In a direct follow-up to our last blog discussing the political asylum granted to Julian Assange by the Ecuadorean government, we report today on the public address made by Assange this afternoon (London time) from a balcony at the Ecuadorean Embassy in Knightsbridge, London. As promised, for the first time in two months, Assange addressed the public and took the opportunity to take a swipe at US President Barack Obama at the same time.
He emerged to cheers from the crowd of supporters waiting for him, and not to any tear gas or special forces descending from the rooftop or helicopters to nab him. None of the expected drama or hullabaloo took place, and he got to have his say without interruption. Someone must have decided that such actions might just help to further polarize entire nations who are already at polar opposite ends of the spectrum over the fate of the man who lives for such polarization.
Assange thanked the Ecuador government/people for their having taken a "stand for justice" and also gave a shout out to several South American countries for their support. He also called on Obama to tell the FBI to drop its "witch hunt" against WikiLeaks and himself, and to release Bradley Manning, the US Army Intelligence analyst who is accused of having supplied the cables that WikiLeaks released en masse, in 2010.
As much as it makes for great TV, and appears to be a classic David and Goliath story, I think we must remember what the main problem is in this stand-off. Theoretically, at least, it is the sexual assault charges in Sweden that are the root problem for Assange. If those did not exist, then the UK would not have legitimate reason to prevent him flying off to a new life in Ecuador. He would then be free to operate from there, and live in principle as a free man.
But he claims that even the sexual assault charges are part of the conspiracy against him, and that once he would set foot on Swedish soil to address them, he is guaranteed to face extradition to the US where he will face persecution, an unfair trial, resulting in potentially a considerable if not indefinite period of incarceration. So, therefore, he cannot risk going to Sweden, for now; certainly not without certain guarantees in place.
This probably seems way too convenient for some, and perhaps quite believable for others. While I do not doubt that there are individuals inside the Obama administration who are salivating at the thought of having him delivered into their hands, it is a much bigger stretch of imagination to believe that any of them could have had a hand in creating fake charges of sexual assault in another country in Europe. Notwithstanding the fact that yes, there is a highly unlikely coincidence in the timing of when these assaults are alleged to have taken place, thereby allowing the US to use this opportunity to have him extradited following facing those charges.
It's funny how the David vs. Goliath thing can distract people from the bigger issues, because it does not appear that sexual assault charges have resulted in any significant loss of popularity for his cause. At the same time, if there is any truth to those charges, then his status as an anti-secrecy pro-rights man-of-the-people figurehead simply evaporates, as he himself would formally become a criminal facing serious time in jail.
The charges in Sweden have complicated matters considerably, and one is forced to wonder what would have transpired in their absence. As much as Assange seems to thrive in an environment of stirring the pot and being in the eye of the hurricane, one cannot help believing that Mr. Assange must also wonder how much easier life would be, were they absent. - Kevin Mc
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