Assange - foreign office threaten to arrest him

[Empusa]

Article here

They are talking about revoking the Ecuadorian embassy's diplomatic immunity in order to enter the embassy.

Wonder if they will actually do so?

Diplomatic cars have limited allowed travel zones, so could likely be stopped if it tried to board a ferry. And in any case diplomatic status would cease when it left UK shore.

Use of diplomatic status to commit a crime (such as helping a fugitive escape) in the host country is an abuse of diplomatic privilege, which is only granted to allow diplomatic relations with the host country. It could reasonably be expected to cause a diplomatic incident (just as our stripping the embassy of its status so we can go in and get JA could - though that seems more chilling).

I think it's a set up charge because he knows too much. It must be pretty serious when they are talking about storming the embassy. And they didn't when that poor policewoman was shot dead. That was a lot more serious. So it makes me wonder what's behind it all.

There is no conspiracy vinnie. The law was changed after the Policewoman was chot precisely to cover that kind of case. No conspiracy there. What's behind it is he had sex with woman without their consent.

We brought in the laws that would enable us to strip the embassy's status and enter because of "that poor policewoman". It was frustration at our powerlessness to act in that situation that we made laws that would enable us to do so in the future.

x-post Novack

Here's something for the conspiracy theorists to chew over, how about he heard the charges and thought it'd be a good way of trying to get a govt to sign a deal saying he wouldn't be extradited to the US no matter what the charges were, and regardless of whether it'd put him at risk of death or having his human rights affected (eg. what the ECHR already protects against).

But what is actually wrong with him being extradited to the US to face charges? If they decide (the grand jury hasn't delivered a verdict yet) he importuned treason by Bradley Manning, why shouldn't they try him? He wouldn't be faced with the same (appalling) process poor old Bradley has had to contend with, because he will be tried in civil court. Top lawyers would queue up to represent him, he could run all the First Amendment arguments he wanted.

This whole argument for JA has now got his supporters to the situation where Ecuador (dodgy dodgy jurisidiction esp where freedom of speech is concerned) is being held up as a freedom-supporting utopia and the US, an open democratic state, is being vilified as a nest of sinister conspirators. Come on. Where would you rather face trial/do time? Oh, and Sweden are the lickspittle puppets of US hegemony. The distortions you have to swallow to accept JA's position are massive.

What about some of those bankers facing charges with their dodgy dealings. No extradition for them. The whole thing sickens me. It's a set up job. I'm sure of it.

Set up job?

What makes you sure of it?

Yy Eldritch.

Well, the NatWest Three were extradited for their dodgy dealings, ended up pleading guilty and going to prison. So that argument doesn't hold water.

Vivienne, no US extradition request has actually been made for Assange.

If I wanted to set up some charges against Assange to manipulate his extradition to the US,, why the Jeff would I do it in a country where he didn't normally reside?

Again, yy Eldritch (and thanks for saving me looking up the banker case!)

Really busy today but just wanted to say a quick thanks to those (Klad etc) who responded to my queries. I'm learning lots and enjoying thinking about this properly.

The NatWest 3 were stuck in it by their own employers. They were then subject to an appalling US gambling system - where unless you agree to plead guilty you rsk being locked up for so long it is almost unacceptable to accvept even a small risk of it. We must never allow that plea bargain system to come to the UK as it seriously undermines justice. Appalling case. Very good illustration of what that treaty is wrong.

The US cannot anyway apply to extradict As because he is subject to Swedish ex proceedings. That has to be finished and then the US request comes but of course it will come which is why this case is about freedom of speech and human rights and not did his condom slip.

"which is why this case is about freedom of speech and human rights and not did his condom slip."

So many things wrong here..

1 - so it's either or is it? Because he is wanted by the US because of freedom of speech issues, he can't also be wanted for alleged sexual assault?

2 - The allegations are a bit more than a condom slipping

People do realise don't they that Ecuador also has an extradition treaty with the US pretty much on a par with Sweden's.

I suspect if it has that it may be one of those countries where it is one thing what the law says and quite another what the judges are told to do.

And yet he thinks they're more trust worthy than a country which follows it's laws.

So Xenia if you think it is all part of some grand plan, who do you think asked the Swedish women to go to the police?

Do we think JA's mum will be stood behind him on the balcony shouting "He isn't the Messiah. He's just a very naughty boy."

Maybe he could go in the ambassador's car to an embassy that has an undergroud car park does have a roof - surely one of the South American ones must have, then helicopter to that SA embassy in Dublin, then helicopter from there to an Ecuadorean vessel moored in international wateers . I bet Jack Reacher would think of a way....

I have not said there is any grand plan.
However I think his words were well chosen and it is causing plenty of fun. Certainly I am sure virtually all mumsnetters wil lbe in favour of freedom of the speech and the press and understand how imporatnt that men and women have a right of protest and indeed we need many more women interested not in washing powder and nappies but in setting up their own wikileaks and its equivalent.

mumileaks? Not sure people wouldn't snigger.

Xenia, someone can be talented in some way - boxing , economics, film making - and still commit crimes that are nothing to do with their talent. If sufficient evidence is found to pursue such allegations, of course they should be pursued. I assume you support legal systems in general.

I look forward to reading Xenialeaks when you have set it up.