Assange loses extradition appeal

#1

Post by morsch » Wed, May 30, 2012, 8:32 AM UTC

Assange loses extradition appeal
bbc.co.uk

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#2

Post by morsch » Wed, May 30, 2012, 8:33 AM UTC

The Guardian has some live coverage, but I figured the Beeb is a more authoritative source.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/30/julian-assa...

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#3

Post by bobsy » Wed, May 30, 2012, 10:51 AM UTC

I have no opinion on what is happening to Assange. I don't know enough facts. I find it unlikely that there is a big conspiracy involving America though.

I find it somewhat ridiculous the number of appeals you can have. Assange lost on the original verdict, then the appeal. He can then appeal again. I assume if that fails he can appeal to some EU court?

Its like the deportation of Abu Qatada. One has so many appeals at their disposal I am surprised anyone can get deported nowadays.

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#4

Post by gouranga » Wed, May 30, 2012, 11:05 AM UTC

bobsy wrote: post #3

I have no opinion on what is happening to Assange. I don't know enough facts. I find it unlikely that there is a big conspiracy involving America though. I find it somewhat ridiculous the number of appeals you can have. Assange lost on the original verdict, then the appeal. He can then appeal again. I assume if that fails he can appeal to some EU court? Its like the deportation of Abu Qatada. One has so many appeals…

They are the ones that actually went through the legal system.

It doesn't always happen.

Look at all the cases of extraordinary rendition over the years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#5

Post by [deleted] » Wed, May 30, 2012, 11:14 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#6

Post by aaronsw » Wed, May 30, 2012, 11:15 AM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #5

[deleted]

"Swedish law requires a person to be physically present before charges can be laid, so this can only happen once Mr Assange is on Swedish territory."

http://www.fairtrials.net/documents/Sweden_QA.pdf

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#7

Post by objclxt » Wed, May 30, 2012, 11:19 AM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #5

[deleted]

I've posted about this before in previous HN stories, but it's actually not that dodgy: because EU borders are open (you can move between EU countries freely) it's important to have a process for arrest warrants that are valid throughout the EU.

That's what's happened here: Sweden wants to question Assange, with a view to potentially bringing charges. They have issued an arrest warrant to arrest him - his guilt is irrelevant.

As many people have mentioned, the UK actually has a strong record of extraditing people to the US: if anything, Sweden is less co-operative (for example, Roman Polanski will never set foot in the UK for fear of being arrested and extradited, but he was happy to enter Sweden).

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#8

Post by aaronsw » Wed, May 30, 2012, 11:21 AM UTC

objclxt wrote: post #7

[deleted] wrote: post #5

[deleted]

I've posted about this before in previous HN stories, but it's actually not that dodgy: because EU borders are open (you can move between EU countries freely) it's important to have a process for arrest warrants that are valid throughout the EU. That's what's happened here: Sweden wants to question Assange, with a view to potentially bringing charges. They have issued an arrest warrant to arrest him - his guilt is ir…

Actually, Polanski was arrested and released in Switzerland, not Sweden.

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#9

Post by objclxt » Wed, May 30, 2012, 11:25 AM UTC

aaronsw wrote: post #8

objclxt wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've posted about this before in previous HN stories, but it's actually not that dodgy: because EU borders are open (you can move between EU countries freely) it's important to have a process for arrest warrants that are valid throughout the EU. That's what's happened here: Sweden wants to question Assange, with a view to potentially bringing charges. They have issued an arrest warrant to arrest him - his guilt is ir…

Actually, Polanski was arrested and released in Switzerland, not Sweden.

You're totally right - I've corrected that. My apologies.

Re: Assange loses extradition appeal

#10

Post by junto » Wed, May 30, 2012, 11:43 AM UTC

aaronsw wrote: post #8

objclxt wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've posted about this before in previous HN stories, but it's actually not that dodgy: because EU borders are open (you can move between EU countries freely) it's important to have a process for arrest warrants that are valid throughout the EU. That's what's happened here: Sweden wants to question Assange, with a view to potentially bringing charges. They have issued an arrest warrant to arrest him - his guilt is ir…

Actually, Polanski was arrested and released in Switzerland, not Sweden.

Polanski is also a different kettle of fish compared to Assange. Polanski has various friends in high places. Assange has few.

Also, Assange managed to piss off almost every single branch of the US government. Rather than merely shooting himself in the foot, he blew his entire leg off with a shotgun.

Not to say what he was trying to achieve wasn't noble. In my personal opinion state corruption still needs to be exposed, even if that state is the United States. However, the line he walks is a very very fine one. The US was quite happy with him exposing corruption in other nations, regardless of the human cost, but not their own it appears.

At the end of the day, although the backyard he shat in wasn't his own, it just happened to belong to a damn big nasty rottweiler.