Main focus of Friday, August 17, 2012

Conflict over asylum for Assange

Assange supporters demonstrate on Thursday before the Ecuadorian embassy in London. (© AP/dapd)

Ecuador granted political asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday. Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in June, for fear of being extradited to Sweden. Commentators criticise Britain's statement that it may invade the embassy, calling it an unprecedented violation of international conventions, but say Assange should go to Sweden to answer charges of sexual crimes.

Unprecedented violation of international law

British diplomats explained on Wednesday that under British law Wikileaks founder Julian Assage can be arrested in the Ecuadorian embassy where he has taken refuge since June. But storming the building would represent an unprecedented move, the left-liberal daily The Guardian writes: "Such an assault would be so extreme in violating international law and diplomatic conventions that it is difficult to even find an example of a democratic government even making such a threat, let alone carrying it out. ... At the same time, it shows how important it is to have democratic governments that are independent of the US and - unlike Sweden and the UK - will not collaborate in the persecution of a journalist for the sake of expediency. Hopefully other governments will let the UK know that threats to invade another country's embassy put them outside the bounds of law-abiding nations. ... Now we will see if the UK government will respect international law and human rights conventions and allow Assange safe passage to Ecuador." (16/08/2012)

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Who's saying what » Wikileaks on trial

Governments must avoid escalation

The UK has not ruled out the option of arresting Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy. London has the right to do this, writes the liberal daily NRC Handelsblad, but calls for a diplomatic solution to the conflict: "There is a widespread misconception that embassies have extraterritorial status. But a cautious approach is vital. The immunity that a diplomatic post enjoys is aimed at regulating diplomatic interaction and should not unduly politicise the situation when bilateral tensions escalate. But citizens take advantage of this, too. It is not often that the embassy of an anti-American country like Ecuador becomes a place of refuge. Frequently it's the other way round. … The best solution would be for Assange to go on trial for rape but not to be extradited to the US on charges of subversive activities. The punishment for such activities is disproportionately harsh there. However this solution would only be practicable if all the countries in question, like the UK and Sweden, used diplomatic channels to achieve it."  (17/08/2012)

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Who's saying what » Wikileaks on trial

Assange and Ecuador a good match

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange would fit in perfectly in authoritarian Ecuador, writes the liberal conservative daily Die Presse, because he is less interested in campaigning for freedom of opinion than in fighting the American superpower: "Wikileaks wanted to be a torch of enlightened democracy - but instead it became the digital cudgel of America-haters. And in view of Assange's behaviour, one has to conclude that this development was no accident but deliberate. Anyone who, like the head of Wikileaks, can carry out ingratiating interviews with champions of democracy like Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasralla - backed by Vladimir Putin - can only view the US as a 'great Satan'. So it's only fitting that Assange is trying to flee to Ecuador under the protection of diplomatic immunity. Now he can debate the advantages of freedom of expression with President Rafael Correa, who is notorious for cracking down on disobliging journalists." (17/08/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Online media, » Press freedom, » Justice, » Latin Amerika, » U.S.
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Who's saying what » Wikileaks on trial

Sweden's judiciary hard done by

Ecuador has granted asylum to wanted Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, justifying its decision with fears that after extradition to Sweden Assage would be handed over to the US, where he would not be given a fair trial. This should also give the Swedish authorities and politicians pause for thought, writes the liberal daily Dagens Nyheter: "For almost two years it has been impossible to complete the investigations because Assange has remained beyond the reach of the Swedish judicial system. This means that the rights of two women [who accuse him of sexual assault] are still being suspended. The granting of asylum should also prompt the Swedish authorities and government representatives to a self-critical examination. The at times very poor image that has been conveyed of Sweden's legal system is totally unfounded. Sweden is a constitutional state and the investigations against Assange are based on its principles, as would be the case in the event of a trial. But Swedish politicians have sometimes expressed themselves so carelessly that it has benefited those who claim that our courts are not independent." (17/08/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Human rights, » United Kingdom, » Sweden, » Latin Amerika
Who's saying what » Wikileaks on trial

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