THE ECUADORIAN EMBASSY IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECISION ON JULIAN ASSANGE’S APPLICATION FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM ANY TIME.
It is absurd that Julian Assange has felt the need to seek political asylum at a foreign embassy while here in the UK. Our Prime Minister has remained silent on the situation. David Cameron has, rightly, extended an invitation to the inspiring Aung San Suu Kyi this week in honor of her lifetime of fighting for democracy. This stands in contrast with a failure to acknowledge the activism of Assange and the important work he has been engaging in for years.
In the UK? Go to the embassy and support Julian Assange: Flat 3B 3 Hans Crescent, London SW1X 0LS and take FoWL with you by downloading as poster or flyers from here.
Not near London? Email the PM and demand he issues a statement as to his position of Assange and the absurdity of his need to seek asylum at a foreign embassy while here in the UK.
Email/ phone the Ecuadorian Embassy and let them know why it is important to grant Assange asylum: 0207 590 2503 or ecuembpress@gmail.com
And do not forget that the UK government have the power to override the UK Supreme Court decision to uphold the EAW and extradite Julian to Sweden. The UK Gov can make a stand and create a safer environment for Julian here in the UK. Send in your letter and keep telling others.
What WikiLeaks has shown, is that those with most power in contemporary global politics can, and will, get away with injustice unless they are closely watched. Supporters of WikiLeaks understand that the importance of the organisation goes way beyond that of the individual leaked data packages- this is a movement about democratic navigation, inciting citizens to become engaged and act in recognition of their political agency.
If we were to become silent on the case against Assange, if we were to stop watching, injustice would go unnoticed.
WikiLeaks and the movement starting because of it is more than Julian Assange, but he is being used by the powerful West to signify activism and to deter us all from feeling empowered to stand up and engage. If we turn our gaze away, we become removed from the future that WikiLeaks is inspiring us to fight for.
The facts of the case clearly show (see here for example) that the case currently against him cannot be divorced from the political agitation against his work. This is not about defending the rights of two women. If had been Julian Assange would have been questioned when he was available in Sweden for the 5 weeks immediately after the instances are alleged to have happened.
Friends and citizens- keep watching, keep taking note. This is what our freedom looks like.