Ecuador recalls London envoy to discuss Assange

[struggle4progress]

Source: AFP

QUITO — Ecuador on Friday recalled its ambassador to Britain to discuss what to do about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has sought refuge in their diplomatic mission in London.

"We are calling our ambassador back for consultations because this is a very serious matter," President Rafael Correa said. Assange has asked Quito to give him political asylum as he seeks to avoid extradition to Sweden on allegations of rape and sexual assault.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hEJOpr_iGX5rumeftKldf5SRw1Xw?docId=CNG.be5c41bb3664394501f576fa5fe63a65.14c1

[struggle4progress]

1. Photo of Ecuador's envoy shopping for new luggage:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SRbgvxJ6Lkk/TdQ4CQJ9ZnI/AAAAAAAAAf8/0CUi5fgch8E/s320/big+suitcase.jpg

[tabatha]

6. That is exactly what I was thinking.

[joshcryer]

15. Haha! That's perfect.

They can't search an envoy's suitcase can they?

[Zorro]

2. This is not a winning situation for Ecuador

I think Correa's best course of action is to encourage Assange to surrender to British authorities, face the inquiry in Sweden, and then move to Ecuador.

However, Assange may be too paranoid to agree to such a plan.

[tokenlib]

3. Aren't you forgetting the US will pressure Sweden to hand over Assange..

I don't think it's paranoia to be afraid of the US governent trying to snatch him.

[Zorro]

4. During the Vietnam War there were plenty of military deserters that went to Sweden

Don't recall the US pressuring Sweden to hand them over.

[clang1]

11. 50 some odd years later

and yes? Don't you smell the dead fish in the room with all this? I do. The entire freaking world does.

[Zorro]

16. Sorry

but I don't subscribe to paranoid conspiracy theories.

The entire freaking world may do so, but the nonfreaking world does not.

[Festivito]

12. We never asked Canada to hand them over either.

Since Vietnam we have become a nation that holds people indefinitely without charge and tortures people to death, and would do so over political ideology.

If that does not scare someone to a point of paranoia, I don't know what would.

[clang1]

13. re and tortures people to death, and would do so over political ideology.

You are correct Sir. It has been doing it for years whether by proxy or directly like now.

Meanwhile there are some people out on GD f'ing book tours about it....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014149884

A certain American young lady blown to bits in Chile in the 1970s comes to mind as well.

[hrmjustin]

9. they will get bought off by the uk

[clang1]

10. I think Equador doesn't need you to worry for it

they will be fine.

[radhika]

5. How can Ecaudor get him OUT of London without risking his arrest?

To transport Assange requires leaving the embassy. Does that expose him to UK law?

I have no idea how these rules go...expert comments welcome, thanks.

[former9thward]

7. He would be subject to arrest the second he left the embassy.

That is assuming the UK did not agree to let him leave. Some countries have the capability to remove people from a country by extra legal means but Ecuador is not one of them.

[struggle4progress]

8. ... "We are going to proceed cautiously, responsibly and seriously in this case, without bowing

to absolutely any pressure," Mr Correa said ...
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-assange-ecuador/story-e6freoox-1226406179682

[struggle4progress]

14. ... the country's embassy said Saturday that Alban had boarded a flight to Quito

to personally brief Correa on the situation.

"While in Ecuador she will be holding a series of meetings with officials at the ministry of foreign affairs before meeting President Correa to personally brief him on Mr. Assange's application for political asylum," the statement said. "She will also fully brief the president on her recent meeting with officials of the U.K. Government" ...

Ecuador's envoy heads to Quito for Assange talks
DAVID STRINGER, Associated Press
Updated 08:52 a.m., Saturday, June 23, 2012
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Ecuador-s-envoy-heads-to-Quito-for-Assange-talks-3657424.php