In February 2016 the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) found that Julian Assange was arbitrarily detained by the Governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Working Group recognised that Mr. Assange is entitled to his freedom of movement and to compensation. In November 2016 it rejected a challenge filed by the U.K. regarding Assange, upholding its February ruling. Since then silence has ensued.
On 6 February 2016 Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said publicly “I have now read the report and I am seeking legal advice on its implications for Mr Assange, as an Australian citizen.” Freedom of Information documents reveal that six days later the Foreign Minister signed a Ministerial Submission from Jon Philp, former First Assistance Secretary Consular and Crisis Management Division, and Anne Moores; A/G Executive Director Australian Passports Office, which recommended ‘not seek to ‘resolve’ Mr Assange’s case following the WGAD opinion, as we are unable to intervene in the due process of another country’s court proceedings or legal matters, and we have full confidence in the UK and Swedish judicial system.’
Of interest is the fact that in the first FOI response the Ministerial Submission was provided with both the Minister’s signature and the date redacted. This was queried by the author, and after numerous phone calls and emails the same Ministerial Submission was provided with the Minister’s signature and date, and a covering email at pains to point out that it was not focused on the outcome of the WGAD report.
Why bother redacting the Minister’s signature and date from the Ministerial Submission? Is it because at that time, the Minister was publicly stating she would be seeking legal advice yet privately agreeing to a course of action before receiving that advice? One can only assume that the legal advice allegedly sought by Ms Bishop did not provide a contrary view to the recommendations made in the Ministerial Submission or Mr Assange’s legal team would have been informed. Instead, as I understand it, they have heard nothing.
In a letter to the author dated 7 April 2017 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that the Minister sought and received legal advice on the implications of the findings of the WGAD in February 2016. The Department was not prepared to provide the dates that advice was sought and received nor confirmation of the Department from whom it was sourced. Consequently a further Freedom of Information request has been issued and remains outstanding.
Like the Ministerial Submission the Department’s letter suggests that ‘Australia cannot intervene in the legal processes of another country [even though Assange’s lawyers have not called for intervention]’ and that ‘The Australian Government stands ready to provide Mr Assange with the same consular assistance it would give to any other Australian in the circumstances…’
Weasel words like these are designed to deceive. Is there – or has there ever been – an Australian in the same circumstances? Held in isolation for 10 days, under house arrest for 500 days and in excess of 3 years in the Ecuadorian embassy. No real freedom, the subject of overt and covert surveillance and in fear of refoulement to the United States for publishing the truth. No right to be heard, no presumption of innocence and facing the prospect of indefinite detention?
Compare that with the case of journalist Peter Greste. Julie Bishop told Greste in an interview for the ABC’s Foreign Correspondent program that “We have continued to make representations to the Egyptian authorities that your (re)trial should not have gone ahead and that if they insist on trialling you in absentia then you should have the opportunity to give your side of the story.” Furthermore, that she “spoke to [Egyptian] foreign minister [Sameh] Shoukry on July 16 and set out quite plainly Australia’s position: that we wanted you to be able to clear your name, that we would not accept the verdict as being evidence of your guilt, and that it would have ramifications for the relationship and for Egypt’s reputation more generally.” Ms Bishop said she was conscious Australia had “very little political leverage” with Egypt, and so began “a very concerted campaign of advocacy” which involved high-level diplomatic contacts with the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and countries in the Middle East.
Contrast this with Assange’s case, where the Australian government sits on its hands instead of standing at the gates with the keys. Assange has become public enemy number to the United States and Australia is not courageous enough, or perhaps not permitted, to take an independent foreign policy position. Looking at everything in combination, the absurdity is that dealing with one man has come to require a foreign policy position.
In the book ‘Things that can and cannot be said’ author Arundhati Roy wrote ‘Looking at Julian Assange sitting across the table from me, pale and worn, without having had five minutes of sunshine on his skin for nine hundred days, but still refusing to disappear or capitulate the way his enemies would like him to, I smiled at the idea that nobody thinks of him as an Australian hero or an Australian traitor. To his enemies, Assange has betrayed much more than a country. He has betrayed the ideology of the ruling powers. For this, they hate him even more than they hate Edward Snowden. And that’s saying a lot.’
Roy’s views are consistent with the documents produced by the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet in relation to the WGAD ruling: the documents include several redactions based on the assertion that the documents affect national security, defence or international relations in that the documents would, or could reasonably be expected to, cause damage to the international relations of the Commonwealth.
Really? A man ostensibly facing rape allegations, has the capacity to cause damage to Australia’s international relations ? The Australian government’s treatment of Assange demonstrate that he is an Australian citizen whose government’s actions or inactivity in relation to the infringement of his rights are dictated by international policy considerations rather than his individual circumstances. How can consular support at the level provided to “ordinary Australians” – in marked contrast to that provided to Australians like Peter Greste – be adequate in those circumstances?
It is time for our government to “come clean” in explaining what position it has taken in relation to Assange and why. If it is staying out of the fray for fear of adverse international relations consequences – and realistically they would come from the United States more than the UK or Sweden – then it has a serious question to answer about where our rights as Australian citizens fall within the greater scheme of things.
Copyright Kellie Tranter 2017
