WikiLeaks Founder Assange Freed After 14-Year Legal Battle
On Wednesday, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was released from custody on the remote U.S. Pacific territory of Saipan, marking the end of a protracted 14-year legal battle. His release followed a guilty plea to a single espionage charge, part of a negotiated deal that allowed him to walk free after years of confinement.
Australia's Role in Assange's Liberation
Jennifer Robinson, Assange's Australian attorney, attributed his release to intense diplomatic efforts and lobbying at the highest levels of the U.S. government. She praised Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his instrumental role in facilitating the outcome.
A Shift in Political Will
Albanese, leader of the centre-left Labor government, hailed Assange's release as a victory for Australia. He emphasized the country's leverage of its security ties with Washington and London in advocating for the resolution of an Australian citizen's plight.
A Decade of Stalemate
Under a conservative government a decade ago, Canberra showed little political inclination to support Assange's cause. However, a shift occurred in 2023 when lawmakers across the political spectrum rallied behind the campaign to bring him home, according to Assange's father, John Shipton.
Bipartisan Support
The momentum behind Assange's release culminated in a parliamentary motion in February 2023, calling for his release. Conservative lawmaker Barnaby Joyce joined a cross-party group of politicians who traveled to Washington in September to lobby for a resolution.
Diplomatic Efforts
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd and former defense minister Stephen Smith, Australia's top envoys to the U.S. and Britain, played pivotal roles in the diplomatic push for Assange's release. They used visits to Washington and London to convey Australia's concerns.
U.S. Support
A significant breakthrough came in January 2021, when then-shadow Attorney General Mark Dreyfus called for an end to the case against Assange. This signaled a shift in the Labor Party's stance. When Labor won power in May 2022, Assange gained official diplomatic support. Albanese made a public appeal for his release in parliament, the first such statement by a prime minister since 2012.
US-Australia Security Ties
The strengthening of ties between Australia and the U.S. through the AUKUS security pact contributed to the diplomatic progress. Professor Mark Kenny of Australian National University suggested that Australia's growing closeness to the U.S. made it imperative to advocate for an Australian citizen.
Negotiations and Breakthrough
Despite U.S. officials' determination to prosecute Assange as recently as July 2023, a month later, U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy hinted at the possibility of a deal. The cross-party delegation's visit to Washington in September appeared to soften the Biden administration's stance.
The UK High Court's decision in May 2023 to allow Assange to appeal against his extradition triggered negotiations for a plea deal. To accommodate Assange's objection to entering the continental United States, the plan for him to enter his plea in New York or Washington was shifted to Saipan.
Aftermath and Crowdfunding Support
Assange's release from prison to the airport in London on Monday was shrouded in secrecy to prevent leaks. His release has sparked a global outpouring of support and a crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds for the flights owed to the Australian government.
The successful resolution of Assange's case underscores the power of diplomatic efforts and citizen support in influencing international outcomes.
