Ecuador orders withdrawal of extra Assange security from embassy in London

[webfact]

Ecuador orders withdrawal of extra Assange security from embassy in London

 

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Britain, May 19, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

QUITO (Reuters) - The president of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, ordered the withdrawalon Thursday of additional security assigned to the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has remained for almost six years.

 

The Australian took refuge in the small diplomatic headquarters in 2012 to avoid sexual abuse charges in Sweden. He rejects the charges and prosecutors have abandoned their investigation.

 

However, British authorities are still seekinghis arrest.

 

"The President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, has ordered that any additional security at the Ecuadorian embassy in London be withdrawn immediately," the government said in a statement.

 

"From now on, it will maintain normal security similar to that of other Ecuadorian embassies," the statement said.

 

Ecuador suspended Assange's communication systems in March after his pointed political comments on Twitter.

 

Moreno has described Assange's situation as "a stone in his shoe."

 

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in QuitoWriting by Girish GuptaEditing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-18

[Chomper Higgot]

The background to this is Assange hacked the Ecuadorian Embassy’s IT systems and accessed file/emails etc.

 

https://www.snip.today/main/post/report-julian-assange-hacked-computer-network-of-ecuador-embassy-where-hes-in-hiding-from-uk-authorities/

 

I’d toss his sorry ass out onto the street... it’s not as if there’s any chance of him becoming homeless.

[Morch]

 

Quite the Jesus posture there...

[colinneil]

Why are the Ecuadorians putting up with him, back stabbing piece of excrement.

They gave him refuge (wrongly in my opinion ) What did he do ?

Abused their hospitality, thats what... Scum.

[midas]

He crossed the line there after Ecuadorian government has given him so much hospitality and assistance.
This explains a lot about their change of attitude towards him.

[BuaBS]

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The background to this is Assange hacked the Ecuadorian Embassy’s IT systems and accessed file/emails etc.

 

https://www.snip.today/main/post/report-julian-assange-hacked-computer-network-of-ecuador-embassy-where-hes-in-hiding-from-uk-authorities/

 

I’d toss his sorry ass out onto the street... it’s not as if there’s any chance of him becoming homeless.

The Ecuadorians were spying on him to .

So what if he hacked them to try to see what they have in mind for him.

Everything changed with the new Ecuadorian government , that is more aligned with the US and that has new weapons contracts with the US . The Spanish angle (Assange tweeting about Catalonia) , is another pressure on Ecuador.

[Morch]

1 hour ago, BuaBS said:

The Ecuadorians were spying on him to .

So what if he hacked them to try to see what they have in mind for him.

Everything changed with the new Ecuadorian government , that is more aligned with the US and that has new weapons contracts with the US . The Spanish angle (Assange tweeting about Catalonia) , is another pressure on Ecuador.

 

It's the Ecuadorian Embassy. If he doesn't like it there he can leave. But staying doesn't give him any special rights vs. his hosts. And doubt there was any question that circumstances could change - he didn't get Embassy asylum for life.

[SOTIRIOS]

...duhh....what do you think will happen next...???

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, Morch said:

he didn't get Embassy asylum for life

Actually in a way he did - he was granted Ecuadorian citizenship in January 2018.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/julian-assange-ecuador-citizenship-citizen-naturalised-london-embassy-wikileaks-asylum-uk-sweden-a8153986.html

[Morch]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Actually in a way he did - he was granted Ecuadorian citizenship in January 2018.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/julian-assange-ecuador-citizenship-citizen-naturalised-london-embassy-wikileaks-asylum-uk-sweden-a8153986.html

 

Thanks. Guess one question is what Ecuadorian law say about Ecuadorian citizens hacking a Ecuadorian Embassy. Wonder if it's actually worse for him.

[ezzra]

5 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Actually in a way he did - he was granted Ecuadorian citizenship in January 2018.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/julian-assange-ecuador-citizenship-citizen-naturalised-london-embassy-wikileaks-asylum-uk-sweden-a8153986.html

I bet that he will gladly exchange this worthless citizenship for being able to take a stroll in the park or have a beer in a pub without being arrested,

how long can he hold up in there while his life passes him by?....

[lanista]

Assange has lost because he's living the life of a prisoner regardless of where he is.

[Srikcir]

45 minutes ago, lanista said:

Assange has lost because he's living the life of a prisoner regardless of where he is.

As long as he has internet access, he's not out of business and any income that may result.

The Embassy needs to impose internet controls similar to China over his internet access: no VPN, go through an Ecuadorian internet gateway and provide all internet login information.

Otherwise, the Ecuador government becomes an unwitting partner to his internet "escapades."