Assange seeks asylum in Ecuador embassy, London

[elbows]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...id-makes-him-look-like-a-suspect-7876458.html

Julian Assange’s Swedish lawyer admitted today that his client’s decision to seek refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy made him look like he was trying to avoid facing sexual assault allegations. But he said the threat of extradition to the United States forced the 40-year-old to take such drastic action.
Speaking to The Independent as Mr Assange prepared to spend a fourth night inside the cramped embassy, Thomas Olsson said he understood why some felt his client’s actions might make it look like he was “running away from his responsibilities”.
“It makes him look like a suspect in the public’s eye and it allows his enemies to portray him as someone who is trying to avoid these charges [in Sweden],” he said. “But the threat of extradition to the United States is substantial.”

“My ability to exercise an asylum right would be at an end because the Swedes announced publicly that they would detain me in prison without charge while they continue their so-called investigation without charge,” he said.

Jemima Khan, who put up some of the £240,000 bail money that now looks forfeited, tweeted yesterday: "For the record, in response to those asking about Assange & bail money… I personally would like to see Assange confront the rape allegations in Sweden and the 2 women at the centre have a right to a response."
She added: “But there is no doubt that Assange has a real fear of being extradited to the US nor that the US gov is out to get WikiLeaks."

Fail!

 

[Random]

Random, what is the press coverage of the case like in Sweden? Presumably they can't go down the 'silly rape laws' route which a lot of the British coverage has. Is it generally considered credible? Are the Swedes bemused by Assange's battle to avoid extradition? What do they think of the claims that their justice system is unfair?

The case is considered to have gone down the usual route. Claes Borgström is a well known feminist crusading lawyer and I think most journos see this as his usual kind of behavour. What's massively got people's backs up is the Assange team's lies and bluster about Sweden. Everyone in Sweden reading the claims can see they're patently exaggerations, lies, wild speculation. It means that pretty much all lefties, liberals and anarchists here in Sweden see Assange as a fraud. His only large group of supporters are the "mens rights" types who loudly agree that, yes, Sweden IS the saudi Arabia of feminism, it's what we've said all along!

Radical Swedes have their own problems with the justice system, but the things Assange's team keep bringing up are seen as totally bizzare and by the point.

 

[Random]

I could be wrong, but I feel that if Assange was brought to Sweden and then the USA tried to extradite him then the whole left establishment would mobilise to stop this. Or at least, they would have if he'd come to Sweden for questioning when the case was re-opened. But I still think there'd be massive outrage if he was handed over to the USA. I seriously doubt that the government (a minority centre-right one) could get away with it. Two Egyptians were rendered to the CIA/Egypt in 2001 during the Twin Towers fervour, but the government was founded to have acted illegally, and the victims were paid large compensation, so there's a real precedent against this.

 

[temper_tantrum]

The case is considered to have gone down the usual route. Claes Borgström is a well known feminist crusading lawyer and I think most journos see this as his usual kind of behavour. What's massively got people's backs up is the Assange team's lies and bluster about Sweden. Everyone in Sweden reading the claims can see they're patently exaggerations, lies, wild speculation. It means that pretty much all lefties, liberals and anarchists here in Sweden see Assange as a fraud. His only large group of supporters are the "mens rights" types who loudly agree that, yes, Sweden IS the saudi Arabia of feminism, it's what we've said all along!

Radical Swedes have their own problems with the justice system, but the things Assange's team keep bringing up are seen as totally bizzare and by the point.

Cheers. This stuff (in bold) was what I suspected.

 

[elbows]

When he says things like 'so-called investigation' it makes my blood boil.

 

[elbows]

Releasing a ton of diplomatic cables and then ending up hiding in an embassy probably qualifies him to be SCAFs next Egyptian presidential candidate.

 

[butchersapron]

The case is considered to have gone down the usual route. Claes Borgström is a well known feminist crusading lawyer and I think most journos see this as his usual kind of behavour. What's massively got people's backs up is the Assange team's lies and bluster about Sweden. Everyone in Sweden reading the claims can see they're patently exaggerations, lies, wild speculation. It means that pretty much all lefties, liberals and anarchists here in Sweden see Assange as a fraud. His only large group of supporters are the "mens rights" types who loudly agree that, yes, Sweden IS the saudi Arabia of feminism, it's what we've said all along!

Radical Swedes have their own problems with the justice system, but the things Assange's team keep bringing up are seen as totally bizzare and by the point.

Cheers for that

 

[Random]

When you're reading articles by people like Pilger it's hard to know where to start. Lots of insinuations and half-truths dragged together. Standard Swedish legal framework dropped in constantly but painted in a sinister light. Yes, the Swedish magistrates are partly professionals and party people selected based on the power of local political parties. This is supposed to do the job of a jury in UK/USA, to bring in democratic common sense influence into a courtroom. But Pilger et all thunder about how the trial will then be "political". Crazy.

I think it's been a real strain for liberal-left and anti-imperialist types to suddenly make the switch from idealising Sweden as a socialistic country, and now seeing the Social Democratic party as "of course" in the back pocket of the CIA.

 

[danny la rouge]

But I still think there'd be massive outrage if he was handed over to the USA. st But I still think there'd be massive outrage if he was handed over to the USA. I seriously doubt that the government (a minority centre-right one) could get away with it. Two Egyptians were rendered to the CIA/Egypt in 2001 during the Twin Towers fervour, but the government was founded to have acted illegally, and the victims were paid large compensation, so there's a real precedent against this.

Indeed. Which is why it's nonsense to suggest that Sweden is a soft touch in extradition. Some on this thread seemed to suggest Swedish public opinion was less alert to this sort of thing than public opinion in the UK (although they swiftly backtracked when challenged). It seems to me that, if anything, the issues are even more sensitive in Scandinavia generally than in the UK.

 

[elbows]

The insinuations about Swedens legal system probably qualify his team for employment in the next colour revolution, next time certain interests decide that the credibility of an election must be undermined.

 

[Random]

It's telling that I've seen no statement from the Swedish Pirate Party in defence of Assange. They supported him after Cablegate but they've not said a thing in opposition to the Borgström case against him.

 

[temper_tantrum]

When you're reading articles by people like Pilger it's hard to know where to start. Lots of insinuations and half-truths dragged together. Standard Swedish legal framework dropped in constantly but painted in a sinister light. Yes, the Swedish magistrates are partly professionals and party people selected based on the power of local political parties. This is supposed to do the job of a jury in UK/USA, to bring in democratic common sense influence into a courtroom. But Pilger et all thunder about how the trial will then be "political". Crazy.

Yeah, that was my reaction to that Pilger article. It reeks of twisting to fit a pre-ordained agenda. Which is why it's so laughable to throw 'the mainstream media' back at people.

 

[danny la rouge]

Which is why it's so laughable to throw 'the mainstream media' back at people.

The famous Mirror journalist.

 

[butchersapron]

Outlaw type. Like Maxwell who he swallowed. Or was that the other outsider foot?

 

[temper_tantrum]

Someone started trying to tell me the other night that the only good journalism is unpaid journalism. A new angle on the usual 'mainstream media' line.

 

[butchersapron]

Someone started trying to tell me the other night that the only good journalism is unpaid journalism. A new angle on the usual 'mainstream media' line.

That's an Orwell line and it's right.

 

[elbows]

Someone started trying to tell me the other night that the only good journalism is unpaid journalism. A new angle on the usual 'mainstream media' line.

Were they asleep when some high-profile members of the blogosphere, drunk on the attention they were getting at the time, decided that the rules of journalism didn't apply to them, and that they could develop all sorts of dubious revenue streams and then get incredulous when anybody questioned whether such things may corrupt them?

 

[elbows]

That's an Orwell line and it's right.

Problem is we'd need a further layer of journalists to monitor the 'unpaid' journalists to make sure they really were unpaid.

 

[1%er]

The Independent
Julian Assange’s Swedish lawyer admitted today that his client’s decision to seek refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy made him look like he was trying to avoid facing sexual assault allegations. But he said the threat of extradition to the United States forced the 40-year-old to take such drastic action.

Speaking to The Independent as Mr Assange prepared to spend a fourth night inside the cramped embassy, Thomas Olsson said he understood why some felt his client’s actions might make it look like he was “running away from his responsibilities”.

Anyone know if the Ecuadorian Embassy is "cramper" because Assange has moved in or is it always "cramped"?

 

[butchersapron]

Problem is we'd need a further layer of journalists to monitor the 'unpaid' journalists to make sure they really were unpaid.

Sort of like an argument against the idea of journalists and one in favour of civic participation.

Cue pic of head chopping

 

[butchersapron]

Anyone know if the Ecuadorian Embassy is "cramper" because Assange has moved in or is it always "cramped"?

OMG THE MUSLIMS ARE TAKING OVER EGYPT

 

[temper_tantrum]

That's an Orwell line and it's right.

I'd be interested in hearing the line of argument (more interested than going round in circles about Assange again, anyway).


Edit: ah, just seen your above characterisation of it. That I can get with. It wasn't this person's angle though. Theirs was more 'nobody wants to pay me for my wonderful writings therefore the whole of journalism is bunk'.

 

[Wilf]

Anyone know if the Ecuadorian Embassy is "cramper" because Assange has moved in or is it always "cramped"?

It's the free speech and heroism that takes up all the room.

 

[temper_tantrum]

It's a handful of rooms - basically a flat. So I read somewhere, probably in a piece of saintly unpaid journalism (because it was in the Guardian).

Unpaid journalism means people lose their jobs. In the current world in which we live.

 

[temper_tantrum]

[double post]

 

[elbows]

Sort of like an argument against the idea of journalists and one in favour of civic participation.

Cue pic of head chopping

Its a knockout special edition - accountants vs accountability.

 

[1%er]

OMG THE MUSLIMS ARE TAKING OVER EGYPT

The people of Egypt have spoken

 

[butchersapron]

The people of Egypt have spoken

And?

 

[Wilf]

It's a handful of rooms - basically a flat. So I read somewhere, probably in a piece of saintly unpaid journalism (because it was in the Guardian).
.

((((Bradley Manning's Suite)))

 

[1%er]

And?

yes, and?