As Britain’s Supreme Court rejects Julian Assange’s bid to reopen his extradition case, Phillip Adams’ RN Late Night Live looks at how Sweden, a country that gave us free love in the 1960s has become a nation with some of the most repressive sex laws in the western world today: Listen, download here
(Reuters) – WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange is seeking asylum in Ecuador after arriving at the South American nation’s embassy in London, Ecuador’s foreign minister said on Tuesday, a move that may help the self-styled anti-secrecy crusader avoid extradition to Sweden.
The 40-year-old Australian hacker famous for leaking hundreds of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables has been fighting to avoid being sent to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over sex crimes.
The situation threatens to inflame tensions between the government of Rafael Correa, Ecuador’s leftist and ardently anti-Washington president, and U.S. authorities who accuse Assange of damaging its foreign relations and blowing the cover of diplomatic sources.
“Ecuador is studying and analyzing the request,” Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told reporters in Quito. He added that any decision would be made with “respect for norms and principles of international law.”
The Andean nation in 2010 invited Assange to seek residency there but quickly backed off the idea, accusing him of breaking U.S. laws.
Since his detention, Assange has mostly been living under strict bail conditions at the country mansion of a wealthy supporter in eastern England. His associates say that amounts to 540 days under house arrest without charge.
• Christine Milne:
Australian Government’s failure drives Assange to Ecuador asylum bid
20 Jun 2012 | Broadband, Communications & the Digital Economy
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s dramatic bid for political asylum in Ecuador is a clear declaration of no confidence in the
Australian Government’s willingness to protect him from US prosecution, the Australian Greens said today.
A statement from the Ecuadorian foreign ministry notes Mr Assange has argued: “a regrettable factual statement of abandonment
received by the authorities of my country, Australia”.
The statement notes that the matters subject to grand jury investigation in the United States carry long jail terms and potentially
the death penalty.
“Against this, we have the Australian Government’s feeble assurances that it has done all it can. Apart from recklessly and
incorrectly declaring the work of WikiLeaks illegal, the Government’s contribution has amounted to malign indifference,” Australian
Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said.
“I hope to raise the issue later today in Senate question time.
“It is highly significant that the Ecuadorian authorities said they have contacted the British, Swedish and US governments on this
matter but not Canberra.
“For the time being, this matter is in the hands of Ecuadorian authorities. I urge them to consider carefully the targeted campaign of
political harassment, character assassination and financial sanctions that has been levelled at the WikiLeaks publishing organisation.
“While we wait, the Australian Government might want to reconsider on which side of history it is choosing to stand.”
• Assange faces arrest for breaching bail:
WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange is facing arrest for breaching his bail conditions after seeking political asylum inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
The 40-year-old Australian is facing extradition from the UK to Sweden to face accusations of rape and sexual assault.
He went to the building near Harrods in the Knightsbridge section of London yesterday and requested asylum under the United Nations Human Rights Declaration.
The country’s foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, said in Quito the government was considering his request.
Mr Assange said, “I can confirm that today I arrived at the Ecuadorian Embassy and sought diplomatic sanctuary and political asylum. This application has been passed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital Quito”.
“I am grateful to the Ecuadorian ambassador and the government of Ecuador for considering my application.”
The computer expert, who was on £200,000 ($US315,000) bail after losing several attempts to halt extradition, attracted several high-profile supporters, including film director Ken Loach and socialite and charity fundraiser Jemima Khan, who each offered £20,000 ($US31,000) as surety.
A condition of Mr Assange’s bail was to remain at a registered address between 10pm and 8am.
The Metropolitan Police have said they are aware that Mr Assange has now broken this condition and as a result he is subject to arrest.
The Swedish authorities want him to answer accusations of raping a woman and sexually molesting and coercing another in Stockholm in August 2010 while on a visit to give a lecture.
