It is with huge regret that I am unable to attend the Centre for Investigative Journalism’s Summer School this year. Since speaking there last year WikiLeaks has had a tremendously exciting, but also difficult year. We released the Afghanistan and Iraq War Logs and started and progressed the publication of Cablegate and released the detainee files of almost all the Guantanamo detainees.
However, we have also come under sustained attack; there is a secret Grand Jury meeting at this time in Virginia to try to create an espionage case against me. There is an extrajudicial financial blockade against us with VISA, Mastercard, PayPal and Bank of America amongst those who refuse to allow us to collect donations through them. Just before the CIJ Summer School I will be in court regarding my extradition hearing to Sweden.
All these attacks against WikiLeaks and I mean that it is impossible for me to attend the Summer School as I must commit my time to leading my team through this quagmire. However, I wish you all the best for an enjoyable and informative school. The struggle to bring knowledge to the world continues.
Julian Assange, Editor-in-Chief of WikiLeaks