Ecuador minister in UK for Assange talks

[ImperialWalker]

Ecuador minister in UK for Assange talks

Alan Jones, AAP Updated June 16, 2013, 10:27 am

Ecuador's foreign minister is making a brief visit to the UK ahead of talks over the future of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Ricardo Patino will travel to the UK on the eve of the first anniversary of Assange's dramatic arrival at the South American country's embassy in London.

He will meet Assange at the embassy later on Sunday and hold talks with Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday.

The Australian has been inside the embassy since June 19 last year and has since been granted political asylum.

He is wanted for questioning in Sweden over sexual allegations by two women - which he denies.

Assange fears he will be extradited to the United States for questioning over the publication by WikiLeaks of confidential information if he travels to Sweden.

He has described the ex-CIA employee who leaked secret US surveillance details as a "hero" and said the UK government should be offering him asylum in this country.

Assange spoke out after reports that the UK government has warned airlines not to allow Edward Snowden to fly to Britain.

The Associated Press reported seeing a document at a Thai airport telling carriers to stop Edward Snowden, 29, boarding any flights.

Assange said: "The British government should be offering Mr Snowden asylum, not excluding him from their borders. Edward Snowden is a hero - his revelations disclose something that is important to almost everyone in the world.

"I am sure if you asked the people of the UK what they wanted, they would be in favour of protecting Mr Snowden.

"The UK doesn't want to say no to the US under any circumstances - not in my case, and not in the case of Mr Snowden."

 

[ImperialWalker]

Ecuador pledges ongoing support to Assange

By Julian Drape, AAP London Correspondent, AAP Updated June 17, 2013, 6:46 pm

Ecuador's foreign minister has stood shoulder to shoulder with Julian Assange at the country's London embassy and pledged that his government remains firmly committed to protecting the WikiLeaks founder's human rights.

Ricardo Patino's visit preceded talks with his British counterpart William Hague on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Assange entering the Ecuadorean embassy.

At the same time prominent Australian journalist John Pilger accused the Gillard government of shamefully abandoning the former computer hacker.

Pilger, a long-term WikiLeaks supporter, also accused Foreign Minister Bob Carr of lying about the Australian's case.

Ecuador's foreign minister waved to about a hundred Assange supporters before heading inside the embassy on Sunday night London time.

Later Patino said the Queensland-born Assange, 41, was in good spirits despite the "limitations" of his accommodation".

"I was able to say face to face to him, for the first time, that the government of Ecuador remains firmly committed to protecting his human rights and that we continue to seek cast iron assurances to avoid any onward extradition to a third state," the minister said.

Assange has been granted political asylum by the South American country but won't leave the embassy for fear of being arrested and extradited to Sweden over sexual assault allegations.

The former hacker is worried he'll then be handed to the US to face charges over WikiLeaks' release of classified documents.

Assange described Sunday's meeting as "very good" saying Patino had set out how Ecuador was actively seeking a solution to his "present situation".

"I remain immensely grateful to the support Ricardo, President (Rafael) Correa and the people of Ecuador have shown me over the last year," Assange added.

The online activist is much less kind to the Gillard government. He insists he hasn't met any Australian official since 2010.

Pilger believes Assange wants to return to his own country but Labor "has worked duplicitously to prevent that".

"It has been a shameful episode ... the abandonment of this Australian citizen by his own government," the journalist and filmmaker told AAP.

Senator Carr's claim that Assange has been given more consular assistance than other Australians in difficulty overseas was "false".

Pilger said when he and human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce briefed senior Australian officials in London he was shocked at how little they knew about the case.

"The 'assistance' given to Assange has been box-ticking at best," he said.

"It's a disgrace."

Assange entered the Ecuadorean embassy on June 19, 2012. He was granted political asylum two months later on August 16.

 

[ImperialWalker]

Julian Assange is prepared to hide in Ecquador's London embassy for FIVE YEARS in asylum bid that has already cost British taxpayers more than £3m

• William Hague and his Ecuadorian counterpart failed to reach agreement on Assange's future as he marks first anniversary of stay at embassy this week
  
• He will be arrested and deported to Sweden if he steps a foot outside
• The Australian, 41, is wanted for questioning over alleged sex offences
  
• Fears deportation to US and trial over WikiLeaks if he goes to Sweden

By ROSIE TAYLOR PUBLISHED: 10:32 GMT, 17 June 2013 | UPDATED: 12:03 GMT, 17 June 2013

Hiding: Julian Assange and Ecuador's foreign minister Ricardo Patino greeted crowds from the embassy window last night

Julian Assange is prepared to stay holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy for five years, the country's foreign minister revealed today.The WikiLeaks founder has been hiding inside Ecuador's London embassy for almost a year, fearing he will be extradited to the United States if he travels to Sweden to answer allegations of sexual assault against two women.Today Foreign Secretary William Hague met his Ecuadorian counterpart Ricardo Patino to discuss Mr Assange's future, but the pair failed to come to any agreement.

Instead, they decided to set up a group of legal experts to try to break the deadlock.Mr Patino said Mr Assange was prepared to stay inside the embassy for several years, believing it was preferable to facing the US legal system.He told a news conference that the Ecuadorian government was prepared to continue to allow Mr Assange to remain inside the embassy, following the decision last year to grant him political asylum.He made it clear that Mr Assange would not be smuggled out of the embassy in the boot of a car, saying he should be allowed to leave and go to Ecuador.

There was now a legal dispute between the UK and Ecuador, which Mr Patino said he hoped could be resolved by the working party.A Foreign Office spokesman said the two ministers agreed to keep channels of communication open, but made no breakthrough, adding: 'Ministers agreed that officials should establish a working group to find a diplomatic solution to the issue of Julian Assange, but no substantive progress was made.'The Foreign Secretary was clear once again that any resolution would need to be within the laws of the United Kingdom.' Mr Patino said Mr Assange, 41, was in 'good spirits' last night despite the 'limitations' of his accommodation inside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he has been since June 19 last year.

British security forces have pledged to arrest and deport Mr Assange if he steps foot outside the embassy. The cost of round-the-clock policing to ensure he does not escape from the building has already soared past £3million. Last night the Australian, who is thought to have a personal fortune of £1million, was pictured smiling as he shook hands with Mr Patino before their meeting.

Support: A crowd gathered outside the embassy in London as the Ecuadorian foreign minister visited Mr Assange nearly a year after he first went into hiding in the building

Security: The police operation to guard the embassy and prevent Mr Assange from escaping has already cost more than £3million

Wanted: Mr Assange faces questioning in Sweden over alleged sex offences but fears he will be extradited from there to the US over WikiLeaks

Asylum: Mr Assange is currently being protected within the Ecuadorian Embassy in London but will be arrested and deported if he steps outside

He said: 'My situation here has been physically difficult but the staff at the embassy have been really kind and supportive despite the occasional entertainment outside, whether they are people chanting or policeman coming down on ropes.'After the meeting, he went on: 'The minister emphasised his government's continued commitment to support and protect me. 'He set out how he and the Ecuadorian government are actively seeking a solution to my present situation.'I remain immensely grateful to the support Ricardo, President (Rafael) Correa and the people of Ecuador have shown me over the last year.'Mr Patino added: 'I have just finished meeting with Julian Assange who is in good spirits despite the limitations of his accommodation.'I was able to say face to face to him, for the first time, that the government of Ecuador remains firmly committed to protecting his human rights and that we continue to seek cast iron assurances to avoid any onward extradition to a third state.

'Good spirits': Mr Patino said Mr Assange was doing well, as supporters marked the first anniversary of his stay at the embassy with balloons

'During the meeting we were able to speak about the increasing threats against the freedom of people to communicate and to know the truth, threats which come from certain states that have put all of humanity under suspicion.'It is believed at least three Metropolitan Police officers are on guard at the embassy, which is on the second floor of a building near Harrods in Knightsbridge, 24 hours a day.Usually one officer stands on the steps outside, while one waits by the lifts in the communal foyer in case Mr Assange attempts to access the roof and escape by helicopter.Another stands on an exterior staircase from where they can see the single bed where he sleeps.It is believed there are always other officers on standby near the embassy in case of any escape attempt.


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[ImperialWalker]

Assange 'may die in embassy'


June 18, 5:52 am

Ecuador's Foreign Minister says he is concerned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange may die inside the Ecuadorian embassy before he walks free.


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