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Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

ecuadorembassyuk.org.uk

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Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#61

Post by gringomorcego »

danielweber wrote: post #45
nirvana wrote: post #39

Julian's situation seems very weird to me, given the stories about how secretive he was, how he kept in hiding, etc. At the same time, he was very clearly and publicly the face of wikileaks. Why did he not simply remain anonymous? All that Wikileaks has done could be done without having a public figurehead, right? Being public seems to have been the tactical error. (or was he trying to be anonymous, but got outed at…

According to the people at the New York Times he worked with, he became transformed by his celebrity. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/magazine/30Wikileaks-t.htm... goes into their history. I'm tempted to quote a few paragraphs but it wouldn't be fair since there is a very large picture being painted.

Hahahahahahahaha.

Guess what Bill Keller also wrote?

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/08/opinion/the-i-can-t-believ...

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#62

Post by DrJokepu »

marshray wrote: post #50
xefer wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

You don't think he'll be arrested the minute he sets foot out of the Ecuadorian?

I really don't think that the Metropolitan Police is going to put officers outside the Ecuador Assembly 24/7 just in case Julian Assange leaves. It just doesn't sound like a good use of the officers' time.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#63

Post by [deleted] »

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

[deleted]

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#64

Post by njharman »

objclxt wrote: post #57
rickmb wrote: post #47

Seems to me Assange isn't so much afraid of being extradited to US (there is a truckload of ways to fight that if it ever comes to that) but of actually being convicted in Sweden. The Piratebay trials have shown how corrupted the Swedish justice system can be, with both police, prosecution and judges having proven private connections with the copyright industry (which in itself is not only organized and financed by t…

It depresses me that people are trying to make comparisons between a copyright infringement case and a rape accusation. Copyright infringement and rape are rather different. This should be obvious. I really don't know where to begin there - I know this community is male dominated, but rape is a incredibly serious crime. Piracy may well be a 'victimless crime'. Rape is not. Two women have accused Assange of rape. They…

Accusation of a crime is identical to accusation of any other crime. Doesn't matter what the Respective crimes are.

ACCUSATION is not guilt.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#65

Post by DrJokepu »

drcube wrote: post #58
sp332 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He has not (yet) been charged. It says this in the article.

Then how in the world has the UK decided to extradite him to Sweden? Don't you have to be charged with something first? I'm a legal idiot, but that doesn't make much sense to me. EDIT: Nevermind, cousin comment said he is wanted for a second round of questioning in Sweden before they actually charge him. I still don't understand how something as serious as extradition can be used for "questioning", without any charge…

No, the European Arrest Warrant requires an intent to prosecute. The specifics of the prosecution process (including how and when the prosecuted person is charged and what that means exactly) differ in each member state. As programmers would say, it's an "implementation detail".

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#66

Post by MartinCron »

AJ007 wrote: post #52
objclxt wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is getting really tired now. Assange and his legal team have tried every possible angle . Sweden has very different laws to say the US. This is not unexpected. The English courts have determined that Sweden's justice system is fair and balanced. Assange attempted to avoid extradition by arguing Sweden didn't have the right to issue an arrest warrant, not that he was going to get an unfair trial. This is an act o…

For an individual to be unwilling to face the law in a country they are not a citizen sounds completely rational to me. Even in the US, with a pretty "fair and balanced" legal system by international standards, innocent people still end up in prison for decades, are executed, etc. Then again, Julian Assange could very well be safe in a Swedish prison, relatively impervious to a drone strike.

For an individual to be unwilling to face the law in a country they are not a citizen sounds completely rational to me

Rational, maybe. Ethical? Not so much. I don't like the idea of a world where people are free to rape and sexually assault with impunity provided that they are not at home.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#67

Post by roguecoder »

rickmb wrote: post #47

Seems to me Assange isn't so much afraid of being extradited to US (there is a truckload of ways to fight that if it ever comes to that) but of actually being convicted in Sweden. The Piratebay trials have shown how corrupted the Swedish justice system can be, with both police, prosecution and judges having proven private connections with the copyright industry (which in itself is not only organized and financed by t…

It wouldn't have anything to do with him having admitted all matters of fact, would it? He's basically arguing, "yeah, I broke the law, but it's a stupid law." That always works out great.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#68

Post by marshray »

DrJokepu wrote: post #62
marshray wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't think he'll be arrested the minute he sets foot out of the Ecuadorian?

I really don't think that the Metropolitan Police is going to put officers outside the Ecuador Assembly 24/7 just in case Julian Assange leaves. It just doesn't sound like a good use of the officers' time.

The US would be happy to volunteer a few if it's a question of manpower. Britain would probably commit their own just to avoid that kind of situation.

It just doesn't sound like a good use of the officers' time.

They've had the guy detained without charge for 500-odd days. Facing some international criticism and generally looking like hypocrites whenever they want to criticize some other country for having political prisoners. The case has been through their Supreme Court and now there's yet another country involved in this international incident.

When I was in London last year there were helicopters circling continuously in some places. If Assange gives them the slip somehow, it's not going to be because the local police preferred to prioritize something else that day.

Re: Julian Assange Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Embassy

#69

Post by [deleted] »

andreasvc wrote: post #30
dsrguru wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in the U.S., and I've never heard "populist" used pejoratively. Where are you from and what does it connote when used pejoratively in your country?

Here in Europe it's used to refer to politicians who pander to the sentiments of the common people, without having a well thought out long-term strategy; e.g., "I'll lower all taxes AND give free healthcare for all."

[deleted]
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