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UK Authorities Threaten To Storm Ecuadorian Embassy To Arrest Julian Assange

Posted by samzenpus on from the long-arm-of-the-law dept.

paulmac84 writes "According to the BBC, the UK have issued a threat to storm the Ecuadorian Embassy to arrest Julian Assange. Under the terms of the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 the UK has the right to revoke the diplomatic immunity of any embassy on UK soil. Ecuador are due to announce their decision on Assange's asylum request on Thursday morning."

16 of 1,065 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because they are really bothered about that possible rape charge against him.

    1. Re:Yeah by sgt_doom · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And they want him back in Gothenburg (Goteborg), not Stockholm, very, very odd --- oh yeah, that's where "Extreme Rendition Airlines" a k a, Jeppesen Systems AB is located!

    2. Re:Yeah by Rei · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And I let my rapist walk me back to my f***ing car and waited for him while he peed on the street. Have you never heard of "shock" before? Do you have any clue how hard it is to get yourslf to accept the fact that you've been raped? As soon as he left she immediately cleaned up and washed everything in her apartment, especially the semen spot on her bed, after washing herself, and then called her friends, distraught (matching their testimony).

      Like most people, I couldn't get myself to file charges. I just wanted to forget about it. I couldn't imagine going through a trial, having to face him more, and all of the smears that I know would have been directed against me for being some "slut trying to ruin an innocent man's life". And he was a nobody, not someone with a legion of millions of global fans. I mean, my god, I've seen websites about these women that are basically stalker sites.

      I did nothing. But if I had found out shortly after that he had done the *same sort of thing thing* to another girl right around the same time as what he did to me? I still don't know if I would have filed charges, but it definitely would have changed the picture.

      But let's suppose that something unconsentual has taken place here.

      During sleep it's *always* non-consentual. A sleeping person *cannot consent*, period.

      then I will publicly come out here and eat my words.

      You'll need to do more than eat your words. What is the proper way to apologize for smearing rape victims?

      --
      We're practicing our labials.
  2. He REALLY pissed off governments.... by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Impressive. I think this is the first time I've heard anyone threaten to storm an embassy. I haven't even seen the Chinese do this. Note to everyone: this is what happens if you threaten to thoroughly upend the balance of power, expose secrets everywhere, and generally fuck with people in power. If you do this, you better make sure you have an equally strong power backing you. Otherwise, you will spend the rest of your life in jail, regardless of whether you actually broke any laws.

    On the upside, props to Assange. I don't think he saw this coming, but I do think that what he did was a service to the world.

    --
    Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    1. Re:He REALLY pissed off governments.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If the UK does this, I'm pretty sure you'll see a lot of countries pulling their embassies from the there. This isn't a fucking James Bond movie - this is real life. What good is an embassy if it's not sovereign ground?

    2. Re:He REALLY pissed off governments.... by pegasustonans · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Impressive. I think this is the first time I've heard anyone threaten to storm an embassy. I haven't even seen the Chinese do this. Note to everyone: this is what happens if you threaten to thoroughly upend the balance of power, expose secrets everywhere, and generally fuck with people in power. If you do this, you better make sure you have an equally strong power backing you. Otherwise, you will spend the rest of your life in jail, regardless of whether you actually broke any laws.

      On the upside, props to Assange. I don't think he saw this coming, but I do think that what he did was a service to the world.

      While storming the embassy would be an immediate defeat for Assange, I can't help but think it would prove a massive victory for Wikileaks in the battle over public opinion.

      --
      And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. --Will
    3. Re:He REALLY pissed off governments.... by Macgrrl · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Possibly the question isn't will Ecuador stand and call the UK's bluff, but would the UK follow through if forced?

      If the UK did in fact storm an embassy and as a consequence violate sovereign state, they are basically saying to anyone who may consider them an 'enemy' that they don't recognise consulates as sovereign territory so their own embassies in foreign countries are then at risk of incursion. Do they really want to do that in China or the Middle East or Africa or anywhere else they may have sensitive relationships?

      --
      Sara
      Designer, Gamer, Macgrrl in an XP World
    4. Re:He REALLY pissed off governments.... by VortexCortex · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Say Ecuador calls their bluff. Can the UK storm in and show the world what a real US lapdog looks like? The fact that they would even threaten this shit shows just how FUCKED the world is right now.

      He's ONE MAN. He's not breaking into your secure places and leaking your dirty fucking secrets. No, IT'S YOUR OWN PEOPLE who see the corruption and go to him to help them right the wrongs they see. Get rid of Assagnge. "Just do it"(tm). It won't change the fact YOUR OWN PEOPLE have moral problems with the wrongs going down. The right thing to do is STOP DOING EVIL. If you don't think that "making an example" of Assange will just embolden EVERYONE who is privy to questionable government bullshit to find another spokesperson and get the word out, then you really have no idea how Brits and Americans think.

      You think "The Streisand Effect" is bad? Just wait till we have an excuse to coin the term "The Assange Effect".

  3. This is hideous by richardcavell · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The inviolability of an embassy is critically important to diplomatic relations. If British police set a precedent here, it will cause embassies around the world to militarize, causing tension. I hope it's just a hollow threat made by some idiot who doesn't understand the situation properly.

  4. An Ugly Precedent by camionbleu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Here is the message that I've sent to David Cameron this evening,. If anyone else feels strongly about this and wishes to use my text, please feel free. You can reach him here.

    Dear Mr Cameron,

    I have read reports in the international press this evening, citing Ecuador's Foreign Minister, that the UK is considering entering the London Embassy of Ecuador without Ecuador's permission in order to arrest Mr Julian Assange, who is seeking refuge there.

    I strongly urge the UK not to take this action, which would be a violation of Article 22 of the Vienna Convention. It would set an ugly precedent that would not be lost on other countries. Historically, the UK has valued the rule of law. When the UK contravenes international law, it sends a very unfortunate message to other countries who do not value the rule of law. That message is: "you, too, can ride roughshod over international law".

    If the UK enters the Embassy of Ecuador without permission I predict that other countries will use this chilling precedent to do likewise, perhaps against a UK embassy.

    Please seek a peaceful agreement with Ecuador.

  5. Unfortunately, UK has become Uncle Sam's lapdog by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No matter if the guy has raped that Swedish girl or not, - that's not the main point, for that "rape story" has become an excuse for UK to take action on behalf of Uncle Sam/

    By doing so, UK no longer honors its own sovereignty.

    A sovereign nation is like a free, dignified person, an entity that takes up action to protect it/him/herself, and has the freedom to do whatever it/he/she wants to do.

    United Kingdom, by threatening to storm the embassy of another nation, over a person whom we all know Uncle Sam wants, is no longer a nation which I respect - and I suspect I am not alone in not regarding UK as a dignified country no more.
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    1. Re:Unfortunately, UK has become Uncle Sam's lapdog by second_coming · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The British government are not the country, I doubt there are many people in the UK who would support this action and even fewer who are happy with the way the government sucks up to the US.

    2. Re:Unfortunately, UK has become Uncle Sam's lapdog by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But you were cool with them

      A little reminder: neither you nor I were alive when that happened. This kind of dipshit thinking is what keeps places like the middle east at war for 5000 years.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    3. Re:Unfortunately, UK has become Uncle Sam's lapdog by anagama · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yeah right. You might as well suggest Americans change their government, but average Joes are in the same position the world over: bent over at the waist clutching their ankles saying "do it again please."

      --
      What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
    4. Re:Unfortunately, UK has become Uncle Sam's lapdog by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      > if you think its so easy to change, you, maybe, can show us ignorant peasants how its done??

      Well, the French did it, ask them. But it wasn't pretty, I tell you.

      Also, a piece of advice to US and Brit governments: don't try to please the people with little cakes... last time it didn't work.

      Now, seriously, it's not just the USA and the Brits, other countries have problematic governments doing foolhardy follies -- e.g. Russia.

      If those who can intervene do nothing, that might mean a much bloodier process down the river (see Libya and Syria, for example).

      We live in a globalized world now. That means we must pay attention to the big picture, it's not just the US (or UK) way anymore; everybody is looking... even if you get Assange, that will not be seen with good eyes by other in the world (given the reasons to get him -- and don't come up with that "rape" bullshit, again). The UK is already looking like some Banana Republic if the law is "flexible" so that embassies can be made inexistent overnight.

      What good is having any embassy in UK if things are that way? And if our embassy isn't worth a penny, why would we harbour a British embassy over here? To drink tea at 5? Duh!

    5. Re:Unfortunately, UK has become Uncle Sam's lapdog by Jeremy+Allison+-+Sam · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Sure, I can believe as an NHS nurse she had lots of horror stories about how broken the system is. I can tell you lots of horror stories about how broken every company I've ever worked for is :-).

      But (and I'm sorry to hear she passed away so you can't ask here) I very much doubt that she would have preferred to impose the US-style system on her patients, had she had experience of both systems.

      I live in the US, and I'd pay double my taxes just to get a working NHS over here. Having experience of both systems I know what I'm talking about. It's the peace of mind.

      If you've never had it, and only lived in the US system you won't really understand what I'm talking about. It's like trying to describe color (note the spelling there :-) to a blind person. But I'll try.

      Imagine just NOT HAVING TO WORRY about healthcare or costs. Seriously - NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT IT AT ALL. Ever. That's what the NHS brings to people's lives.

      People over there complain about it, but that's because they also don't understand how truely disfunctional the US system is. They (people in the UK) have no concept of being made bankrupt and homeless by healthcare costs. They just can't imagine it.