BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
UNDER the US Espionage Act of 1917, criticism of the US government’s involvement in World War 1 were considered possible crimes. That, many claimed, was a restriction of free speech under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
Julian Assange and his lawyers challenged that 1917 law. Were any non-citizens, visitors, asylum seekers, and migrants protected by the First Amendment? That is the unresolved legal question today. Are constitutional rights only for US citizens?
One of Assange’s leading lawyers, Barry Pollack, said “The prosecution of Julian Assange is unprecedented. . . In the 100 years of the Espionage Act, it has never been used by the United States to pursue a publisher, a journalist, like Mr. Assange. Mr. Assange revealed truthful, important and newsworthy information including revealing that the United States had committed war crimes, and he has suffered tremendously.”
They would argue all the way to the Supreme Court that Assange was and is protected as a non-citizen by the US First Amendment. If not, no journalist is safe from extradition and trial for criticizing the United States actions.
Besides, Anthony Albanese, Australian Prime Minister (labor) elected in 2022 demanded Assange be freed. After more than a year of negotiations, a plea bargain was made. Julian Assange would admit in a US court in Saipan to one single charge of espionage, admitting he got and published US secrets. There, the District Judge Ramona Manglona handed down a sentence of five years and two months in prison that was already served in a UK prison so he was free to go home, a free man after almost 14 years of fighting for justice.
How precious is the right of free speech, to do our duty to speak the truth and expose evil, to fight for justice on all fronts and never to give up in the face of persecution.
I was sent to the Philippine immigration court by local officials to stand trial after I wrote an article published by Jose Burgos, a brave Filipino newsman in We Forum in 1983. I exposed the secret child sexual abuse of Filipino children as young as nine years old by US servicemen in Olongapo City. I was acquitted and declared innocent of damaging the reputation of the city.
Only one US officer was charged but not in the Philippines as US officials would not allow him to be extradited from the US. He escaped Philippine jurisdiction. Amid public outcry demanding justice, he was put on trial in Guam for multiple sex acts against a nine-year old. He was found guilty and given a light sentence but no jail time.
Exposing the truth and promoting justice whatever the cost is the challenge that must be faced by all. The greatest secrets that need to be told are the acts of sexual abuse of children. When revealed, only then will the truth set them free./PN
