Taxi for Julian Assange: Wikileaks’ Ronnie Biggs heads to South America
TAXI for Julian Assange. The man wanted in connection with alleged rape in Sweden has been granted political asylum by Ecuador. Assange is seeking to avoid extradition from Britain to Sweden, a country he used to love. Ecuador’s foreign minister Ricardo Patiño believes their is risk that Wikileaks founder Assange will be sent from Sweden to The United States. He says:
“Asylum is a fundamental human right. The Ecuadorean Government is defending its right to protect Assange and we have decided to grant him political asylum.”
A Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman is unhappy with the Ecuadoreans:
“We want to tell them that it’s unacceptable that Ecuador is trying to stop the Swedish judicial process.”
William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, is also unhappy with the Ecuadoreans.
“We will not allow Mr Assange safe passage out of the United Kingdom, nor is there any legal basis for us to do so. The United Kingdom does not recognise the principle of diplomatic asylum.”
Assange is inside the Ecuador embassy in London. If he goes to Ecuador – if he makes it – will he beome a Ronnie Biggs figure, feted by popstars and nodding heads until one day, when old, he returns to let justice run its course?
Looking at the rows over what might and might not be – a partisan debate seemingly centered on the concern that the US Government’s criminal code is geared to going after people they want to prosecute rather than the crime – it can be hard for some to remember that Assange is wanted in connection with an alleged rape. Take this tweet from Zoe Williams:
Brilliant crowd outside #Ecuadorianembassy friendly pros, friendly antis, mostly friendly rozzers. Like the Olympics all over again
Assange wanted was to “humiliate the US”. But it’s his flee from justice that’s become the main event.
UPDATE: Kevin Gosztola:
It is important to note here that Ecuador approached the Swedish authorities, urged them to come question Assange in the Ecuador embassy in the UK and even asked that they ensure he would not be extradited to the US if he ended up in the UK. Sweden did not offer any diplomatic assurance that Assange would not eventually be extradited to the US while in custody over sexual allegations.
But would the Swedes have had jurisdiction?
Julian Assange: the HIV; the rape allegations; the crap sex; the body sock; the Jew; his dating profile; the Asian teen stalkers; the cheese-feed; the EastEnders; his love emails; the irony; the lying cables; the lying cables; the dead bodies; the angst; the pile; the capitalist; the book; and the celebs.
Taxi spotter: Matthew Champion@
Posted: 16th, August 2012 | In: Key Posts, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
