Friday, July 8, 2022

More questions for Anthony Albanese re 'Consular Assitance' for Julian Assange

 5th July 2022

 

Dear Prime Minister Albanese and Minister Wong,

 

re Consular Services Charter - Assisting Australians overseas.

 

Further to my previous post-election letters (see below) the 'Consular Services Charter' states, under 'What we can do for you':   

 

Consular officers will try to ensure you...

 

- are treated no worse than local citizens detained for similar offences

- are subject to humanitarian standards of prisoner welfare

- Have your basic needs met.

 

Questions: 

 

- What offence has Julian Assange committed, in accordance with UK law?

- Is it customary for 'local citizens' in the UK who have broken no UK laws to be held in jail for three years and denied bail? 

- Is it customary for UK citizens to be stripped naked and left alone in a bare cell? 

- Has the Embassy in London 'done what it can' to see that Mr Assange is treated as ' others detained under the laws of the UK'? 

- If so, can you please explain to the Australian public what 'consular assistance' means in relation to Mr Assange's continued detention in Belmarsh Prison?

 

The Consular Services Charter also states:

 

"We aim to deal with your enquiry courteously, promptly and efficiently."

 

I have yet to receive a courteous or prompt response to any of the many letters I have sent to consecutive Australian Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers since I was wrongfully incarcerated in a Cambodian Prison in 2017 or my efforts to advocate on behalf of Mr Assange. 

 

Given time has now almost run out for Mr Assange, I would certainly appreciate a prompt response to this one.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

James Ricketson

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