The Foreign Service Journal, October 2022

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2022 21 Speaking Out is the Journal ’s opinion forum, a place for lively discussion of issues affecting the U.S. Foreign Service and American diplomacy. The views expressed are those of the author; their publication here does not imply endorsement by the American Foreign Service Association. Responses are welcome; send them to journal@afsa.org. fates; who is telling their stories? Absent an enhanced effort to explain why WikiLeaks matters, the U.S. will again appear in global public opinion to be nothing more than an overreaching bully. But let me also ask: If the WikiLeaks theft and release of government secrets is worth extraditing Assange and pursuing in court over a decade later, shouldn’t we demonstrate some real concern for the actual victims of that crime, by taking action to address circumstances like Mr. Marafa’s? Meanwhile, Paul Biya rules a wobbly Cameroon in senescence, incompe- tently repressing a bloody Anglophone secession campaign, watching Boko Haram stream largely unchecked across its borders, and continuing to preside over a well-endowed country that has performed far short of its extraordinary potential under his rule. No one knows what will happen when he finally leaves the scene, but widespread violence is considered by many of us to be a likely element of the coming transition. What a missed opportunity that the competent, U.S.-educated Mr. Marafa is no longer among the possible solutions to Cameroon’s coming political drama. However, there is still the possibility of his being released for medical treatment in exile, and thus for him to live out his remaining days in dignity and freedom. We must press for this outcome, mak- ing clear that the American government stands by him and recognizes our direct responsibility for his current circum- stances. What You Can Do Here are two things FSJ readers can do to help. First, please write to your congres- sional representatives, especially if they sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee or House Foreign Affairs Committee, to demand action by the State Department and White House to secure Mr. Marafa’s release. A strong expression of congressional interest may help the State Department find the missing courage to take this on. (And please free to email me at nielsm@ lclark.edu for a template message that can easily be pasted into an email to your senator.) Second, if any reader has knowledge of other friends of the United States who were negatively affected by WikiLeaks and need our government’s attention, please email me that information. I will then share it with State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), which I believe is the appropriate place in our government to compile compre- hensive information on the full impact of WikiLeaks. I would hope that this information may then be used by others to strengthen a public affairs strategy to explain why prosecuting Assange is so important. In my opinion, our government’s approach to WikiLeaks over successive administrations has been myopic and inadequate, and our failure to vigor- ously stand up for its victims for the past decade has bordered on shameful. It is not too late, however, for us to do far better. For that to happen, more of us need to speak up and demand better. Please help do so. n