Assange’s father pushes for NZ move
AUCKLAND: The father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange wants his son to be sent to New Zealand to live while his ongoing legal battles continue.
Assange (49) will discover today if he will be allowed to taste freedom after years of selfincarceration and jail time, following victory in his battle to avoid extradition from Britain to the United States.
A British judge on Tuesday rejected a request from US authorities for Assange to be extradited to face 18 criminal charges of breaking an espionage law and conspiring to hack government computers.
The charges relate to the release by WikiLeaks of thousands of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables which US officials say put lives in danger.
Although Judge Vanessa Baraitser accepted the US legal arguments in the case, she said Assange’s mental health issues meant he would be at risk of suicide if he were extradited.
The US Department of Justice says it will appeal her verdict.
Assange, who is being held in Belmarsh Prison, will seek to be freed on bail at a hearing today.
If Judge Baraitser grants his request, he will be able to enjoy freedom for the first time in more than eight years.
Assange’s father, John Shipton, has cosigned a letter pushing for his son, who is Australian, to be sent to New Zealand until the legal issues are resolved.
One of Assange’s lawyers, Craig Tuck, of Tauranga, said that would be an ideal option. ‘‘There’d be safety.
‘‘There’d be a whole set of conditions that would be available to him to progress matters, as opposed to being locked in a highsecurity jail.’’
Mr Tuck said New Zealand had a great human rights record and would provide the security his client needed.
He said Assange’s legal challenges could take years to complete and he was not allowed to return to Australia until that happened.
Assange has already spent much of the last decade either in prison or selfimposed confinement.
Mr Tuck said a move to New Zealand would be an ideal option to help his client’s wellbeing.
‘‘There’s all sorts of health concerns and we’re involved in various meetings and communication around this particular topic and will be this week,’’ he said. — RNZ/Reuters