Julian Assange’s decision to seek asylum in Ecuador is, in the Australian vernacular, the percentage play. The only certainties that Assange knows are that the US government wants him, and that the Australian government has consistently shown — and continues to show — it is unwilling to do anything beyond the consular niceties to protect him.
To seek asylum, rather than to seek to address the allegations against him in Sweden (although Assange has repeatedly offered to be interviewed by Swedish authorities in the UK over the past 18 months), will undoubtedly further damage Assange’s reputation. The stain of “alleged r-pist” will always follow him, until the claims are resolved.
But Assange knows that the Vice-President of the United States has called him a terrorist. He knows that the Obama administration readily kills those it labels terrorists, even if they are US citizens, and even if they aren’t terrorists, without due process. He knows that a grand jury has been empanelled and has, according to those with connections inside the US security establishment, produced a sealed indictment against him. Being extradited to Sweden increases the risk that he will be surrendered to the United States where an uncertain fate awaits.
But who exactly is Assange claiming asylum from? Australia. Our government, he says, has effectively abandoned him, and produced as part of his justification the recent correspondence from Attorney-General Nicola Roxon to lawyer Jennifer Robinson declaring the government was unwilling to intervene on his behalf.
Whatever the merits of Assange’s claim of “effective abandonment”, it is clear that the Foreign Minister’s claim that no Australian has had more consular support than Assange simply doesn’t stand up — and demonstrably not while Bob Carr is in Libya attempting to free an Australian lawyer. Further, it has made plain it has no concerns about a US campaign against one of its own citizens that is based entirely on his activities as a journalist and publisher.
In that regard, even if it hasn’t legally “abandoned” Assange, it has been derelict in its defence of the basic right of free speech.
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“in the Australian vernacular, the percentage play.”
It’s an American expression
Gillard instantly condemned Assange. I can tolerate her banality and incompetence, but not the reflex obedience to the American empire. Who does she think she is, Paypal or Amex or Visa?
There appears to be little support for Assange among the parliamentary ALP. And we know almost all liberals in the Liberal Party occupy shallow graves in convenient State Forests.
Gillard’s pretence of consular assistance is disingenuous. The govt. has far more time for convicted drug smuggler Corby- and the politely detained (with yoghurt) ICC lawyer – than Assange.
Given the chance, Gillard would drag Assange to Washington as hand luggage…
Outrageous! That an Australian citizen can be abandoned by his own country simply for telling people around the world what their own governments should have t0ld them anyway, is unforgiveable. And the Opposition have said they agree with this betrayal. There is no one in the current federal parliament who represents my views on this matter. A pox on all their houses!!
Good luck, Julian – I hope your disclosure of these hypocritical bast++ds continues unabated.
Becoming increasingly amused with this nonsense about how the Australian Government has abandoned this individual.
He has been accused of serious crimes by the Swedish authorities. Last time I looked Sweden enjoys a credible legal system with human rights arguably respected more than they are here in Australia. About time he faced up to these charges, or does he have something to hide?
Incredible as it may sound to his supporters, including Crikey commentators who really should know better, Australians abroad are subject to the laws of wherever they find themselves and consular assistance is there to ensure that due process is applied in whatever jurisdiction the alleged crime took place.
Assange is a slime bucket. His disclosures are of no importance but his self-importance reigns supreme. Australia is well rid of him.