Julian Assange, Lord Carlile of Berriew, and the UK justice system

To the best of my knowledge it is a flat lie, serious defamation of Assange, and serious misleading of the public at large. Lord Carlile of Berriew has been asked to comment on this report…

by Joseph Zernik ^{1
Originally posted here}

London, Jan 16 – Lord Carlile of Berriew has delivered the opening speech in the Northumbria University, London Conference on Global Security Safety and Sustainability. Lord Carlile of Berriew provided as background that he had served in the House of Commons before moving to the House of Lords, and that he had served for about a decade as External Reviewer of Anti-terror Legislation for the Minister of Interior. Therefore, he became an expert on the issues both from the legal perspective, and efforts of the security services.

Lord Carlile of Berriew denounced Snowden’s conduct, and wished that Snowden could be handled by the justice system. However, he stated that the chances for that were slim, since Snowden was likely to stay for the rest of his life in Russia.

During Q&A the Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew was asked regarding his stand vis a vis the persecution of Julian Assange by the US and the in particular by the UK.

Without blinking, the Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew answered that Assange was wanted in relationship to sex crimes. It is likely that the Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew’s comment was a flat lie, serious defamation of Assange, and serious misleading of the public at large.

The Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew also stated that if people like Assange and Snowden had complaints, they should have filed them with police.

In such discussion, a comment was made that the overall situation was clear: Senior government officers, who perpetrated serious crimes, were never prosecuted. On the other hand, the whistleblowers, like Assange and Snowden, were persecuted… The Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew was asked what he thought about the treatment of Tony Blair by the UK justice system — pertaining to the war in Iraq — which should be deemed a serious war crime (over 1,000,000 killed). [1,2]

The Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew answered it had nothing to do with the subject of the discussion.

The issue was obviously tightly related: Julian Assange exposed serious war crimes by the US and the UK in Iraq… Tony Blair had never been prosecuted, but Assange was persecuted by the US and the UK…

The Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew’s comment on this report: “I said he was wanted for sex crime allegations at the time he took refuge-which is true. I have no idea if he is guilty. Also, the event was subject to the Chatham House rule,” The Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew has not answered on the question, what Julian Assange was wanted for today. By inferring the “Chatam House rule”, the Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew is seen as claiming “but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed”. Therefore, the Hon Lord Carlile of Berriew has been asked what was the basis for the claim that an academic conference, such as the 12th Northumbria University Annual Conference on Global Security, Safety Sustainability fell under the “Chatam House rule”. [paragraph updated January 17]

It is a pity that there was no opportunity to ask the Hon Lord Carlile regarding the UK’s involvement in the “Extraordinary Renditions” and “Torture Program” – it appears that such conduct overlapped his tenure as External Reviewer, and he was likely to have a clear position on the subject.,, [3,4,5]

Otherwise, the UK has been determined for some years now to leave the European Human Rights Convention, [6] while lawsuits by victims are in the background…

We are talking about ‘breaching Magna Carta rights’ – it’s medieval! [7]

LINKS

[1] British troops breached Geneva conventions in Iraq, high court rules
click here

[2] British Iraq veterans could face war crimes trial, Hague chief prosecutor suggests despite end of ‘witch-hunt’ inquiry
click here

[3] Revealed: Blair government’s ‘inexcusable’ PAYMENTS to other nations to carry out illegal rendition flights during the US war on terror
click here

[4] Public need answers in ‘shocking’ MI6 rendition scandal, says senior Tory
click here

[5] UK ‘knew US mistreated rendition detainees’
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44640086

[6] UK must leave European convention on human rights, says Theresa May
click here

[7] Jack Straw and UK government must face kidnap and torture claims, court rules. Claims that rendition and torture of Abdel Hakim Belhaj breached Magna Carta rights must go before judges, supreme court rules
click here