3 August 2013

Julian Assange hates Canberra

| johnboy
Join the conversation
33

The Newcastle Star has Julian Assange holding forth about us:

”The decision to create Canberra … is perhaps one of the worst political decisions that has ever been taken in Australian history,” he says. ”It’s like a horror story from Sartre where you put all the politicians together in the one room, together with all the embassy officials, together with the most obnoxious bureaucrats and you expect good government to come out.

”It doesn’t lead to a good outcome to suck resources in from the country to an out-of-touch group.”

Join the conversation

33
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Interesting BBC article about Sweden’s rape stats, and the need to be aware of pitfalls when comparing data around the world due to different definitions in different countries. Apparently raw data shows Australia and Canada have the highest rates of kidnapping in the world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19592372

ah that was a funny read for a monday morning

what’s funnier about it is the hipster nutbags who come out of the woodwork : “i am saying he’s not a rapist therefore i know something you don’t know – you’re all sheep, baa baa – where is my certified origin organic skim decaf soy latte man?”

bigfeet said :

Not a report on the same interview, but one done at roughly the same time gives an insight:

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/federal-election/my-strange-interview-with-an-opaque-and-secretive-julian-assange/story-fnho52ip-1226690740295

On a side note, the reporter Chuck Miranda is a Canberra fella from way back. Good to see he got a big interview.

.

Oh, and BTW, guess which community that makes up 6% of Sweden’s population is responsible for 77% of its rapes?

It has also been reported that Norway has similar rape statistics so if the claims that Muslims are actually responsible for an extraordinary number of rapes then it’s a very disturbing trend and it is the responsibility of those govts to act swiftly and decisively to tackle this ugly scenario.

Oh, and to put all the effort they’ve gone to securing the dodgy High Court decision allowing extradition for Assange into perspective, here is a typical result for a rape conviction in Sweden:
http://www.thelocal.se/48500/20130614/
The attack took place in early March at an apartment in Tensta, where one of the teens dealt out condoms while the other five took turns raping the 15-year-old girl.

Five of the boys have been sentenced to over 100 hours of community service each, and have been ordered to pay 55,000 kronor ($8,500) each in damages to the victim.
Yep, they take rape so seriously in Sweden that a gang-rape of a 15-year-old girl doesn’t even attract custodial sentences.

Oh, and BTW, guess which community that makes up 6% of Sweden’s population is responsible for 77% of its rapes?
http://affes.wordpress.com/invandrarna-och-brotten-5-utrakning/

Masquara said :

He was in Sweden. They are rape allegations under Swedish law, by Sweden’s definition of sexual misconduct. Assange was subject to Swedish law while in Sweden. .

Yes, and while he was in Sweden, nobody was interested in questioning him about these allegations made long after the fact after the CIA decided to cast around for something to beat him with.

It was always a politically-motivated prosecution initiated after Assange hit the limelight, using a ridiculously flimsy pretext – maybe somebody can give us figures on how many similarly trivial complaints are pursued by the Swedish justice system through extradition treaties?

If the Swedish justice system was interested in rape, maybe they could actually do something about it at home:
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/sweden-s-other-rape-suspects-by-naomi-wolf

It is difficult for me, as an advocate against rape and other forms of violence against women, to fathom the laziness and willful ignorance that characterize so much of the media coverage of the sexual-assault allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. To report that we are simply witnessing Swedish justice at work, one must be committed to doing no research – not even the bare minimum of picking up a phone. In fact, we are witnessing a bizarre aberration in the context of Sweden’s treatment of sex crime – a case that exposes the grim reality of indifference, or worse, that victims there and elsewhere face.
This illustration is by Paul Lachine and comes from NewsArt.com, and is the property of the NewsArt organization and of its artist. Reproducing this image is a violation of copyright law.Illustration by Paul Lachine

CommentsIf I were raped in Uppsala, where Assange is alleged to have committed his crime, I could not expect top prosecutors to lobby governments to arrest my assailant. On the contrary, “ordinary” Swedish rapists and abusers of women should assume that the police might not respond when called. When I tried the rape-crisis hotline at the government-run Crisis Center for Women in Stockholm, no one even picked up – and there was no answering machine.

CommentsAccording to rape-crisis advocates in Sweden, one-third of Swedish women have been sexually assaulted by the time they leave their teens. Indeed, according to a study published in 2003, and other later studies through 2009, Sweden has the highest sexual-assault rate in Europe, and among the lowest conviction rates.

When I reached the Stockholm branch of Terrafem, a support organization for rape survivors, a volunteer told me that in her many years of experience, Sweden’s police, prosecutors, and magistrates had never mobilized in pursuit of any alleged perpetrator in ways remotely similar to their pursuit of Assange. The far more common scenario – in fact, the only reliable scenario – was that even cases accompanied by a significant amount of evidence were seldom prosecuted.

You’re an idiot if you’re swallowing the Murdoch anti-Assange propaganda.

Masquara said :

. Soft interview: he wasn’t asked when he last voted, or when he went on the electoral roll. Peter Garrett was roasted over the same issue …

That would be because he and his staff totally controlled the interview. If you don’t want to comply, then you don’t get access to him.

Not a report on the same interview, but one done at roughly the same time gives an insight:

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/federal-election/my-strange-interview-with-an-opaque-and-secretive-julian-assange/story-fnho52ip-1226690740295

Ben_Dover said :

Mr Evil said :

And from his description, how is Canberra any different from any other capital city in the world???

You cannot be serious?

Okay, name a capital city which in your opinion doesn’t fit this description:

”It’s like a horror story from Sartre where you put all the politicians together in the one room, together with all the embassy officials, together with the most obnoxious bureaucrats and you expect good government to come out.”

I reckon that just about covers them all.

So the Newcastle Star has “reported” he said it. All they did was throw out some bait and look how many people bite.

Has the Wikileaks party disclosed who they will parachute into the Senate when Assange hasn’t taken his seat in the Senate (assuming he wins) by October 2014?

Interestingly, Assange admitted on 60 Minutes this evening that he didn’t bother to vote in the last election. Soft interview: he wasn’t asked when he last voted, or when he went on the electoral roll. Peter Garrett was roasted over the same issue …

[Assange looked pudgy, flushed and ill in the interview. His teeth are the colour of old ivory (though he seems to have a celebrity “melamine” forehead)]

Deref said :

HiddenDragon said :

So would-be Senator Assange’s preferences will be going to the Liberals?

Looks like it.

The bloke’s a loony, but he’s a brilliant loony and he still gets my vote for doing a wonderful thing for the world. That, and to stick it to The Man.

If the “wonderful thing he did for the world” was squibbing facing sexual assault charges in Sweden then you are a sick puppy.

Mr Evil said :

And from his description, how is Canberra any different from any other capital city in the world???

You cannot be serious?

Masquara said :

There was no rape, alleged or otherwise.

He was in Sweden. They are rape allegations under Swedish law, by Sweden’s definition of sexual misconduct. Assange was subject to Swedish law while in Sweden. nb I think many people in Australia would agree that deliberately breaking a condom during sex with a woman who is scrupulous about AIDS prevention, and surprising a sleeping woman with sex, if that took place, was sexual misconduct of a pretty egregious kind. Those are just two of the allegations. That isn’t just being a root rat and a bit of a weasel. That’s serious misbehaviour. No wonder he doesn’t want to go to Sweden and face those allegations – but, of course, he should.

The quote marks around my post’s quote seemed to disappear!

There was no rape, alleged or otherwise.

He was in Sweden. They are rape allegations under Swedish law, by Sweden’s definition of sexual misconduct. Assange was subject to Swedish law while in Sweden. nb I think many people in Australia would agree that deliberately breaking a condom during sex with a woman who is scrupulous about AIDS prevention, and surprising a sleeping woman with sex, if that took place, was sexual misconduct of a pretty egregious kind. Those are just two of the allegations. That isn’t just being a root rat and a bit of a weasel. That’s serious misbehaviour. No wonder he doesn’t want to go to Sweden and face those allegations – but, of course, he should.

DrKoresh said :

CraigT said :

Mr Evil said :

…alleged rapist …

poetix said :

…alleged rape…

Diggety said :

alledged rapist

There was no rape, alleged or otherwise. Good to see the US government propaganda machine actually works against some, though, I thought it was completely inept.

As for Diggety’s, “fleeing prosecution”, WTF are you on about? He never fled anything, until a corrupt high court allowed a successful Swedish application for extradition after denying Assange due process.

Well, I guess that’s settled then.

From the Guardian make of it what you will

Her account to police, which Assange disputes, stated that he began stroking her leg as they drank tea, before he pulled off her clothes and snapped a necklace that she was wearing. According to her statement she “tried to put on some articles of clothing as it was going too quickly and uncomfortably but Assange ripped them off again”. Miss A told police that she didn’t want to go any further “but that it was too late to stop Assange as she had gone along with it so far”, and so she allowed him to undress her.

According to the statement, Miss A then realised he was trying to have unprotected sex with her. She told police that she had tried a number of times to reach for a condom but Assange had stopped her by holding her arms and pinning her legs. The statement records Miss A describing how Assange then released her arms and agreed to use a condom, but she told the police that at some stage Assange had “done something” with the condom that resulted in it becoming ripped, and ejaculated without withdrawing.

When he was later interviewed by police in Stockholm, Assange agreed that he had had sex with Miss A but said he did not tear the condom, and that he was not aware that it had been torn. He told police that he had continued to sleep in Miss A’s bed for the following week and she had never mentioned a torn condom.

CraigT said :

Mr Evil said :

…alleged rapist …

poetix said :

…alleged rape…

Diggety said :

alledged rapist

There was no rape, alleged or otherwise. Good to see the US government propaganda machine actually works against some, though, I thought it was completely inept.

As for Diggety’s, “fleeing prosecution”, WTF are you on about? He never fled anything, until a corrupt high court allowed a successful Swedish application for extradition after denying Assange due process.

Just to bring you up to speed, here is a post that Duffbowl posted back in December last year in:

http://the-riotact.com/the-assange-vigil-and-booklet/90246

I think a few people need to look at the New Statesman blog to understand some of the legalities around Assange.

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2012/08/legal-myths-about-assange-extradition

From that entry, you get the following:

– The alleged actions are considered rape by English law standards.
– It will be more difficult to extradite Assange from Sweden, as under EU standards, both Sweden and the UK would have to consent.
– Assange is not wanted for questioning, the Swedes wish to arrest him. That’s how their legal system works. They arrest, then charge, then prosecute.

As for the author, have a quick read of his Wikipedia bio.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Allen_Green

CraigT said :

Mr Evil said :

…alleged rapist …

poetix said :

…alleged rape…

Diggety said :

alledged rapist

There was no rape, alleged or otherwise. Good to see the US government propaganda machine actually works against some, though, I thought it was completely inept.

As for Diggety’s, “fleeing prosecution”, WTF are you on about? He never fled anything, until a corrupt high court allowed a successful Swedish application for extradition after denying Assange due process.

Well, I guess that’s settled then.

Mr Evil said :

…alleged rapist …

poetix said :

…alleged rape…

Diggety said :

alledged rapist

There was no rape, alleged or otherwise. Good to see the US government propaganda machine actually works against some, though, I thought it was completely inept.

As for Diggety’s, “fleeing prosecution”, WTF are you on about? He never fled anything, until a corrupt high court allowed a successful Swedish application for extradition after denying Assange due process.

Assange reckons he’s “in touch” with Australia from his distant room in the Ecuadorian Embassy then?

His narcissistic weirdness is coming out more and more. Er, what should politicians do if not “deal with” the bureaucrats? And what’s this about “all politicians” and “all embassy officials” and “all bureaucrats”? Jeez – he’s objecting to the business of government? He’s objecting to the public service being paid as “sucking resources”?

This is fantasist Assange fantasising that government should take place by videoconference. Now, let’s see, where would that conceit have come from? [Mwa ha ha ha ha]

And who is uber-leaker Assange of ALL people to comment on the DIPLOMATIC process?

An alledged rapist fleeing prosecution questioning political judgement?

Seriously, this guy is a megalomaniacal peice of sh*t.

Blen_Carmichael said :

DrKoresh said :

If he wants to demonstrate his ignorance like this then fine, fudge him, I hope he rots in the Ecuadorian embassy and never sees the light of day again.

Oh, come on. He’s only expressing what most of the country thinks of this place, not that too many of us lose sleep over that.

As for “one of the worst political decisions that has ever been taken”, I’m betting the cleaning staff at London’s Ecuadorian Embassy have a very firm view.

I know it’s a common belief, but it’s an ignorant one. I admit I’m being petty in my reaction but I can afford to be. The question is, can he afford to be so petty from the confines of the Ecuadorian embassy?

Blen_Carmichael2:47 pm 04 Aug 13

DrKoresh said :

If he wants to demonstrate his ignorance like this then fine, fudge him, I hope he rots in the Ecuadorian embassy and never sees the light of day again.

Oh, come on. He’s only expressing what most of the country thinks of this place, not that too many of us lose sleep over that.

As for “one of the worst political decisions that has ever been taken”, I’m betting the cleaning staff at London’s Ecuadorian Embassy have a very firm view.

Deref said :

HiddenDragon said :

So would-be Senator Assange’s preferences will be going to the Liberals?

Looks like it.

The bloke’s a loony, but he’s a brilliant loony and he still gets my vote for doing a wonderful thing for the world. That, and to stick it to The Man.

And you’re willing to ignore the issue of the alleged rape? That’s hardly a wonderful thing, is it, if true, and I can’t abide the way people will minimise it in preference to ‘Bigger Issues’, as if he skipped out of Sweden because of alleged parking offences.

That’s a bit rich coming from someone who’s from Townsville.

The Traineediplomat11:06 am 04 Aug 13

For someone living in an Embassy for the past year and Embassy officials are one of the three groups of people he talks smack about?? If I were the Ecuadorians I would be thinking, thanks for the year long party but GTFO….

Unfortunately Mr Assange has just demonstrated how out-of-touch he is himself.
Perhaps he doesn’t realise that when politicians get voted in, the people working for them are largely Canberrans? Clearly a ‘how to win friends and influence people’ fail.

It really hurts me that a spineless, egotistical tosser and alleged rapist doesn’t like Canberra.

And from his description, how is Canberra any different from any other capital city in the world???

I can’t wait to read Assange’s opinion on the lack of press freedom in Ecuador.

I think he might be onto something…

HiddenDragon said :

So would-be Senator Assange’s preferences will be going to the Liberals?

Looks like it.

The bloke’s a loony, but he’s a brilliant loony and he still gets my vote for doing a wonderful thing for the world. That, and to stick it to The Man.

screaming banshee10:01 am 04 Aug 13

Perhaps he could suggest how it could be done better.

Perhaps Australia’s voters could stop sending out-of-touch representatives.

Suppose as Abbott desires defence is moved to Darwin, and the person most suited to be defence minister is from Tasmania.

HiddenDragon10:14 pm 03 Aug 13

So would-be Senator Assange’s preferences will be going to the Liberals?

If he wants to demonstrate his ignorance like this then fine, fudge him, I hope he rots in the Ecuadorian embassy and never sees the light of day again.

I was alright with Julian and kinda supported his plight until he starts talking smack about my city. Let the brits get him out of the embassy now and take him to the s***storm he’s going to face. Remember Julian, talk s***, get hit.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.