Julian Assange, Frontline Club, 2011 (Photo: Sven Klinge)
Just a stone’s throw from the shiny super cars and decadent food halls of Harrods department store, an interesting political stand-off is in progress. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is seeking political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy, and is staying there as a guest while his application is considered. His fear is that, once he is taken to Sweden for questioning (in relation to sexual assault allegations), he will be held incommunicado for an unspecified length of time, and will be more vulnerable to arrest or rendition by US authorities. Outside the Ecuadorian embassy, police are ready to arrest Assange in the event of his exit, supporters have plastered posters and flags across the fence, and several media organisations have set up camp, with cameras ready to capture any new developments. A decision on Julian Assange’s asylum request is expected any day now.
London Bytes is a supporter of Wikileaks, and would like to see more direct intervention from the Australian government, to help resolve Assange’s situation once and for all.
Listen to a recent ABC radio interview with Julian Assange from inside the embassy, by clicking here.
Posted on July 2, 2012
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