Sweden and Ecuador to begin Julian Assange talks next week

[struggle4progress]

Source: The Guardian

Sweden will begin talks with Ecuador about Julian Assange on Monday, after Stockholm moved to break the deadlock over five-year-old rape allegations against him.

Sweden initially rejected a demand by Ecuador that the two countries establish a formal agreement on judicial cooperation before Swedish prosecutors could interrogate the WikiLeaks founder in Ecuador’s embassy in London, saying it did not negotiate bilateral treaties.

But this month the government agreed to talks specifically to address the stalemate over Assange, who claimed asylum in the embassy in 2012.

Two women made allegations against Assange five years ago in Stockholm, but no charges were brought because the prosecutor said she was unable to interrogate him. Assange says he had no choice but to seek asylum as Sweden declined to guarantee that he would not be extradited to the US to face espionage charges if he travelled to Stockholm...


Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/28/sweden-ecuador-julian-assange-talks

[msanthrope]

1. Assange is a coward. And I suspect Ecuador wishes to be well rid of him. nt

[struggle4progress]

2. I suspect by now Ecuador, Sweden, and the UK are all eager to end this mess

Assange seems to have become completely unhinged, having stayed in that tiny flat for three years and chirping that he's happy to stay there until 2020, a prospect which probably pleases neither the Swedes, nor his Ecuadorian host, nor the UK authorities, who feel some obligation under law to deliver him to Sweden pursuant to the decision of duly-constituted courts and resent the continuing expense

The UK is pressuring the Ecuadorians in public, by threatening a diplomatic scene, and is probably similarly pressuring the Swedes in private, to resolve the matter quickly; and the Ecuadorians have in the past complained to the UK that the whole affair is "a stone in the shoe," a discomfort that the UK no doubt regards as easily solvable by the Ecuadorians, for they could simply usher the guest-who-overstayed-his-welcome through their front door and back onto the streets of Knightsbridge

I consider it a safe bet that the UK will, at some point, prosecute Assange for violation of the bail act and that he will, if convicted, get the maximum term, on the grounds that, having been such a nuisance, he can serve for a while as an example, after which he would likely be officially unwelcome in the realm

There is, of course, no way to predict what the outcome will be when he finally lands in Sweden, but even a minor conviction would probably extinguish his welcome there too

[msanthrope]

3. The problem is that Ecuador does not want an arrest effected in their embassy.

That's understandable but the fact is is that they created the situation... Them alone.

, and they truly expect the both Britain and Sweden are going to solve this for them so that they can save face.

[davidpdx]

6. The UK should sentence him to the amount of time he's spent in the Ecuadorian Embassy

for the bond violation. That way they get to save face. The UK could put a travel ban on him (as should Sweden whether he is convicted or not) Then send him to Sweden and let them deal with him.

[struggle4progress]

8. I'm not sure but I think the maximum sentence for a bail act violation is one year

[Kurska]

4. Never challenge the powers that be

This is the result.

[struggle4progress]

9. There might be other lessons here, such as:

(1) Don't engage in sexual activity with an unconscious partner;
(2) Don't flee suddenly from Sweden when Swedish authorities contact your lawyer to arrange an interview with you; and
(3) Don't skip bail in the UK

One good principle to follow is: maintain a sense of proportion. Many people, for example, seem to be able to handle disputes with sexual partners without engaging in international smear campaigns that portray the partners as CIA agents planning their tortures and deaths

[msanthrope]

10. generally I say I've got to believe the party they didn't hire a vicious anti Semite

And Holocaust denier to run their PR regarding the rape case.

[struggle4progress]

11. +

[tammywammy]

13. +1 n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. Oh fer fucksake with this guy

[freshwest]

12. The money train must have run out. Or due process is taking its course. Bye. n/t