Alex Christoforou
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris examine the reasons behind Ecuador’s Foreign Minister stating that they have no plans of revoking Julian Assange’s asylum status.
After news broke that Ecuador was planing on expelling Assange from their London Embassy, people gathered in the streets of London, and online voices blasted Ecuador’s decision to deliver Assange to UK authorities, with eventual extradition to the United States.
The Ecuadorian government was compelled to quickly release a statement refuting the news of Assange’s expulsion.
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People Power Delays Ecuador’s Asylum Betrayal Of Julian Assange by The Duran
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 132. The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris examine the reasons behind Ecuador’s Foreign Minister stating that they have no plans of revoking Julian Assange’s asylum status.
Via Zerohedge…
As dozens of supporters massed outside its London embassy, Ecuadorian officials late Friday denied reports that they had been planning to unilaterally revoke the asylum first granted to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in 2012, expelling the controversial journalist from their London embassy and handing him over to British police for arrest on charges that he skipped out on his bail – which would have likely set in motion a chain of events ending with Assange’s extradition to the US.
Bloomberg reports that Ecuador denied it had been planning to oust Assange, as Wikileaks initially reported earlier this week, though some are skeptical, believing instead that the Ecuadorian backed down under pressure from the UN. Of note, is the fact that Ecuador’s foreign minister tweeted about mechanisms for revoking Assange’s asylum.
However, reports about his impending expulsion drew the scrutiny of UN human rights officials.
UN Special Procedures on Twitter: “UN expert on torture @NilsMelzer expresses alarm at reports #WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may be expelled imminently from #EcuadorianEmbassy in London, saying he intends to personally investigate case.Learn more: https://t.co/Itn4RoCPVg pic.twitter.com/ogPig1sU8G / Twitter”
UN expert on torture @NilsMelzer expresses alarm at reports #WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may be expelled imminently from #EcuadorianEmbassy in London, saying he intends to personally investigate case.Learn more: https://t.co/Itn4RoCPVg pic.twitter.com/ogPig1sU8G
All of which seems to suggest that the public pressure brought to bear by Assange’s organization and its supporters prompted Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno to back down.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Why do you suppose the Foreign Minister of Ecuador would choose today of all days to start tweeting about mechanisms for unilaterally revoking asylum claims? https://t.co/RS8xPBwZMJ / Twitter”
Why do you suppose the Foreign Minister of Ecuador would choose today of all days to start tweeting about mechanisms for unilaterally revoking asylum claims? https://t.co/RS8xPBwZMJ
In a statement on Friday, Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry denied it had an agreement with the UK to hand over Assange, and also accused him of “ingratitude” toward his hosts, saying “the asylum seeker and his associates express once again ingratitude and disrespect toward Ecuador.”
Assange and Wikileaks have been feuding with Ecuador since the embassy briefly revoked some of his privileges, including Internet access, last year, claiming that he was in violation of certain protocols, including his refusal to maintain a clean living space, poor hygiene habits and his refusal to clean up after a pet cat.
Though Assange’s privileges were eventually restored, he and his legal team sued the Ecuadorian government, and since then, the tensions have only escalated. Recently, Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno, who has described Assange as a “stone in my shoe”, accused Wikileaks of publishing private photos of his family. The organization also recently published allegations that Moreno enriched himself from an offshore account in Panama — allegations which Moreno has vehemently denied.
However, journalist Cassandra Fairbanks, who traveled to London to keep vigil outside the embassy, and who recently visited with Assange inside, tweeted that the government’s claims shouldn’t be trusted.
https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1114526655580659712
Fairbanks also tweeted video of the protesters gathering outside the embassy in support of Assange.
https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1114524735994499072
As mentioned above, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture Nils Melzer demanded Ecuador allow Assange to remain in its embassy, arguing that should he be expelled, he could face “violations of his human rights” and possibly even torture, as journalist Sara Carterpointed out.
“In my assessment, if Mr. Assange were to be expelled from the Embassy of Ecuador, he is likely to be arrested by British authorities and extradited to the United States,” he said. “Such a response could expose him to a real risk of serious violations of his human rights, including his freedom of expression, his right to a fair trial and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
“I therefore urge the Government of Ecuador to abstain from expelling Mr. Assange from its Embassy in London, or from otherwise ceasing or suspending his political asylum until such time as the full protection of his human rights can be guaranteed.”
RT has more on the story below:
https://twitter.com/AssangeMrs/status/1114514297818730496
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Zakaria commits crimes against humanity by calling for war by US against Venezuela. He should be fired ASAP and banned from any employment in the news business. CNN should be banned as well as they stir up wars that maim and kill and give people like Zakaria a platform for promoting hate and crime.
How about just extraditing him to India where he was born?
Yeah. But try saying something against the Jews.
If Zareed Fakaria is one, you had better watch your step.
“In my assessment, if Mr. Assange were to be expelled from the Embassy of Ecuador, he is likely to be arrested by British authorities and extradited to the United States,” he said. “Such a response could expose him to a real risk of serious violations of his human rights, including his freedom of expression, his right to a fair trial and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Exactly. He would not have a fair trial in the U$, and he would be placed in solitary confinement and seriously mistreated, and probably tortured. The US cannot be… Read more »
Assange a ‘stone in Moreno’s shoe’?? Moreno is a stone in the shoes of both Ecuador, the country he was elected to represent, and to human rights. How can he expect Assange to kowtow or not stand up for his rights in the face of the torturous conditions Moreno has imposed on his asylum- conditions effectively negating many of the human rights guaranteed by every asylum guaranteed under the UN Charter, not only Assange’s asylum, which Ecuador is obligated to honor under the Charter, as well as the determination of the UN’s Rapporteur’, and the declaratory decision of the InterAmerican… Read more »
Moreno is a 2 faced traitor to the Ecuadorian people He ran on the same banner as Correa but once elected he betrayed party under which he ran.I hope that he ends up in jail for corruption he is being investigated under.The people of Ecuador also feel betrayed just like the people of Brazil with Bolsonaro .Both presidents are under investigation presently.
By 2015, Britain had spent 10 million pounds sterling policing the Embassy of Ecuador in London, and there has been a 24-hour police presence there ever since Assange entered the building. All this cost because the U$ wants to get him?
The cost of truth in a world being over run by an ideology that embraces “taqiyya”…
“The organization also recently published allegations that Moreno enriched himself from an offshore account in Panama — allegations which Moreno has vehemently denied.” Did Wikileaks publish allegations (details) or refer to their being published by others?