Assange gets human rights award today

(bdnews24.com)—WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is scheduled to receive Sydney Peace Medal at London on Tuesday for his ‘exceptional courage and initiative in pursuit of human rights’.

In Norway on Feb 2 this year, Assange was also named as a nominee for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

The medal is distinct from the annual Sydney Peace Prize. In its 14-year history the Foundation has awarded this gold medal on three previous occasions, to the Dalai Lama (1998); Nelson Mandela (2000) and Japanese lay Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda (2009).

In an announcement made on their website, Sydney Peace Foundation said the award was made in recognition of the need for greater transparency and accountability of governments.

Director of Sydney Peace Foundation and University of Sydney teacher professor Stuart Rees, said in the announcement, “By challenging centuries old practices of government secrecy and by championing people’s right to know, WikiLeaks and Julian Assange have created the potential for a new order in journalism and in the free flow of information.

“Instead of demonising an Australian citizen who has broken no law, the Australian Government must stop shoring up Washington’s efforts to behave like a totalitarian state,” he urged.

He pointed out that the treatment of alleged whistleblower Bradley Manning ‘confirmed a US administration at odds with their commitment to universal human rights and intent on militaristic bullying.’

Assange is staying at a house at Norfolk in London while on bail fighting extradition to Sweden.