Statement on UK Threat to Storm Ecuadorian Embassy and Arrest Julian Assange

[Hissyspit]

Last edited Wed Aug 15, 2012, 11:16 PM - Edit history (2)

(on 2012-08-16)
Statement on UK threat to storm Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

Thursday 16th August, 3:00am UTC

In a communication this morning to the government of Ecuador, the UK threatened to forcefully enter the Ecuadorian embassy in London and arrest Julian Assange.

The UK claims the power to do so under the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987.

This claim is without basis.

By midnight, two hours prior to the time of this announcement, the embassy had been surrounded by police, in a menacing show of force.

Any transgression against the sanctity of the embassy is a unilateral and shameful act, and a violation of the Vienna Convention, which protects embassies worldwide.

This threat is designed to preempt Ecuador’s imminent decision on whether it will grant Julian Assange political asylum, and to bully Ecuador into a decision that is agreeable to the United Kingdom and its allies.

WikiLeaks condemns in the strongest possible terms the UK’s resort to intimidation.

A threat of this nature is a hostile and extreme act, which is not proportionate to the circumstances, and an unprecedented assault on the rights of asylum seekers worldwide.

We draw attention to the fact that the United Nations General Assembly has unanimously declared in Resolution 2312 (1967) that

"the grant of asylum. . . is a peaceful and humanitarian act and that, as such, it cannot be regarded as unfriendly by any other State."

Pursuant to this resolution, a decision to grant asylum cannot be construed by another State as an unfriendly act. Neither can there be diplomatic consequences for granting asylum.

We remind the public that these extraordinary actions are being taken to detain a man who has not been charged with any crime in any country.

WikiLeaks joins the Government of Ecuador in urging the UK to resolve this situation according to peaceful norms of conduct.

We further urge the UK government to show restraint, and to consider the dire ramifications of any violation of the elementary norms of international law.

We ask that the UK respect Ecuador’s sovereign right to deliver a decision of its own making on Julian Assange’s asylum bid.

Noting that Ecuador has called for emergency summits of OAS and UNASUR in response to this development, WikiLeaks asks those bodies to support Ecuador’s rights in this matter, and to oppose any attempts to coerce a decision.

We note with interest that this development coincides with the UK Secretary of State William Hague’s assumption of executive responsibilities during the vacation of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Hague’s department, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has overseen the negotiations to date with Ecuador in the matter of Mr Assange’s asylum bid.

If Mr Hague has, as would be expected, approved this decision, WikiLeaks calls for his immediate resignation.

Australian Documentary on Julian Assange’s situation: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/07/19/3549280.htm

Friends of WikiLeaks Support Network: https://wlfriends.org

Justice for Assange: http://justice4assange.com

[Fumesucker]

1. Heh, talk about showing your hand..

Someone really, really wants Assange to cause this sort of political row..

[malaise]

2. WTF

Rules do not apply to imperialists these days

[ananda]

3. I am very proud of little Ecuador.

This is an amazing business and shows the UK
in a very bad light.

[xchrom]

4. Lot of drama on britains part. Smelling salts may be in order. Nt

[freshwest]

5. I love the sound of the UN Resolution 2312. That's how we should act.

But someone says he's not been charged with a crime in any country. I thought the US charged him with something in relation to Manning?

It's been a while, this seems to be dragging on forever with no resolution. But I think they're not playing fair if he hasn't been charged by anyone.

I know there was something like a contempt or bail issue which is a minor charge, not worth all this drama. There has also been no admission that the Brits intend to turn him over to the US.

If they send him to Sweden to get the charges or these inquires they seem to be using as the basis for all of this it should be no big deal, just have the Swedish police come and get him.

As far as 'inquiries' it seems they could be handled with an affidavit, since he hasn't been charged of a crime, just not following the UK court, which seems a minor thing.

If a member here can give me a less vulgar term to express it, I'll use it, but otherwise, all I can say is that someone is just 'being a dick' about this.

Other than for some respect to authority routine, I have never seen why he needs to make a personal appearance if he's not charged with a crime already. Because he's only wanted for questioning, right?

[freshwest]

6. I did google to find something about this. There are no charges in Sweden:

The Swedish sex crime charges against WikiLeaks, Julian Assange were reduced to nuisance charges in August 2010. Are countries conspiring to punish Assange?

http://suite101.com/article/julian-assange-sex-crimes-dismissed-in-august-2010-a316104