy and whistleblower, The RiotACT, 11 July 2021.
Planning is well underway for a webinar on David McBride’s case, to be hosted by UQ. Panelists will be Prof and journalist Peter Greste, Law Council President Jacoba Brasch SC, Senior Lawyer, Kieran Pender from Human Rights Law Centre and Rebecca Ananian-Walsh, senior lawyer at UQ. Date to be confirmed, likely mid-late August.
We know that in these cases, national security is being used to hide the crimes of politicians and their advisers, and the surveillance legislation, over 80 pieces, has gone right over the top. See the article by Brian Toohey The rise and rise of Australian authoritarianism, The Saturday Paper, 17-23 July.
We have recently written to President Biden asking him to drop the prosecution and extradition of Julian Assange, and also wrote a letter of support to Julian Assange who recently turned 50 in prison. Stella Moris, Julian Assange’s partner, blasts the prosecution as case collapses,YouTube video, 13 July. We also wrote to Jennifer Robinson, thanking her for her work on behalf of Julian and other human rights matters.
Supporters in Queensland and SA are approaching their Bar Associations as well as letters sent by CLA to around 16 law firms in Australia, seeking more support for Bernard. The ACT Bar Assoc has put out a media release in support.
Please take a moment to either sign the petition for Bernard and Witness K, or if you have signed it, send the link to your friends. The petition will be closed off soon – it has nearly reached 60,000 signatures. Let’s get there and more!!
An event of interest – Manning Clark house talk with former Bishop George Browning (a speaker at one of our recent rallies) in conversation with Prof John Warhurst about his new book and rising authoritarianism in Australia on Sat 7 August. Contact me for more details.
Don’t forget to write to the CDPP asking her to drop the cases against Bernard, David and Richard Boyle, at Sarah.Mcnaughton@cdpp.gov.au Ian Cunliffe’s articles on our June Articles website page may be of assistance. Don’t forget also to visit the aapp.ipan.org.au website for more articles, a book review of Peter Job’s A narrative of denial and videos and more!
For justice and democracy
Kathryn KellyCo-Convenor of AAPP
If you would like to make a donation to AAPP’s campaign costs, you can donate by bank transfer to:
Alliance Against Political Prosecutions
BSB 633 000 Account No. 18438 3297
Support Bernard Collaery’s GoFundMe page,
Support David McBride’s GoFundMe page and the petition to drop his prosecution.
Keep up to date with the Drop the Prosecutions Facebook page