Ecuador cools on Edward Snowden asylum as Assange frustration grows

[ProSense]

Ecuador cools on Edward Snowden asylum as Assange frustration grows

President Correa revokes Snowden's temporary travel document amid concerns WikiLeaks founder is 'running the show'

Rory Carroll in Quito and Amanda Holpuch in New York

The plan to spirit the surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden to sanctuary in Latin America appears to be unravelling amid tension between Ecuador's government and Julian Assange...President Rafael Correa halted an effort to help Snowden leave Russia amid concern Assange was usurping the role of the Ecuadoran government, according to leaked diplomatic correspondence published on Friday.

Amid signs Quito was cooling with Snowden and irritated with Assange, Correa declared invalid a temporary travel document which could have helped extract Snowden from his reported location in Moscow.

<...>

In a message attributed to Assange sent to Ecuador's foreign minister, Ricardo Patiño, and other top officials, the WikiLeaks founder apologised "if we have unwittingly (caused) Ecuador discomfort in the Snowden matter." The note continued: "There is a fog of war due to the rapid nature of events. If similar events arise you can be assured that they do not originate in any lack of respect or concern for Ecuador or its government."

Assange appears to have had a strong role in obtaining the travel document for Snowden, dated 22 June which bore the printed name, but not signature, of the London consul, Fidel Narvaez, a confidante. By mid-week Narvaez was reportedly in Moscow.

- more -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/28/edward-snowden-ecuador-julian-assange

Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon says his legal team won’t represent NSA leaker Edward Snowden
http://upload.democraticunderground.com/10023101737

The Errors of Edward Snowden and His Global Hypocrisy Tour
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023112872

Ecuador has no plans to halt commerce ties over Snowden: Correa
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023114551

Ecuador threatens legal action against leaker of invalid travel document for Snowden
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023114430

[flamingdem]

1. It looks more and more like he'll return to the USA

because there are no great options and countries don't want to damage their relations with the USA.

Guessing there is a conflict between Snowden Sr. and Wikileaks. Dad wants his son to do the right thing and Wikileaks is still flailing about looking for a country willing to take their charge.

Joy Reid just had a Wikileaks rep on and she grilled him about who was paying for Snowden, turns out the Press Freedom Foundation, with Glenn Greenwald on the board, is footing the bill along with Wikileaks. Conflict of interest?

[ProSense]

2. Likely. n/t

[adric mutelovic]

4. Is any expert saying Snowden's return to the USA is likely?

Or just you?

[DesMoinesDem]

8. What, the Snowden/Greenwald smear troop aren't experts?????

I look to them for all the latest smears. Are you saying I can't trust them?

[Cha]

45. Have you seen this, flamingdem? "Snowden's father offers deal in letter to Holder"

Snowden's father offers deal in letter to Holder

The father of Edward Snowden has proposed a deal to Attorney General Eric Holder that he says could convince his son to return to the United States.

Lonnie Snowden said his son, Edward, would likely come back to America if he were promised that he could remain free prior to trial, not be subjected to a gag order and be tried in a place of his choosing.

He also proposed that if those terms were violated, the government should agree to dismiss charges against Edward, a former defense contractor who admitted to leaking information about top-secret National Security Agency programs.

Lonnie Snowden said he has not spoken to his son since April.

"I love him, I would like to have the opportunity to communicate with him. I don't want to put him in peril, but I am concerned about those who surround him," he said in an interview Friday with NBC News.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/308467-report-snowdens-father-proposes-deal-in-letter-to-holder

Obama Recasts Edward Snowden As 'Hacker' In Effort To Downplay Him

I'm not going to have one case of a suspect who we're trying to extradite suddenly being elevated to the point where I've got to start doing wheeling and dealing and trading on a whole host of other issues simply to get a guy extradited," the president told reporters in Senegal

The president, in his own words, has "a whole lot of business to do with China and Russia." Why increase tensions in an already uneasy relationship when Obama is looking for Russia's cooperation in finding a path to peace in Syria, for example?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/28/obama-edward-snowden-hacker_n_3515562.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

[flamingdem]

47. Yes, the dad sounds practical, and speaking of Wikileaks

This is the most amazing / amusing today .. so far! Apparently Assange forged /illegally obtained the refugee document that allowed (with a wink) Hong Kong to let him travel. Now all that flowed from the assumption that he had that document has unraveled, what a mess!

Ecuadoran President Ego Checks Ecuardoran Co-President Julian Assange

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa has declared Edward Snowden's special travel document to be invalid because he doesn't want WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to look like he's "running the show." Correa declared Snowden's travel pass, issued after the U.S. revoked his passport, was unauthorized, The Wall Street Journal's José de Córdoba and Jeanne Whalen report.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/28/1219722/-Ecuadoran-President-Ego-Checks-Ecuardoran-Co-President-Julian-Assange

[Cha]

48. I saw that and weirdly didn't even blink an eye.. but maybe I should have.. WTH!

According to the Journal, Assange wrote Ecuador's government on Monday to say he hoped he hadn't embarrassed them, apologizing "if we have unwittingly causing Ecuador discomfort in the Snowden matter." (He also held a conference call with reporters that day.) It seems it didn't work.[...]

By Thursday, Correa said in a press conference, "What is the validity of a safe conduct pass issued by a consul in London for someone to leave from Hong Kong to Moscow? None."

"Unwittingly"? Yeah, you're witless alright, Assange.

Ecuador Spikes Halts Snowden's Asylum Because Julian Assange Is a Fame Hog

http://news.yahoo.com/ecuador-spikes-halts-snowdens-asylum-because-julian-assange-183954173.html

So how the hell did Assange get hold of an Ecuadorian Travel Pass?!!

thanks flamingdem

[flamingdem]

50. I get all my news from Maxwell Smart and Agent 99

if you remember them!

I'm sure not everyone here at DU does

One speculation is that Assange sleepwalked to a cabinet at the Embassy and filled out Snowden's name!

He's innocent!

For sure they're looking for ways to eject him from the Embassy after that trick.

The legal question is interesting, he traveled with no document at all from Hong Kong, stateless!

[Cha]

56. Maxwell Smart, sure! By Jove I think I've found it..

Correa declared that the safe conduct pass issued by Ecuador’s London consul – in collaboration with Assange – was unauthorised, after other Ecuadorean diplomats privately said the WikiLeaks founder could be perceived as “running the show”.

According to the correspondence, which was obtained by the Spanish-language broadcaster Univision and shared with the Wall Street Journal, divisions over Assange have roiled Ecuador’s government.

Assange appears to have had a strong role in obtaining the travel document for Snowden, dated 22 June which bore the printed name, but not signature, of the London consul, Fidel Narvaez, a confidante. By mid-week Narvaez was reportedly in Moscow.

The document could have helped Snowden, whose US passport has been revoked, leave the transit lounge of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport where he has reportedly holed up since fleeing Hong Kong last weekend.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/28/ecuador-revokes-edward-snowden-asylum-documents-as-assange-frustration-grows/

wikileaks founder could be percieved as running the show"? Ya think?

Assange is an all star Schemer.

[flamingdem]

5. bloody 'ell I want Cuba to stay out of this

All of them really but Cuba would be destroyed by the Miami right wing for that and it's not necessary... except that it is because there's no other transit country to Venezuela or Ecuador that doesn't lead to spending mucho dinero

I hope that they have truly been informed about this guy and his questionable motives.

[allin99]

6. they will (stay out of it), for sure.

[flamingdem]

7. So this meeting is really just a schmooze fest where they'll come up with a document

about freeedom. But then find a legal reason they can't take him

[allin99]

10. that's what i think. I think someone will throw down some harrowing insults toward the u.s...

and then he will be rejected, then he'll come home of his own accord. I wonder if they'll give snowden the heads up before they publicly decline asylum so that he can leave head back to the u.s. of "his own accord". Just as another f.u. to the u.s. lol. I WOULD!

[flamingdem]

12. I rechecked and Maduro will be in Moscow on Monday -- He may take Snowden back w/him under diplo

immunity? Wonder if that's even possible. The timing is interesting.

quote
In any case, Ecuador is not the only door which can be opened to Snowden: yesterday, the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, said that "almost certainly" would give asylum Snowden if requested by the United States.
The message for Maduro, who will go to Moscow next Monday to participate in the Forum of Gas exporting countries, has been understood by experts as an invitation de facto so that the exanalista of the secret services ask for refuge in Caracas.
The Venezuelan leader may even coincide with the fugitive in Moscow if this is still in the transit area of Sheremetyevo.

[allin99]

31. :D. no way would he take him back...

offering asylum is one thing, taking a fugitive back on a plane to save him is another. Maybe if the kid were a Ghandi or something. lol. Snowden is like lol

[arely staircase]

9. fog of war

wonder what he did. reckon he took it upon himself to issue an Ecuadoran travel doc? he may just get his ass kicked out of their embassy.

this just gets better by the minute

[flamingdem]

13. Sarah Hastings is working overtime

at this point she must be working hard to keep her guy in the Embassy in spite of his transgressions!

[ProSense]

17. It's hilarious. n/t

[msanthrope]

30. I think that's exactly what happened...Julian broke into the good stationery and plugged in the fax,

and a travel document was issued....

[arely staircase]

32. would explain the lack of a signature nt

[Blue_Roses]

34. lol...

wouldn't put it past him with his history

[ProSense]

36. Assange played Snowden supporters.

He had everyone waving a fake document. Letters and declarations based on that document are now moot.

[msanthrope]

39. Assange takes advantage of whomever he can.

http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/02/jemima-khan-inside-story-how-julian-assange-alienated-his-allies

[treestar]

38. Now he considers himself to be an Ecuadorian diplomat

and Senator in Australia.

He honored them with his presence so surely they will appoint him to high office?

[Cali_Democrat]

46. Has the dude even taken a shower since he's been holed up in the the Ecuador embassy in London?

eeewwwww

[Cha]

49. Who also forges?! how the wholly hell did Assange get hold

of an Ecuadorian Travel Pass, treestar? I can't seem to find that phase anywhere.

thanks

[ProSense]

52. LOL! This is one of those "oops" moments. n/t

[randome]

11. When two like charges meet (Assange/Snowden), they repel one another!

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[flamingdem]

14. question is what direction will they repel?

where in the world can assange go now?

snowden? now I'm wondering if Maduro will escort him back to Venezuela since he'll be in Moscow on Monday!?

[ProSense]

15. Appears Assange is becoming a headache for Ecuador. n/t

[flamingdem]

16. Yes, things are getting more uncomfortable for Ecuador

Now Assange is obtaining legal documents to help Snowden from his host in London, possibly.

I doubt Ecuador will take Snowden, they might be appealing to Venezuela to do so but as one poster here noted Venezuela depends massively on the US for trade also

[arely staircase]

18. from the guardian story

At a press conference the president declared the travel document invalid and said Ecuador would not consider an asylum request unless Snowden reached Ecuadorean territory, an increasingly remote prospect.

"The situation of Mr Snowden is a complex situation and we don't know how he will solve it."

with friends like assange....

[flamingdem]

20. I wonder if that means soil or if it could mean the Embassy in Moscow

I think they're hedging their bets depending on the Monday meeting where Maduro will be in Moscow. He could possibly have another semi bogus document and Putin might say "fine with me comrade" and let him leave.

[arely staircase]

22. how could he get to ecuador?

without a layover? the layover brings the trip to a halt.

[flamingdem]

23. My guess is that he's at the Venezuelan Embassy now

and could be brought to the Ecuadoran Embassy.

I know Putin said otherwise but the fact that there's zero sign of him at the airport makes me wonder..

[arely staircase]

33. you may be right

seems we would have pics of him if he were at the airport. unless security has him isolated somewhere (the suck the info out of the laptop room.)

[randome]

35. It's 'drained', not 'suck'. You're not up on your technology terms!

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[flamingdem]

24. So my point was to wonder if the Embassy suffices for Ecuadoran "soil" as well nt

[arely staircase]

28. probably

in a legal sense it would. if that is what Correa meant I don't know. Assange is probably cooling them to letting more activist/hacker types hide out in their embassies.

[ProSense]

37. Here:

Ecuadoran President Ego Checks Ecuardoran Co-President Julian Assange
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/28/1219722/-Ecuadoran-President-Ego-Checks-Ecuardoran-Co-President-Julian-Assange

[flamingdem]

41. hilarious!!!

plus:

We invite Edward Snowden to work with us and hope that as soon as he settles his legal status, he will collaborate with our working group

ah the ole' working group ... Maxwell Smart would caution Snowden about that!!

[Cha]

51. thanks for the link, PS

In an ironic twist, Univision used metadata attached to an electronic copy of the safe pass to verify that it was composed at the work computer of Javier Mendoza, the Ecuadorian deputy consul in London (see photo above). Mendoza has acted as an intermediary for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is wanted in Sweden in connection with sexual assault allegations, but maintains that U.S. authorities are hunting him for Wikileaks' political activities.

Ecuador is not alone in being upset about Assange's management of the Edward Snowden affair. Lonnie Snowden, Edward Snowden's father, told "Today," he's not too happy about it either.

[treestar]

40. Has that changed?

Before, he only had to get to an embassy.

[arely staircase]

43. if Putin won't let him into the country - which he officially isn't

he can't get to an embassy. he also can't leave Russia (which he technically isn't in) without a valid passport. another country could issue him a travel document to replace the passport, which is what it looks like assange tried to phony up.

[treestar]

44. So he's stuck there

Just as Julian is stuck in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Wonder if he'll last as long - probably not, I'd think it would be harder to be stuck where Eddie is stuck than in a house in London.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

53. If i had to choose a place to stay for a prolonged period of time

i'd likely have opted for the airport myself. I would assume the transit area should have places where i could buy food and drinks(as well as reading material)

Sure the house might be more comfy to sleep and relax in, but the versiability of the airport would have me lean toward it(besides, i could get to know a ton of people)

[randome]

54. Three or four days of not getting enough sleep would seem like torture to most.

The mind starts to misfire.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[Bodhi BloodWave]

55. that might explain my personal quirks *chuckles wryly*

I don't tend to sleep all that much(surely below whats normal/required)

[treestar]

58. Ok but you have to have money

And you might feel like you were in an airport, much less grounded than in a house.

But I don't know how Julian is situated - does he need money and if so, how does he get it?

[Bodhi BloodWave]

59. money wouldn't be to troublesome

since i get a small monthly sum from the state due to some circumstances i don't need to get into on a public forum

Problem would come once the time limit being out of country is exceeded but thats half a year to a year later problem.(and staying at an airport is no problem as long as i have internet(i guess i am somewhat like Snowden in that sense, a long time without internet would be bad ) and there tends to be internet cafes et al at most airports these days)

As for Assange, if he needs money I'm sure he gets what he needs from his supporters(they do like donating to the organization he belongs to after all.

[snooper2]

25. If he would quit stealing others food out of the community fridge

in the embassy it wouldn't be such an issue.

[flamingdem]

29. the Guardian on his room at the Embassy

so he has a fridge but that doesn't mean he doesn't raid others at night!

=====

Quite where he finds the room is unclear. He shares a bathroom, but has his own tiny en-suite kitchen. At one end of the room, he has squeezed a round conference table for meeting journalists and colleagues. In front of the window (and he moans about daylight!) stand four tall shelves – sparsely filled with files, CDs for burning, pens, and a printer. There's a Spanish dictionary, for conversing with embassy staff, and a book about Guantánamo.

Assange claims he works a 17-hour day – but he still finds a suspicious amount of time for watching films. The West Wing and The Twilight Zone are current favourites, he says, as is a film about Aborigine rights: This is How You'll Make Your Bed in Prison.

And how does Assange make his own bed, a single mattress lying on the floor? "Clumsily", says the Mail – though "reports of a lack of self-care seem wide of the mark".

[MineralMan]

19. Snowden will earn a modicum of respect from

me if he returns to the US and stands trial.

[flamingdem]

21. His dad seems to have a head on his shoulders

and I hope that he gets a chance to speak with his son, if Assange lets him.

[arely staircase]

26. I don't know

Living 50-60 years in an airport would impress the hell out of me.

[MineralMan]

27. Well, there is that.

Sounds appealing, actually, but you'd have to have a source of funds.

[flamingdem]

42. Glenn Greenwald had better fire up his old pron business

since it's Wikileaks and his group Press Freedom Foundation that's paying the bills for Snowden now

[kwassa]

57. How about the guy that lived for 17 years in Charles de Gaulle airport?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehran_Karimi_Nasseri

Mehran Karimi Nasseri (مهران کریمی ناصری pronounced [mehˈrɒn kʲæriˈmi nɒseˈri]; born 1942), also known as Sir, Alfred Mehran,[1] is an Iranian refugee who lived in the departure lounge of Terminal One in Charles de Gaulle Airport from 26 August 1988 until July 2006, when he was hospitalized for an unspecified ailment. His autobiography has been published as a book (The Terminal Man) and was the basis for the movie The Terminal.