Sweden Takes Five (5) Years to Agree to Question Assange

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2401729&CategoryId=14089 Sweden Takes Five (5) Years to Agree to Question Assange Latin American Herald Tribune http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2401729&CategoryId=14089 Ecuador, Sweden Sign Deal to Enable Questioning of Assange Caracas,Saturday January 9,2016 QUITO – Ecuador and Sweden have signed an agreement that will enable Swedish prosecutors to question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at Ecuador’s embassy in London, the Andean nation said Friday. Negotiations began in June and the agreement was reached on Thursday, Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that it will enter into force “in the coming days.” Sweden wants to question Assange on a rape allegation dating back to 2010. Assange, an Australian citizen, sought refuge at the Ecuadorian mission in June 2012 after losing a long battle in the British courts to avoid extradition to Sweden. Assange, who denies the accusations, has said that once he is in Swedish custody, U.S. prosecutors will indict him for espionage and Washington will pressure Stockholm into handing him over. Politicians and pundits in the United States called for Assange to be prosecuted – or even assassinated – after WikiLeaks disseminated thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables as well as a video that showed an American military helicopter crew killing a Reuters photographer and several other civilians in Iraq. The agreement on legal assistance in criminal matters is “undoubtedly an instrument that strengthens bilateral relations and will facilitate, for example, compliance with court proceedings, such as the questioning of Mr. Assange,” the ministry said. The statute of limitations on unlawful coercion and sexual molestation allegations against Assange expired in August. But a fourth accusation of rape, which like the others stemmed from Assange’s encounters with two women in Sweden in 2010, will not expire until 2020. http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2401729&CategoryId=14089 NOTE    [CLICK image for clarity / enlargement] ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.  [CLICK image for clarity / enlargement] ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. SOURCE | here James D. Caitlin LINK | here ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT The misinformed detractor who recently trolled me, declaring that Assange isn't an Australian citizen might want to take note of the Latin American Herald Tribune confirmation that he is. It's worthwhile examining the statements made by Assange's legal defence back in 2010 (above), seeing the article recites the laundry list of allegations made by the Swedish authorities against Assange -- the same Swedish authorities who failed to follow police protocols & tampered with the police database. Key additional information puts those allegations into perspective. Sweden was advised by the British Crown Prosecution Service, NOT to question Assange in Britain.  [CLICK image for clarity / enlargement] ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. For its part, Sweden has followed that strategic course over the last FIVE (5) YEARS that Assange has, as a result, been detained without charge. Sweden has done its utmost NOT to interview Assange in Britain, thereby denying Assange the opportunity to defend against allegations that Sweden is seeking to rely upon to extradite Assange to Sweden, on behalf of the US. A US Grand Jury (ie court empowered to decide whether to try American federal and capital crime (death penalty, espionage & other) cases), has: already issued a sealed indictment (formal legal accusation) against Assange, as at January 2011 (here). Crown Prosecution Service Our values We will be independent and fair We will prosecute independently, without bias and will seek to deliver justice in every case. LINK | here [ comment:  political persecution of Julian Assange being the EXCEPTION to this grand British justice statement of values and intent ] ꕤ