World Watch
December 14, 2010 4:23 AM

Assange Tells Mom Criticism Won't Stop WikiLeaks Work

By
Tucker Reals
Topics
In The News ,
World Watch

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange

(Credit: AP)

Jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has told his mother that the broad condemnation of his work by the U.S. government and its allies has "increased my determination" to continue publishing secret American diplomatic cables.

Christine Assange visited her son in a London prison Monday, a day before he was due to stand before a British magistrate deciding whether the Australian should be extradited to Sweden for questioning on rape and other sexual misconduct claims.

Australia's Seven Network asked Christine Assange to present her son with one question during their visit, according to the Reuters news agency; "was it worth it?"

"My convictions are unfaltering. I remain true to the ideals I have expressed. This circumstance shall not shake them," said Assange, according to his mother who supplied a written statement of her son's answer. "If anything this process has increased my determination that they are true and correct."

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The WikiLeaks boss also berated a handful of large corporations which have ended their relations with his organization -- some of them admittedly under huge pressure from American politicians to do so.

"We now know that Visa, Mastercard, Paypal and others are instruments of U.S. foreign policy. It's not something we knew before," he charged in the statement provided by his mother. "I am calling for the world to protect my work and my people from these illegal and immoral attacks."

Christine Assange told Network Seven she had conveyed to her son, "how people from all over the world, all sorts of countries were standing up with placards and screaming out for his freedom and justice and he was very heartened by that," she said. "As a mother I am asking the world to stand up for my brave son."


  • Tucker Reals

    Tucker Reals is a senior news editor and overnight site editor for CBSNews.com, based at CBS News' London bureau.

Add a Comment
by YrWrongAgain December 14, 2010 10:55 PM EST
If some of you were in prison with him, you could put on a fashion show. Let's face it, you're not making on the outside.
Reply to this comment
by documemts December 14, 2010 2:07 PM EST
The good work will go on.
Reply to this comment
by choiceshaveconsequences December 14, 2010 11:37 AM EST
There are hundreds of thousands of mothers pleading for America to stand up for THEIR sons, and put this scumbag and his sources beneath the prison to which he will one day be sentenced. To think he is honorable does not make him honorable, nor does thinking he is right make him right. Granted, the man is no Daniel Ellsberg, and his revelations are not the Pentagon Papers, but that is his inspiration and goal, the bringing down of the government of the United States, no matter the cost whatever the toll. This is his moment of fame and he plans to make the most of it, and he has failed to assess "what is the point of being the darling of a failed people, a crushed nation and a civilization that no longer exists?"
Reply to this comment
by documemts December 14, 2010 2:13 PM EST
Releasing documents detailing the goings on at State is just letting the rest of us know what is going on. Your post reflects a serf-thrall mentality. You European?
by ouchitatom December 14, 2010 10:17 AM EST
i hope everything that was ever done under the table without the approval of the representatives of the UNITED STATES is brought to light and the whole world will know where thier enemies are who they are and thier intentions. Then the alliance that will form from that act cant create a once and for all war to settle all wars. It wouldn't bother me a bit to see live to see north korea obliterated along with the two faced saudis and all the rag headed subhumans. Everyman that held a woman in bondage and used religon a slaw needs to be put before the world and castrated.All the oil mongrels who out of greed squeeze a country for money they don't have need killed slow take maybe a week. I want world war just one more good one should do the trick.
Reply to this comment
by Rajah88 December 14, 2010 7:11 AM EST
"You've got to stop this war in Afghanistan."~Last words of Richard Holbrooke (April 24, 1941, died December 13, 2010), U.S. diplomat

Yes, THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL MAFIA is coming for YOUR sons and daughters next and they need MORE money. They have nearly bankrupted our nation to enrich themselves and they long for MORE war.

WikiLeaks and Julian Assange have given America and the world a gift.
DO NOT WASTE IT.
Reply to this comment
by infantryman1968 December 14, 2010 7:56 AM EST
LOL!

The Reichstag fire was a gift for Hitler too.
by documemts December 14, 2010 2:09 PM EST
The blob-brain of the ex-military idiot. Sieg Heil!
by tmittelstaed December 14, 2010 5:50 AM EST
Julian, just release the password for the poison file and be done with it. You distributed an encrypted file with all your secrets and said if you were thrown in jail that you would release the password. Well, your in jail - and the fact that no password is forthcoming just ruins your credibility.
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