Julian Assange has used an address to the United Nations long-lasting councils to remind his call for the United States to end its pursuit against WikiLeaks.
Speaking via a video link from the London Ecuadoran Embassy where he is currently held in asylum, Assange said Barack Obama had criminalised freedom of speech.
Assange alleged that the US was still vigorously chasing him over WikiLeaks’ posting of thousands of military and diplomatic cables.
“President Obama spoke out strongly in favour of freedom and expression. Those in power, have to resist the temptation to crack down on dissent. It is time for President Obama to do the right thing and join the forces of change. Not in fine words but in fine deeds.”
He decried the plight of US soldier Bradley Manning who has been held in custody for 856 days. Manning is the accused source of the cable leak.
Mr Assange says Mr Manning’s treatment stands in stark contrast to Mr Obama’s statements of recent days on freedom of speech.
“Bradley Manning, science-fair, all-star soldier and patriot was degraded, psychologically tortured and abused by his own government,” Julian Assange further indicated.
“He was charged with a death penalty offence.
“These things happened to him as the US Government tried to break him, to force him to testify against WikiLeaks and me.”
