Assange And Ecuador--Another Case Of Might Makes Right: Will US And Britain Target Ecuador For Granting Assange Asylum?

By Monica Davis

In a dramatic show down over national sovereignty and international law, Ecuador granted asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.  The US, Sweden and Great Britain want Assange under lock and key over alleged various Wikileaks-related espionage charges and allegations of sexual misconduct. 

Supporters say the sex charges are bogus. though they were brought by two Wikileaks supporters who let Assange stay at their home. According to sources,

 The two women who accused Assange of sexual misconduct are both supporters of WikiLeaks and let Assange stay at their homes during a speaking tour in Sweden in 2010. The allegations became public around the same time he released U.S. diplomatic secrets through his WikiLeaks website. Assange requested asylum to avoid what he says are U.S. efforts to punish him for leaking the cables on the Internet. MORE HERE

Assange is on the run from global heavy hitters, among them, the UK,  which says it has ” the right to review embassy status… under the 1987 Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act…, but  would prefer to reach an agreement with Ecuador….”

Ecuador says it is granting political asylum to WiliLeaks founder Julian Assange two months after he took refuge in its London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning for alleged sexual misconduct. READ MORE HERE

Britain believes it can throw out any obiesance to international law, regarding the soverignty of the Ecuadorian Embassy, which has outraged the Ecuadorians.  According to the Guardian 

An Ecuadorean government spokesman said: “We are deeply shocked by the British government’s threats against the sovereignty of the Ecuadorean embassy and their suggestion that they may forcibly enter the embassy.

“This a clear breach of international law and the protocols set out in the Vienna Convention.

Might apparently makes right and takes precedent over international law, when it comes to a showdown between industrialized nations and Third World countries.

Ecuador’s government yesterday accused the U.K. of threatening to “assault” its embassy in London to arrest Assange. The U.K. sent a letter to the embassy warning that it would enter the compound if Assange is not handed over to local authorities,[Foreign Minister Ricardo] Patino said. READ MORE HERE