[japsander]

i know this has nothing to do with the theme of the forum but its something that grinds my gears and a worrying glimpse into the future of worldwide security



former british ambassador craig murray states without a doubt that this is illegal and violates the vienna convention which has never been done, no matter what the dispute was

I returned to the UK today to be astonished by private confirmation from within the FCO that the UK government has indeed decided – after immense pressure from the Obama administration – to enter the Ecuadorean Embassy and seize Julian Assange. This will be, beyond any argument, a blatant breach of the Vienna Convention of 1961, to which the UK is one of the original parties and which encodes the centuries – arguably millennia – of practice which have enabled diplomatic relations to function. The Vienna Convention is the most subscribed single international treaty in the world. The provisions of the Vienna Convention on the status of diplomatic premises are expressed in deliberately absolute terms. There is no modification or qualification elsewhere in the treaty. Article 22 1.The premises of the mission shall be inviolable. The agents of the receiving State may not enter them, except with the consent of the head of the mission. 2.The receiving State is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity. 3.The premises of the mission, their furnishings and other property thereon and the means of transport of the mission shall be immune from search, requisition, attachment or execution. Not even the Chinese government tried to enter the US Embassy to arrest the Chinese dissident Chen Guangchen. Even during the decades of the Cold War, defectors or dissidents were never seized from each other’s embassies. Murder in Samarkand relates in detail my attempts in the British Embassy to help Uzbek dissidents. This terrible breach of international law will result in British Embassies being subject to raids and harassment worldwide. The government’s calculation is that, unlike Ecuador, Britain is a strong enough power to deter such intrusions. This is yet another symptom of the “might is right” principle in international relations, in the era of the neo-conservative abandonment of the idea of the rule of international law. The British Government bases its argument on domestic British legislation. But the domestic legislation of a country cannot counter its obligations in international law, unless it chooses to withdraw from them. If the government does not wish to follow the obligations imposed on it by the Vienna Convention, it has the right to resile from it – which would leave British diplomats with no protection worldwide. I hope to have more information soon on the threats used by the US administration. William Hague had been supporting the move against the concerted advice of his own officials; Ken Clarke has been opposing the move against the advice of his. I gather the decision to act has been taken in Number 10. There appears to have been no input of any kind from the Liberal Democrats. That opens a wider question – there appears to be no “liberal” impact now in any question of coalition policy. It is amazing how government salaries and privileges and ministerial limousines are worth far more than any belief to these people. I cannot now conceive how I was a member of that party for over thirty years, deluded into a genuine belief that they had principles.

now all of this is because the US want assange because he "knows too much" and are forcing the UK to fight their battle for them.

how is it that there is more focus on acquiring a journalist than on capturing terrorists?

so not only are the obama admin getting UK to do their dirty work but they are practically forcing UK to give up all security worldwide while america stays safe within the convention.

i think this is disgusting and a real threat to the future of conventions such as this for all nations. human rights no longer exist

edit: update

THE UK EMBASSY of Ecuador in London has promised that it will stand by Julian Assange despite the possibility of a raid by the police. In a statement the embassy said that it had been threatened by the British government and was worried that the police would storm it. The statement follows reports earlier this week that the country was almost ready to grant the Wikileaks' spokesman asylum. "We are deeply shocked by British government's threats against the sovereignty of the Ecuadorian Embassy and their suggestion that they may forcibly enter the embassy. This is a clear breach of international law and the protocols set out in the Vienna Convention," said a spokesperson for the embassy. "Throughout out the last 56 days Mr. Julian Assange has been in the Embassy, the Ecuadorian Government has acted honourably in all our attempts to seek a resolution to the situation." This approach, the peaceful seeking of a compromise, contrasts with the UK's threat, it added. "This stands in stark contrast to the escalation of the British Government today with their threats to breakdown the door of the Ecuadorian Embassy. Instead of threatening violence against the Ecuadorian Embassy the British Government should use its energy to find a peaceful resolution to this situation which we are aiming to achieve." Wikileaks pointed out that the embassy is already surrounded by the police and has been since yesterday. It said that the UK has resorted to intimidation and is trying to bully Ecuador into releasing Assange. µ

at least ecuador still believes in rights, its a shame my own nation doesnt

[bauldrick]

Hear, hear.

[DEFAULTDNB]

Whoa thats deep bro

[japsander]

he has now been granted asylum but he will not be allowed safe passage and the threat of invasion still stands

[GregoryRasputin]

Originally Posted by japsander he has now been granted asylum but he will not be allowed safe passage and the threat of invasion still stands

UK cries about human rights when it suits them, but when they want to do something wrong, those rights are thrown out the window.

Really how does that make the UK government any different than the many dictators.

[JonahUK]

Even though I'm English, I actually agree with what Greg said.

Our government is responsible for some the biggest dodgy dealings ever, they just don't advertise the fact and the media has a blanket on it.

They not only treat foreign nationals with contempt and mistrust and deny their basic civil rights but their own citizens too.

It doesn't matter who you vote for, the outcome is still the same. The UK is the US' b1tch and always will be.

Pass the lube.

[japsander]

Originally Posted by GregoryRasputin UK cries about human rights when it suits them, but when they want to do something wrong, those rights are thrown out the window. Really how does that make the UK government any different than the many dictators.

"professional" dictators dont do others bidding

we are just pawns in the US' agenda

im disgusted by both but none more than here in UK for entertaining this idea

[Ubefuct]

Kinda makes you think what will happen to us 'little guys' once those with power reach a certain level of technology.

[japsander]

Originally Posted by Ubefuct Kinda makes you think what will happen to us 'little guys' once those with power reach a certain level of technology.

well as a wise man once said, world war 4 will be fought with sticks and stones because there will be nothing else left.

absolute power corrupts absolutely

[japsander]

Foreign Office (FCO) ‏@foreignoffice We remain committed to a negotiated solution that allows us to carry out our obligations under the Extradition Act. #Assange 36m Foreign Office (FCO) ‏@foreignoffice We shall carry out that obligation. The Ecuadorian Government's decision this afternoon does not change that. #Assange 37m Foreign Office (FCO) ‏@foreignoffice Under our law, with Mr Assange having exhausted all options of appeal UK authorities are under binding obligation to extradite him to Sweden 39m Foreign Office (FCO) ‏@foreignoffice We are disappointed by the statement from Ecuador’s Foreign Minister that #Ecuador has offered political asylum to Julian #Assange.

**** you foreign office, **** you very much

so now local law overrides intl law?
why bother having an embassy at all then.
ecuador now has an embassy that offers them no protection