Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#1

Post by damohasi » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 7:50 PM UTC

Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy
ecuadorembassyuk.org.uk

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#2

Post by opminion » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 7:57 PM UTC

Assange interviewed the Ecuatorian president for his program at RT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE-1-9QXd3Y

The Ecuatorian president is introduced as "populist", yet the interview is non-critical. I thought "populist" was globally pejorative?

Edit: the president himself uses the term in a negative context

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#3

Post by sp332 » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 7:58 PM UTC

Why Ecuador, in particular? I just learned that they've adopted the US dollar as their currency, following devaluation of their old currency in 1999.

Edit: I checked, and Ecuador does have extradition treaties with both the UK and the US. I don't know about Sweden though.

Edit2: according to http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/06/19/assange_seeks... Ecuador has a treaty with the EU as well. But moving to Ecuador puts the decision in Ecuadorian hands instead of UK, so maybe he thinks they will stand up for him better.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#4

Post by sp332 » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 7:59 PM UTC

opminion wrote: post #2

Assange interviewed the Ecuatorian president for his program at RT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE-1-9QXd3Y The Ecuatorian president is introduced as "populist", yet the interview is non-critical. I thought "populist" was globally pejorative? Edit: the president himself uses the term in a negative context

Actually Populism is just the opposite of Elitism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populism#Latin_America "a process of controlled inclusion of the "masses" into the political system"

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#5

Post by pvnick » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 8:02 PM UTC

How dire is Assange's situation? Is it really possible that the US will try to imprison or even execute him?

Edit: I know were not talking directly about the US here, but the reason I made the jump is that I see Sweden as a lot more likely to allow the US to bully it into giving up Assange

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#6

Post by ForrestN » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 8:06 PM UTC

opminion wrote: post #2

Assange interviewed the Ecuatorian president for his program at RT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE-1-9QXd3Y The Ecuatorian president is introduced as "populist", yet the interview is non-critical. I thought "populist" was globally pejorative? Edit: the president himself uses the term in a negative context

"Populist" is generally either neutral or positive in American politics. But most often I hear it used to describe a political strategy, going directly for the masses instead of the upper echelons of power.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#7

Post by xefer » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 8:14 PM UTC

sp332 wrote: post #3

Why Ecuador, in particular? I just learned that they've adopted the US dollar as their currency, following devaluation of their old currency in 1999. Edit: I checked, and Ecuador does have extradition treaties with both the UK and the US. I don't know about Sweden though. Edit2: according to http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/06/19/assange_seeks... Ecuador has a treaty with the EU as well. But moving to Ecuador…

I have a feeling he'll be "couch surfing" from embassy to embassy to delay the extradition as long as possible.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#8

Post by wvenable » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 8:18 PM UTC

pvnick wrote: post #5

How dire is Assange's situation? Is it really possible that the US will try to imprison or even execute him? Edit: I know were not talking directly about the US here, but the reason I made the jump is that I see Sweden as a lot more likely to allow the US to bully it into giving up Assange

If he were to ever enter US custody, he's not likely to come away from that for a long time. The question is how interested is the US in getting him into custody and how easy is it for them. I imagine it's not terribly difficult but the US also hasn't done much so far.

But if I were him, I'm not sure I'd be willing to take any chances. The consequences are just too great.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#9

Post by iamdave » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 8:18 PM UTC

pvnick wrote: post #5

How dire is Assange's situation? Is it really possible that the US will try to imprison or even execute him? Edit: I know were not talking directly about the US here, but the reason I made the jump is that I see Sweden as a lot more likely to allow the US to bully it into giving up Assange

I severely doubt it'd go so far as execution, sudden disappearance into a political black hole never to be heard from again? More likely.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#10

Post by wilfra » Tue, Jun 19, 2012, 8:18 PM UTC

pvnick wrote: post #5

How dire is Assange's situation? Is it really possible that the US will try to imprison or even execute him? Edit: I know were not talking directly about the US here, but the reason I made the jump is that I see Sweden as a lot more likely to allow the US to bully it into giving up Assange

The US has nothing to do with this. Sweden is trying to have him extradited from the UK for a sexual assault charge.