Visa And MasterCard Block Money Transfers To Wikileaks

Total war between Wikileaks, the website specialized in publishing classified documents, and the US authorities. Only a few days after PayPal cancelled Wikileaksʼ donation account, other two companies did the same thing. This time it was Visa, who suspended the approval of all payments to Wikileaks, after money transfers to the site had been previously blocked by MasterCard. The motive: its activities were considered illegal.

According to a statement made by the company, Visa Europe has taken the decision to suspend its payment acceptance on Wikileaksʼ website, while waiting for further evidence on the nature of its activities and whether it contravenes Visa operating rules. And a company spokesman explained that the decision was taken at its own initiative, the company not having acted under any pressure from any government. As for MasterCard, its representatives considered Wikileaksʼ activity illegal. And the money transfer to the site was blocked because internal regulation prohibits companyʼs costumers to commit or facilitate, directly or indirectly, any illegal action.

Wikileaks, which caused anger in Washington after having published thousands of US military documents and diplomatic notes, urged the public to make donations to support its activities. Postfinance, the banking branch of the Swiss Post, announced on Monday that it had closed the account of Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, due to false statements concerning his residence made when opening the account. This account, which was intended for donations to protect Julian Assange and other members of Wikileaks, was removed from the site. But MasterCard and Visa logos still appeared on Tuesday on Wikileaksʼ page for money tranfers.

Besides financial problems, Julian Assange also has some legal problems. He is accused of raping and molesting two Swedish girl and he turned himself up in London, after his lawyer was informed that Sweden had issued a new warrant for his arrest. According to the British police, four charges had been made against the Australian: two related to sexual molestation, one of rape and one of constraint, all four having been committed this August. And even Assange admitted he had sexual intercourse with two women during a visit in Sweden this summer.

Julian Assange appeared before a court in London on Tuesday afternoon, his lawyers asking him to be released on bail. The judges rejected their request and they ruled that the Australian would remain in custody untill next week. During the hearing, the founder of Wikileaks opposed against his extradition to Sweden. The international media speculates that behind the Swedish prosecutors atempts to extradite Assange are the United States, who fear the publication af a certain classified diplomatic document. Kristinn Hrafnsson, a spokesman fot the Wikileaks, accused that Assangeʼs arrest is, in fact, an attack on the freedom of press. But she reassured everyone that the website would continue to publish American diplomatic cables, despite the arrest of its founder.