[Peace-discuss] Assange Granted Ecuador Citizenship to Secure 'Human Rights'

[David Johnson]

Assange Granted Ecuador Citizenship to Secure 'Human Rights'

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

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on the balcony of the Ecuadorian
Embassy in London, Britain, May 19, 2017. | Photo: Reuters

 
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during a meeting with ministers in Caracas, Venezuela January 5, 2017

 
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by  <javascript:void(0)> Joe Emersberger 

 

Espinosa said that the government continues to work with the U.K. to
"explore alternatives and options to resolve the case."

After the surprising news was released two days ago, the Ecuadorean
government confirmed in a press conference this morning that WikiLeaks
founder Julian Assange has been given citizenship in the Andean nation.

In a press conference held today Ecuador's foreign minister, Maria Fernanda
Espinosa reaffirmed that Julian Assange was granted Ecuadorean citizenship
Dec. 21, 2017. Assange, who has been sheltered in the Ecuadorean Embassy in
London since June 19, 2012 when he was granted political asylum, began the
application in September.

She stressed several times that Ecuador is following all national and
international laws and is "dedicated to protecting the human rights" of
Assange in this "delicate case."

Despite the confirmed citizenship status, Espinosa said that the government
continues to work with the U.K. to "explore alternatives and options to
resolve the case."

The foreign ministers said that her government tried to obtain diplomatic
status for the Wikileaks founder within the United Kingdom on Dec. 20, but
that the British government immediately denied the asylum seeker such
status.

Earlier this week Ecuador's foreign ministry released a statement that read:
"Julian Assange received international protection from the Ecuadorean
government in August 2012.

"The current government inherited this issue and it's looking for solution
alternatives, with full respect of national and international law, as well
as human rights... in coordination with the United Kingdom, with which we
have the best friendship and cooperation relations."

Assange is committed to not "intervening in issues non-related with his
asylum condition," as requested by Ecuadorian government, the statement
continued.

The Foreign Office in the UK has confirmed that Assange continues to face
arrest for breaching bail conditions if he leaves the embassy premises. He
fears that if arrested by UK authorities they he will be extradited to the
United States whose government is looking to prosecute Assange for
publishing thousands of U.S. classified military and diplomatic documents
via his Wikileaks page.

Rumors about Assange's condition were sparked Jan. 1 when he tweeted a
60-character code and a link to the song "Paper Planes" by British singer
MIA. The Ecuadorean government has since insisted that "nothing has
happened."

In a picture posted Wednesday on his personal Twitter account, Assange
appears wearing a jersey from Ecuador's national football team.

The Australian activist now appears in Ecuador's Civil Registry database and
holds an identity document: 'Julian Paul Assange' is registered in the
Internal Revenue Service with document number 1729926483.

 

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