Democracy's struggles
The persecution of Julian Assange – an update
On the ABC’s Law Report Damien Carrick Interviewed Jennifer Robinson, a barrister on Julian Assange’s legal team, about the progress on his trial: Assange extradition appeal, WikiLeaks and journalism. In fact, even though there is a current court hearing, there is no progress, and the case about the US Government’s demand for his extradition could drag on for years, while Assange remains, unconvicted and without bail, in London’s maximum security Belmarsh Jail.
Robinson and Carrick provide background on Assange’s situation, and they discuss its likely future developments. Much (but not all) of the case rests on whether Assange’s work can be described as “journalism”: if it is “journalism” (Robinson presents a convincing case that it is journalism), then journalists and their publishers around the world face censorship or prosecution for divulging information that embarrasses governments. That’s why the case is so important.
Towards the end of the interview Carrick brings in Peter Greste, who is not convinced that the method of Wikileaks was journalism, but he sees the prosecution of Assange as a travesty of justice, and a threat against journalists. The idea of what constitutes journalism may be changing: for example the Panama and Pandora papers are accepted as journalism.
Another person providing insight on Assange’s case, particularly the US Government’s assurances that Assange, if extradited, will be treated fairly, is Kristinn Hrafnsson, Wikileaks Editor in Chief. On the ABC’s Breakfast program Hrafnsson points out the hollowness in those assurances: the US can change its mind at any time he points out. (9 minutes)
Australia’s silence
Osman Kavala is a Turkish businessperson and philanthropist who has supported projects promoting cultural diversity and minority rights. He has been held in jail since 2017, charged with leading anti-Erdoğan protests and taking part in the 2016 failed coup. Erdoğan accuses Kavala of being the Turkish agent of Geoge Soros, who is also supposed to have been behind the 2016 coup attempt. There being no substance to these charges, the European Court of Human Rights, and the governments of a number of countries, have issued identical statements calling for his release.
The following is a list of countries whose ambassadors were expelled from Turkey last week because their governments had defended Kavala and criticised Turkey’s government: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the United States.
Notice anyone missing? Australia of course. Another country with claims to democracy that’s missing from the list is the UK. Is it that the governments of Australia and the UK would find it embarrassing to criticize Turkey for doing much the same as the UK is doing to Assange (see the above item)? Is our government terrified of doing anything that would jeopardize the annual Anzac commemorations at Gallipoli? Is it that Morrison, whose loyalty to the British monarch and his support for Boris Johnson’s attempt to resurrect the British Empire, is allowing the UK Foreign Office to dictate our foreign relations? Does Morrison have some admiration for Erdoğan, an authoritarian religious zealot?
Whatever the motivation, our government has once again failed to stand up for human rights and to speak out against a country that is violating human rights. Turkey’s government is becoming aligned with hard-line right-wing Islamist movements as it seeks to expand its influence in the Middle East. If we are selective in our criticism of human rights abuses, our authority to speak out on China’s persecution of Uyghurs comes across to the world as belligerence towards China rather than any concern with the rights of minorities.
Following diplomatic negotiations, Turkey has withdrawn the expulsion. (In its parlous economic state Turkey does not have much bargaining coin.) But for us the sin of silence in the face of persecution has been committed.
Truth in advertising
“Lying in political advertising is perfectly lawful in Australia”. That’s how the Australia Institute commences its paper Possible, practical, and popular: Opportunities for truth in political advertising laws in Australia. They cite examples of lies in political advertising from both main parties. (The Coalition may have led the race to the bottom, but Labor has joined in willingly.) They also cite research confirming that more than 80 percent of voters, across the political spectrum, are in favour of laws on truth in advertising. The context is an open letter to Parliament signed by 50 prominent Australians, coinciding with Zali Steggall’s bill to ensure truth in political advertising.
Voter ID laws: is there evil intent?
The Commonwealth seems to be intent on introducing voter ID laws before the next election. Writing in Inside Story Peter Brent takes a dispassionate look at the issues around possible voter ID laws in Australia: Is it time for voter ID?. Voter ID has had bad press, because of the way Trump and his colleagues have used voter ID as a means of discouraging Democrats from voting, but Brett reminds us that Australia, through the Australian Electoral Commission, has protections that are entirely lacking in the US. He looks at the provisions in the Queensland voter ID legislation, upon which a Commonwealth ID law would probably be based. It involves a great deal of protection to ensure that those without ID are not disenfranchised, he points out.
Brent’s arguments are sound, but it is notable that the Morrison government is proposing this legislation just before an election, and as an isolated piece of legislation rather than as part of a general consideration of electoral issues, such as the more pressing issue of disclosure of donations. Morrison, in his three years as prime minister, has always put the Coalition’s electoral interests above any concern for support of the institutions of democracy.
A note of optimism
Madeleine Albright writes about The coming democratic revival in Foreign Affairs. She disputes the prevailing wisdom that there is an inexorable decline in global freedom, and that governments that try to champion democratic values are out of touch with the Zeitgeist. She writes:
Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the momentum is not with the enemies of democracy. It’s true that in recent years, some authoritarians have grown stronger. But in many cases, they are now failing to deliver, including in countries where people increasingly expect accountable leadership even in the absence of democratic rule. This is a key point that few observers have yet grasped. Democracy is not a dying cause; in fact, it is poised for a comeback.
Authoritarians who have achieved office in democracies have been skilled at shaping public perceptions, but as people come to see through their deception, democracy is striking back. She calls on the Biden administration to lead the fight against authoritarianism, and she calls on politicians in democracies around the world to be unashamed in upholding democratic values in their foreign relations.