Source: Wikileaks.org Thursday 16th August, 3:00am UTC In a communication this morning to the government of Ecuador, the UK threatened to forcefully enter the Ecuadorian embassy in London and arrest Julian Assange.
The UK claims the power to do so under the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987.
This claim is without basis.
By midnight, two hours prior to the time of this announcement, the embassy had been surrounded by police, in a menacing show of force.
Any transgression against the sanctity of the embassy is a unilateral and shameful act, and a violation of the Vienna Convention, which protects embassies worldwide.
This threat is designed to preempt Ecuador’s imminent decision on whether it will grant Julian Assange political asylum, and to bully Ecuador into a decision that is agreeable to the United Kingdom and its allies.
WikiLeaks condemns in the strongest possible terms the UK’s resort to intimidation.
A threat of this nature is a hostile and extreme act, which is not proportionate to the circumstances, and an unprecedented assault on the rights of asylum seekers worldwide.
We draw attention to the fact that the United Nations General Assembly has unanimously declared in Resolution 2312 (1967) that
“the grant of asylum. . . is a peaceful and humanitarian act and that, as such, it cannot be regarded as unfriendly by any other State.”
Pursuant to this resolution, a decision to grant asylum cannot be construed by another State as an unfriendly act. Neither can there be diplomatic consequences for granting asylum.
We remind the public that these extraordinary actions are being taken to detain a man who has not been charged with any crime in any country.
WikiLeaks joins the Government of Ecuador in urging the UK to resolve this situation according to peaceful norms of conduct.
We further urge the UK government to show restraint, and to consider the dire ramifications of any violation of the elementary norms of international law.
We ask that the UK respect Ecuador’s sovereign right to deliver a decision of its own making on Julian Assange’s asylum bid.
Noting that Ecuador has called for emergency summits of OAS and UNASUR in response to this development, WikiLeaks asks those bodies to support Ecuador’s rights in this matter, and to oppose any attempts to coerce a decision.
We note with interest that this development coincides with the UK Secretary of State William Hague’s assumption of executive responsibilities during the vacation of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
Mr Hague’s department, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has overseen the negotiations to date with Ecuador in the matter of Mr Assange’s asylum bid.
If Mr Hague has, as would be expected, approved this decision, WikiLeaks calls for his immediate resignation.
Australian Documentary on Julian Assange’s situation: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/07/19/3549280.htm
Friends of WikiLeaks Support Network: https://wlfriends.org
Justice for Assange: http://justice4assange.com
Comments
Act of War
Assange’s mother Christine warns arrest at Ecuador embassy would be act of war
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/assange...
The mother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Christine Assange, says it would be an act of war for police to enter Ecuadorian embassy in London where her son seeking political asylum. Source: AP
THE mother of Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says it would be an act of war for police to enter the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he is seeking political asylum.
Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino says Britain has threatened to storm the embassy and take 41-year-old Assange by force is they do not hand him over.
Mr Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy since June.
He is wanted for questioning over sexual assault allegations in Sweden but fears it will be a means for deportation to the United States, which may seek to try him for his website’s release of a trove of secret documents.
Ecuador is due to announce at 10pm (AEST) on Thursday if it will grant asylum.
Mr Assange’s mother Christine Assange is furious the police may be sent in to arrest her son and said they would be acting on behalf of the United States.
She said it is a threat to a sovereign country and is a way to intimidate Ecuador into not to grant alyssum.
“This is a sort of declaration of war,” she told AAP.
“The US has degenerated into a rogue state.
“What the US wants, the US gets from its allies, regardless of if it’s legal or if it’s ethical or in breach of human or legal rights.”
“We’re all lackeys.”
She called on Attorney-General Nicola Roxon to protest the threat but said she wouldn’t because she too is a “simpering sycophant” of the US.
“Her job is to represent Australia as a sovereign country, not to represent US interests as the 51st state of the US which is all they’ve done ever since they’ve been in government,” she said.
Mr Assange had embarked on a marathon round of court battles but finally exhausted all his options under British law in June when the Supreme Court overturned his appeal against extradition.
Even if the asylum request is granted, it is unclear whether Assange will be allowed to leave, as British police are ready to arrest him for breaching the terms of his bail granted in 2010.
AAP
Power ploys at their most vile and abusive
Every conscionable person is behind Julian Assange, and what his mother Christine requests here, his safety, well being full life, backed by the human rights Julian has, without extremist or any intimidation and it's torturing ally bullying by USA or UK
Thanks
Every conscionable person can see what's going on here and it's power ploys at their most vile and abusive of any human rights, civility and bottom line humanity.
Another mother