Scuttle...scuttle!

[Quizmonster]

So Assange has gone to seek refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy, much to the surprise of high-profile suppporters such as Jemima Khan and Vaughan Smith, in whose Norfolk mansion he was 'sheltered' for many months.
José Miguel Vivanco, director of the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, found it an astonishing choice given that - apart from Cuba - Ecuador has the worst record in the region of protecting its OWN crusading journalists and activists.
Ms Khan apparently commented on Twitter, "I had expeected him to face the allegations."
I think he should, too...what about you?

[Quizmonster]

Clearly my question on Assange below was entered here in ChatterBank by mistake. I thought I was in the News category where I have now reposted it. Apologies.

[albaqwerty]

I did wonder why you had ventured into the domain of the great unwashed.

I'm thinking he's using as many delaying tactics as possible.

[venator]

He thinks the USA is behind the Swedish charges, and that once he is in Sweden, they would seek his extradition.

If his grounds for this belief are sound, then I can see him doing anything to avoid entering Sweden.

Does anyone know why the USA would have a better chance of getting him from Sweden than they have from England?

[NOX]

If I were Julian Assange I would also be doing everything within my power to prevent, limit and delay the inevitable outcome of being extradited to Sweden as, as soon as they have him the US will request his extradition.
Sweden has an agreement with the US which allows it to extradite Julian Assange without going through the the usual tests and standards of most other countries long winded extradition process. It has a system called ' temporary surrender' which effectively means that the Us asks and Sweden gives him over without having to go through any independant legal channels, so essentially he's stuffed as soon as he sets foot in Sweden, plus of course the case there against him is hugely biased as even the Prime minister has publicly spoken out against him. It's nothing short of an utter disgrace that a man who has not been charged with anything, is held on tag, on a huge bail sum and then carted off to a country where it is perfectly fair to say the establishment has already so negatively affected his character publicly that a charge and conviction on the flimsiest of evidence is almost 100% guaranteed.
Do I think he should face the allegations- absolutely not- there's a difference between honour and bravery and fronting down your opponents for a cause you believe in and sticking your head in a noose tied by the most corrupt and powerful country in the world.

[venator]

Thanks, NOX, for that clear & comprehensive post.

He wouldn't get a chance to "face the charges" on the rape allegation, so he'd be an idiot to go there.

[albaqwerty]

They've found him guilty even before any trial. With all the media coverage they couldn't find a neutral jury even if he came to court.

[NOX]

They would doubtless charge him even though they haven't even interviewed him yet (although the allegation is not of rape either, it's of having consenting sex with 2 women, the condom then broke and she reluctantly continued to have sex with him although she did protest that she was unhappy about the condom splitting). They then both accompanied him to dinners and functions for the remainder of his trip being photographed smiling and laughing alongside him. To me that's a long way away from rape, and for most other people too and imho demeans the experience of those women who have genuinely been raped. Added to that that no complaint was made at the time and so on and so on and so on. In short it's a US hatchet job, and we're actively helping them, which to me is just disgusting.

[FredPuli43]

Anybody think that he hasn't committed what would be an offence under English law as well as actually being one under American law? If so, why should he not be sent to the US? Forget the alleged sexual assault in Sweden.At least he hasn't been bundled into a plane and sent to some country to be tortured first!

[jno]

if I thought that I was not only of innocent of something I'd been charged with, but that there was no way I was going to get a fair trial, I would have to consider seeking asylum too. How about you?

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think you'll find he has committed such an offense FredPauli

Do you not think if he had the Americans wouldn't be seeking his extradition themselves?

You may have noticed they're not exactly shy about extraditing people who hack their computers or send missile parts to Iran.

He hasn't even yet been charged with the sexual offenses the Swedes are just seeking his extradition to question him - should be pretty easy to arrage for them to come here to do that wouldn't you think?

So what's stopping that? you might well ask

[Hopkirk]

Am I alone in having absolutely no interest in Mr Assange and his antics?

[jno]

the only one so far who's gone to the trouble of posting on an Assange thread, yes...

[Mosaic]

It makes me sad and ashamed to see how readily our government caves in to demands orchestrated by the USA. I don't know whether this man's a sinner or saint but after the going-over that the press and politicians have provided, he'll be lucky to get a fair hearing anywhere.
I am not in favour of letting the USA demand that citizens if other countries are given to them.

[bibblebub]

he's trying to quit-o the country-o

[NOX]

Fred- he has CERTAINLY not committed any offence covered by English law- that much is absolutely crystal clear.

[MoonRocker]

This whole thing is an exercise to get Mr Assange to The US because he's made them look stupid and embarrased them with inconvenient truths. The Whole "rape" thing is a charade to get him to Sweden so they can extradite him to the US, where he'll be thrown in Jail forever following a Kangaroo court show trial. I doubt he'll ever stand trial in Sweden for the non rape, they've just buddied up with the Americans for some reason that will no doubt become clear later. I concur with pretty well all of what Nox says above.

[youngmafbog]

About time he got his cumuppence. Hiding wont help him in the long run.

once again (twice in one day ! ) I agree with Jake. Why cant they come here? or has he refused to talk to them ?

[bazwillrun]

The whole thing is a disgrace and politically motivated.

Dont forget hes not been charged with anything, the Swedes just want to "question him"...... in that case why dont they put the questions in writing to his lawyers who will then pass them on to him.

[FredPuli43]

Don't know about you people, but I suspect that someone who received and published a whole load of material which was obtained and released to them, contrary to his duty, and without any authority, by a Private in the British Army, such material being covered by the Official Secrets Acts, might just be guilty of an offence !

Or do you think it stops being classified once it reaches a publisher?

In what way is Mr Assange innocent of such a crime under American law?

[MoonRocker]

fine, why the charade with the Swedes then? Why are the US not attempting extradition from Britain?