Julian Assange wins 'Whistleblowers For Peace Award' 2019
'The Whistle-blowers for peace Award' awarded by the GUE/NGL is also called Galizia Prize named in honor of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Daphne a writer and activist had been investigating corruption in the gambling industry and government in Malta. Her investigations were abruptly halted when she was brutally murdered by a car-bomb explosion. However, her horrible death inspired an international group of journalists to continue the exposé work in her honor and led to the online publication of 'The Daphne Project' [www.occrp.org]
Speaking at the award ceremony Matthew Caruana Galizia Daphne's son [himself an investigative Journalist] spoke of the importance of the protection of Whistle-blowers and their protection.
'corruption and crime continue to erode freedom and undermine security, our societies increasingly fall back on individuals who take personal risks to raise the alarm on wrongdoing, Whistle-blowers need protection and deserve recognition.'
Along with Julian Assange, Yasmine Motarjemi and Rui Pinto [currently detained in Portugal] were also named as recipients of the award for their whistle-blowing bravery exposing Nestle's food safety lapses and the 'Football Leaks' respectively.
'Western Media Has Demonized Julian Assange'
Mairead Maguire accepted the award on behalf of Julian Assange almost a week after his arrest. Mairead is herself a Nobel Peace Prize recipient [1976] for her active work in the Northern Irish peace process.
In her speech she launched a scathing attack addressing the Western Media on their manipulation of information quoting its coverage of the Syrian War and the 'demonizing' of Assange.
In a shaming tirade she questioned the 'intellect' of the Main Stream Media saying it was 'deeply in the gutter' they should be ashamed to talk about such a 'good man' the way they had been in the last weeks. She pressed on about the Historical Urgency of the situation and the need for an awakening.
She spoke of Julian´s bravery taking on this David vs. Goliath fight -
'He was deeply aware that when he spoke out his World would be shattered and he would suffer deeply. Assange refused to go along with their policies he had to speak out, policies that have been killing innocent children and families in their homes - It challenges us all at the deepest level to ask the question in conscience, is this right or is this wrong? Freedom is a privilege and telling people the truth and defending people like Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden is paying the price for that Freedom.'
Passionately she called on the European Parliament - insisting, we must demand 'No Extradition', she called for him to be compensated and freed, reminding again that the UN Working Group On Arbitrary Detention had found Julian to be an innocent man, a ruling which was made in 2016.
She also publicly criticized the UK and Ecuadorian Governments for plotting with America and doing their bidding. -
'People will tell the story of Julian Assange, Whistle Blower and Publisher who spoke out against killing and war he will be remembered long after many of us have faded.' Urging the European Parliament to waken up and 'give the man his truly earned freedom.'
Julian remains detained in HMP Belmarsh a Maximum Security Prison which has earned the name 'Britain's Guantanamo' due to its post 9/11 procedure of arresting people of ethnic minorities and holding them there without charge.
He has minimal contact with people including his lawyers which makes it difficult for him to prepare his case. There are concerns for his mental state and well being he is currently on the hospital wing. George Galloway speaking outside the prison at a Rally for Julian also condemned the 'Gutter Press' saying he could not 'feel more contempt for them and Our Rulers' in a forceful speech. -
'When I see them dancing on what they hope to be the grave of Julian Assange words almost fail me. Journalism is about receiving information to evaluate its truthfulness to covey it to the public. If that is to be a Crime [Galloway warned] Journalism, Freedom and Democracy itself is Dead!'