Julian Assange Speaks of Terrible Ordeal
WikiLeaks
founder Julian Assange has spoken for the first time about the torment of being
trapped in a confined space next to Australia’s 26th Prime Minister, saying it
almost certainly breached the Geneva Convention.
Speaking
to the media today, Assange said the ordeal had left him exhausted, mentally
drained and strangely familiar with Australian fiscal policy between 2007-2009.
“I’ve
been through a lot these past 14 years. But having to listen to Kevin talk
non-stop about himself for the best part of two days while confined to a small
aeroplane had me at my breaking point. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” he said.
Assange
described the flight as a form of torture that may have breached global
charters. “There are only so many deep-dives into the geo-political
consequences of 19th Century America foreign policy that one man can take.
“At
one point he started recounting the history of Australia-Chinese relations
between 1901 and 1972, translating key facts into Mandarin for his own benefit,
and into Australian slang for the ‘imaginary electorate’s’ benefit as he went.
It was excruciating.
“Eventually
I asked if they could turn the plane around and send me back to Belmarsh. But
Kevin said that wasn’t possible, or Zhè shì bù kěnéng de in Mandarin.
Assange
said thankfully Rudd did not dwell on his vendetta with Julia Gillard. “He only
mentioned being brutally stabbed in the back by Gillard forty or fifty times.
So I think he’s moved on from that”.
