Ecuador Grants Asylum to WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange
- Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:53am by
Billy Hallowell
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LONDON (TheBlaze/AP) — Ecuador said Thursday that it was granting asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a decision that thrilled supporters but will do little to defuse the standoff at the Latin American nation’s London embassy, where the Australian ex-hacker has been holed up for almost two months.
Julian Assange (FILE)
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said Ecuador believed Assange faced a real threat of political persecution — including the prospect of extradition to the United States, where Patino said the head of the secret-spilling website would not get a fair trial.
“It is not impossible that he would be treated in a cruel manner, condemned to life in prison, or even the death penalty,” Patino told journalists in Quito, the Ecuadorean capital. “Ecuador is convinced that his procedural rights have been violated.”
Britain’s Foreign Office said it was disappointed by the decision, but that it still plans to fulfill its legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden, where he faces sexual assault allegations. The Telegraph, though, painted a much more dire political standoff:
Ecuador said on Wednesday that the British government had threatened to raid its embassy in London if WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is not handed over.
“We are not a British colony,” Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told reporters in an angry statement after a meeting with President Rafael Correa.
He added that Ecuador will announce its decision regarding Assange’s asylum request today at 1pm.
Mr Assange is fighting his extradition to Sweden over fears he would then be handed over to the US where he could face the death penalty for publishing secret US diplomatic cables.
He has been taking refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since June 19.
Assange shot to prominence after WikiLeaks repeatedly released huge troves of U.S. secret documents, moves which have outraged Americans and led to calls from American politicians to have him hunted down like a terrorist.
Julian Assange (Photo Credit: AP)
He is wanted in Sweden for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct, but supporters fear the Scandinavian extradition effort is the opening gambit in a Washington-orchestrated bid to make him stand trial in the United States.
Swedish officials, and the two women who have accused Assange, have denied that the extradition bid is politically motivated. Director of Public Prosecution Marianne Ny declined to comment on the asylum decision, saying the issue was a matter for Britain.
Ecuador’s decision heartened supporters – there was a cheer outside the Ecuadorean Embassy when it was it announced – but is likely to have little practical effect on Assange’s current status.
He remains in the modest embassy building, where he has been staying since June 19, and British authorities have pledged to arrest him if he leaves. Swedish authorities say their investigation remains ongoing.
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dmerwin
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:39pmTime to show Ecuador that actions have consequences.
Report Post »Platonician
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 6:05pmThe USA didn’t move a finger to get Assange convicted, he is being requested by SWEDEN, because he raped two women there.
Report Post »He is a communist, don’t be fooled.
southernORcobra
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 5:15pmhe needs to have a goverment funded “accident”.
Report Post »I Luv America
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:33pmAlthough I believe that Julian Assange is a bad guy for compromising the security of the United States of America (among other things), I also believe that the U.S. has been wrong in its way it has gone after this guy. The U.S. has used its full weight to coerce countries like the United Kingdom to act like henchmen.
I don’t know what the solution will be in the end. I consider both Assange and the U.S. Government to be the villains in this situation. At least now Assange has been given asylum in a country that will protect his rights until the right thing is done.
Report Post »fmadsen
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 3:29pmHe is accused of rape and should be prosecuted. You might notice that Assange primarily went after the United States. He wouldn’t dare go after Russia or China. They would kill him and never think twice about it.
Report Post »VoteRightDammit
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:31pmAnyone else think Obama PAID Ecuador a ton of cash to get this loser off the shoulders of the US?
Last thing in the WORLD Obama wanted to do was to prosecute this pervey guy – but just letting him go would cause an uproar. This is Obama’s way out.
Report Post »myptofvu
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:03pmI now like Ecuador!!!
Report Post »Amarilloan
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:00pmGuard the Equador Consulate. Don’t let them take Assange anywhere else. That’s as good as putting him in prison.
Report Post »Scarybones
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:07pmI’ll one up you. Keep close records of the cost of monitoring the Embassy. When he is finally taken into custody charge him for the cost that were incurred by his avoidance of extradition.
Report Post »NachtundNebel
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:57amIt’s easier to take someone out in Ecuador than to buy a newspaper in the UK. I think Julian just screwed himself.
Report Post »fmadsen
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:32amHe is in a prison of sorts. I’m sure the Ecuadorian Embassy in not an opulent spa. Let him stay there for the rest of his life. Sweden should try him in absentia and if convicted should be arrested if he ever leaves. The US should eliminate aid to Equador and expel all of their diplomats. The US accounts for 38.3% of their exports and we should have significant leverage, but I doubt the current administration will us that to help bring Assange to justice for his accused rape.
Report Post »OLDPAINT
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:51amTime to ride to Chito for a big hock-tooey party. Let’s slime him.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:45amIt’s simple. I‘m sure we’re sending money to Ecuador under some government hand out program. Probably to help down on their luck Communist llama herders. Stop the cash, they’ll hand him over.
Report Post »Hotspur
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:43amI want the guy to get Obama’s sealed records for us! He could probably do it if he could get out of jail! Go for it Wikileak guy!
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:54amAdd your comments Obama’s records ? OK. Might change my opinion of him for leaking info which endangered military lives. Exposing Obama could help to save America .
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:25amStrange as it may sound to you who have posted ahead of me, Julian Assange may have done, in part, us a favor by exposing some of the ongoings of Big Brother, and those reaping financial benefit?
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:25amAssange is a leftist, OWS darling for sure. He stole secrets and put people’s lives in danger. For that, I think he needs to stand trial. HOWEVER, I think reasonable people can agree that our government A) was doing things outside of its charter and B) was very cavalier about doing so.
I want the transparency and accountability. I want our government to be concerned each day that what they do would be subject to the “newspaper test”. BUT, it doesn’t need to come at the expense of the safety of men and women in the field.
As for Ecuador, um how do you think you’re going to get him out of the UK? You gonna box him up in a diplomatic parcel?
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:23pmThe problem is that we are not at war (Congress hasn’t declared war since 1941), there is no Constitutional authority for the huge national security state that has been erected around us, and we have no business with thousands of troops with boots on the ground in foreign nations (outside of embassy guards). People‘s lives wouldn’t be in danger if the GOVERNMENT followed the rules we set down for it to follow. Exposing the dirt and filth of the nasty underbelly of government seems to me, on balance, a good thing.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:27pmFunny… Ron Paul stated that “the idea of prosecuting Julian Assange crosses the line” among other pro Assange comments. Paul also endorses Pvt Bradley Manning… who while in the Army during the DADT era, flaunted his homosexuality and traded in damaging secrets via Assange.
You Paul guys… tsk, tsk, tsk for ever endorsing this criminal and traitor endorsing POS Ron Paul…
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:13amHe is and was a traitor. If it was any family in Ecuador that was affected by such a person then they would understand possible lost security.
Report Post »drandall
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:30amHow is he a traitor?Traitor of whom?
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:36amYeah sure..He‘s a traitor if you’re a Communist.
Report Post »Master.Debater
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:38amThe US soldier who stole the classified information and provided it to Assange is the traitor.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:48amIf you are in the military..and you .who thought that you grew up in the land of the free and just..find out what is really going on..and it is not about freedom or justice..but a pulling the wool over the eyes of the people..and you expose that through another party..then who are you a traitor too?.. You would think that the people would be grateful..but no..there are too many programmed people sitting in front of MSM including FAUX “ Tell a Vision”.. People seem to have lost the ability to think for themselves..It’s too bad that the intelligent are a minority…
Report Post »NineteenEighty4
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:07amHe can’t be a traitor. He is not a US citizen.
Report Post »WakingSheep
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:18amTruth is treason in the empire of lies.
Report Post »Bruce P.
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:07am“Swedish authorities say their investigation remains ongoing.”
After two years, they are still investigating? Yeah, that’s not suspicious at all.
Report Post »Scarybones
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:00pmBruce, you can’t officially close an investigation until you have questioned Assange. That is what they are waiting for, nothing suspicious at all.
Report Post »eagle2715
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:58pmHow are you suppose to close an investigation when the alleged perp is hiding in another country?
Report Post »dblaess
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:05amAt this point Britian will have to either wait him out, till he leaves the embassy or hope for some break through talks with Ecuador to have them turn Assange over. Problem is he will still be able to run his organization.
Report Post »Scarybones
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:02pmIf he runs his organization from inside the Embassy and the British government finds it to be subversive then Ecuador will be in collusion with Assange. Not too good for them.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:02amAm sure the Lefties are thrilled . Our entire hemisphere is being Occupied by the Left. Am sure when their economies tank, they’ll be running here and welcomed by the Obama people. Just more people to load into the wagon. Third World status . SECURE OUR BORDERS. Nobama 2012 No Democrats 2012
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