US accuses Assange of “wild assertions” and Ecuador of “sideshow” at OAS
The Obama administration on Monday accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of making “wild assertions” about US persecution to deflect attention from sex allegations he faces questioning for in Sweden.
The Obama administration on Monday accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of making “wild assertions” about US persecution to deflect attention from sex allegations he faces questioning for in Sweden.
The State Department said Assange's case has nothing to do with the United States or WikiLeaks publication of secret US documents and is solely a matter for Britain, Sweden and Ecuador. Assange is currently holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been since June. He was granted asylum by Ecuador on Thursday, but the UK said they would prevent Assange from leaving their country.
Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland also berated Ecuador for granting Assange asylum from possible US persecution at its embassy in London. And, she said Ecuador's attempt to have the Organization of American States take up the matter was a “sideshow.”
Assange “is making all sorts of wild assertions about us, when, in fact, his issue with the government of the United Kingdom has to do with whether he is going to face justice in Sweden for something that has nothing to do with Wikileaks” Nuland told reporters.
“He is clearly trying to deflect attention away from the real issue, which is whether he is going to face justice in Sweden,” she said. “That case has nothing to do with us, it's a matter between the U.K., Sweden and now Ecuador has inserted itself.”
In a speech from the Ecuadorian embassy on Sunday, Assange proclaimed himself the victim of a US “witch hunt” that he urged President Barack Obama to renounce.
“The United States must vow that it will not seek to prosecute our staff or our supporters,” Assange said, referring specifically to Pfc. Bradley Manning, who awaits trial in the scandal. He said the US risks “dragging us all into a dark, repressive world in which journalists live under fear of prosecution.”
He made no mention of the sex case, for which he faces extradition to answer questions about allegations he assaulted two women. Assange and his supporters claim the Swedish case is the first move of a Washington-orchestrated plot to make him stand trial in the US The US and Sweden dispute this.
Assange took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London two months ago and was last week granted diplomatic asylum by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. Assange praised Ecuador on Sunday as ”a courageous Latin American nation (that) took a stand for justice” by offering him sanctuary.
Inside the embassy, Assange is out of reach of British authorities although Britain insists that if he steps outside, he will be detained and sent to Sweden.
Suggested Stories
-
May 17th 2013
Uruguay’s José Mujica lauds booming Brazil ties
-
May 18th 2013
Maduro admits to knowing “the IDs and all” of the 900.000 Chavistas who did not vote for him
-
May 15th 2013
Paraguay on Independence Day blasts Argentina and Brazil over “power resource exploitation”
-
May 14th 2013
New WTO chief says it’s time for ‘modulating’ ambition and pushing protectionism back
45 comments Feed
Note: Comments do not reflect MercoPress’ opinions. They are the personal view of our users. We wish to keep this as open and unregulated as possible. However, rude or foul language, discriminative comments (based on ethnicity, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation or the sort), spamming or any other offensive or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated. Please report any inadequate posts to the editor. Comments must be in English. Thank you.
None is persecuting Assange, none is, he has been ordered to appear before a court of law, where he can defend his case against the accussations he faces.
The whole thing has nothing to do with wikileaks or anything else.
I am glad the Obama Administration has come out to set the record straight. Correa and the other South American clowns are running their own circus named UNASUR, none would deny that, but the OAS is no circus.
^
^
“Blablablah, I'm pro-democracy and freedom of speech only when it is not the US government who is sabotaging them.”
Nice one.
No wonder Assange wants to go to ecuador...party time!
Correa claims it's the same across SA, bet CKF is keeping her head down.
I'm proud to report Correa's very words on the matter. So you feel upset, defend yourself or defend Correa, you can't have it both ways. Correa supports Assange's viewpoint and so alienates every woman in latin america. Are you proud of his words, of his viewpoint? The only way you can defend yourself is to take an opposite view to Correa and therefore Assange and therefore side with women, Sweden and the UK. If you continue to be affronted.. you're a hypocrite. See sense Mr Forgetit87.
1. He has gained protection because of possible future extradition to the US from Sweden? Wrong!! It would be easier for the US to extradate him from the UK than Sweden with the current treaty we have.
2. When it comes to relations between countries we prefer to keep our relations with Sweden before Equador. Its an easy choice.
3. The so called free speach advocate is being protected by a country with out any press freedoms. Oh the irony.
Most people here i talk to beleive Equador is trying some sort of stunt againts the UK & US, which will become apparent (prob next Friday).
People aren't stupid. Around half the comments from web articles I have read, from people all over the world, think Assange is doing this to avoid rape charges. Some have also been questioning the Unsaur / OAS decision to discuss this issue, saying its an just an excuse attack Britain because of the Falklands issue.
I think you might be late for school.
'Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, on Monday launched the UK to warn against any action by the Embassy of Ecuador in London: “What are the answers? We are not going to announce, but we are preparing. Do not think they will do to us what they did before, would answer very strong and very strong, ”said Chavez. For now, the activism and sit on Facebook, where a group asks Chávez to protect Assange'
www.urgente24.com/203610-el-chavismo-activa-la-defensa-de-assange-en-internet
President Nth Korea actually said that rape was not illegal, in “Latin Amercia.”
As I have yet to hear any other Latin America country, correct or otherwise explain his statement. I assume what he says is true. Solidarity is a wonderful thing????
Assange is not the messiah, he's a very naughy boy!
He said the US risks “dragging us all into a dark, repressive world in which journalists live under fear of prosecution.”
Didn't the administration of Rafael Correa recently arrest journalists for defamation of character?
When Assange speaks of, “dragging us all into a dark, repressive world in which journalists live under fear of prosecution”, isn't he describing the Ecuadorian government rather accurately?
This seems a very ironic thing for him to say. Can someone correct me if I'm off the mark here?
If Assange said “dragging us all into a dark, repressive world in which journalists live under fear of prosecution.” The only that that amazes me is that he thinks he is a journalist but published classifed documents.
Let him go to Ecuador.......and live in real repression of the press.
Did he really expect to have an easy ride by going ahead with Wikileaks?
I dont think he thought that far ahead and was caught up in in his ego.
He probably saw himself as a revolutionary (easy to do so when your are behind the safety of PC screen) but now the shit has hit the fan hes totally bottled it.
It’s a case of close the door and goodnight .
.
@4 Blah, blah, blah. We are a democratic country. Unless it's inconvenient!
@5 But then the “worldwide” support has only surfaced in the dictatorships of LatAm! I'm right, aren't I? Nowhere else has said squat.
@9 You have ears? What do you use them for? Perhaps you use them to toss other “guys” off!
@11 Watch out for the return “shot”! Sorry, I forgot, you're in Denmark. Well out of the way. Will you be rushing “home” to catch the “shot”? As a matter of interest, why don't you and “Sussie” get together? A slag and a coward. Should get on well.
@13 Sorry? Let's see. Illegitimate claims. Economic warfare. Bullying of a small nation. Misuse of diplomatic privilege. Actions contrary to accepted diplomatic “privileges”. Interference in internal domestic judicial procedures. Obstruction of law enforcement officials. Harbouring of an “alleged” criminal. Would you like to identify those offences that are indictable. Those that should lead to “diplomatic” staff being declared “persona non grata”? Those that should lead to the banning of certain nationals from the UK, including the arrest and deportation of any already in-country? Those that should lead to the end of all diplomatic, economic, financial, trade relations. Those that should lead to a “nuclear” response? Let''s go for a new UK response. when in doubt, wipe 'em out. (Only applicable to LatAm).
Let's be fair about this. LatAm is the as*hole, cesspit, faggoty, queer capital, sh*thole of the world. Is there some reasons proper nations can't distinguish between pronouncements from LatAm and a fart. I've got it. Pest clearance. No survivors.
I think you just got diplomatically slapped for the third time in as many days.
You know anyone with half a brain in Ecuador's government is regretting this whole embarrassing tale, backing down now and surrendering him will stop this from getting worse for you.
but he did say,
[they dont know who they are dealing with]
a banana republic perhaps lol..
He has (allegedly) been paid a 6 figure sum to do this and been granted immunity from prosecution.”
This is the latest conspiracy theory.
I'm posting it on every thread just to annoy Guzz. :0D
Aug 21st, 2012 - 09:54 pm
Opportunists don't make plans. It is all pure instinct.
Secondly, the MercoPress used to be a place where actual, intelligent dialogue could be read and participated in. It now appears that possible 3/4 of the posts are from CIA / MI5 trolls who mean to spin reality and distract from anything that comes close to intelligent dialogue. Very unfortunate.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
[Interesting, does this include you then]]]]
This man is not in the embassy because of the Usa or Ecuador , or even the Russians,,, he is their purely and simply because he does not want to be sent back to Sweden to face charges of alleged rape,
Is this not only the truth, but better dialogue?
mmmmmm
In fact the whistlerblower laws are designed to provide money to whistleblowers. When you learn what a totalitarianist and whistleblower is, report back and we'll throw you a dog biscuit.
You use words like totalitarianism and whistle blowing like you know what you are talking about.
The three synapses that fired in your brain, where one was wasted to breath and one to think of that post and the third to type it was a waste.
While south american intelligence(what a stretch!) may sit around playing on the internet, UK and USA are working on real threats then pre-programmed SA trolls making mindlessly thought up statements on news blogs.
Make some citations where the USA impeded on real whistleblowers. America has had numerous REAL whistleblowers, ASSange and Manning are not one. Manning, wearing a military uniform betrayed his oath as a soldier.
Why not go after the real criminals and not the messengers?
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!