Julian Assange, the head of Wikileaks, says in an exclusive interview to the TSR that it plans to seek political asylum in Switzerland. "It's a possibility that we are serious," he says, arguing that Switzerland is one of very few countries that Wikileaks would be safe.
"The purpose of such a foundation would be to continue our activities, but from Switzerland," said Julian Assange. The site manager explained that he personally considers an application for political asylum in Switzerland (see video below cons).
"The application was rejected in Sweden and one remains outstanding," he says. Wikileaks has published nearly 500,000 documents secret, including smearing of the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, says his manager, his team is threatened and uses 70% of its budget to ensure its security.
The Australian also reported that there were only three countries where his foundation could work safely, namely Iceland, Switzerland and Cuba.
Earlier in the day, facing a record crowd of a hundred journalists massed at the Swiss Press Club, the head of Wikileaks in Geneva denounced the U.S. refusal to investigate allegations of torture in Iraq and Afghanistan revealed by its site.
He criticized U.S. pressure to silence him. "If the U.S. wants to be a credible country in defense of human rights, they should conduct investigations into alleged violations of these rights," he said.
"Instead of investigating these abuses, the U.S. authorities have adopted an aggressive attitude towards my organization by threatening public and seeking to destroy it," said the founder of Wikileaks. "The United States is losing its reputation for freedom of expression and human rights," warned Julian Assange in Geneva on the occasion of the review report Friday of U.S. by the Council for Human Rights of the UN.
"It's time for the U.S. to open up rather than cover it up," said Julian Assange. "The laws adopted by the United States are worthless if they are not enforced. Yet, elements of the U.S. government has violated those laws," said the Australian, 39, surrounded by bodyguards.
Still much to publish
His website has published six months ago 90,000 U.S. documents on the war in Afghanistan two weeks ago and 400,000 documents on the war in Iraq reveal cases of torture and killings of civilians by U.S. forces.
Asked by TSR, Julian Assange said Thursday evening that "there remains much to publish." Wikileaks still has some "15,000 documents on Afghanistan" and "information on Russia" and European countries.
The activist noted that unlike the United States, other countries, like Britain and Denmark, have announced their intention to investigate the revelations made by WikiLeaks. "It is in the interest of the United States to conduct investigations," he said. He noted that many organizations for human rights, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, shared his opinion.
He hoped that during consideration by the Council, the United States will have the opportunity to show their willingness to improve their image. The abuse reported in Iraq during the period January 2004 to December 2009 do not date all of the administration of George W. Bush said Julian Assange. "The Obama administration has also violated the law by transferring prisoners to groups known to practice torture," he said.
Asked about the results of Tuesday's election, Julian Assange expected to tighten further. He said the Republicans would have the intention to pass a law that the publication of documents such as those of Wikileaks is a form of spying.
ats / hof, with Darius Rochebin
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