UK Assange threats 'hostile and unfriendly'

16 Aug 2012, 5:30 pm   -   Source: Rhiannon Elston, SBS
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Britain has threatened to revoke the embassy's diplomatic immunity and take the WikiLeaks founder into custody for breaching his bail conditions. (AAP)

Britain has threatened to revoke the embassy's diplomatic immunity and take the WikiLeaks founder into custody for breaching his bail conditions. (AAP)

Ecuador's Ambassador to Australia, Raul Gangotena, tells SBS News his government is just doing its diplomatic duty in offering Julian Assange political asylum.

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Ecuador's Ambassador to Australia, Raul Gangotena, tells SBS News his government is just doing its diplomatic duty in offering Julian Assange political asylum in the UK. 

Britain has threatened to revoke the embassy's diplomatic immunity and take the WikiLeaks founder into custody for breaching his bail conditions. Mr Gangotena says there is no precedent for such action, and that Ecaudor would consider it a hostile act.

RAUL GANGOTENA: What they're saying is that if facilities of embassies or consulates are not used for the [correct] purposes, they will storm it. Any country comes and says you are not using your territory properly, so here I am and I invade your territory because I want to take that citizen, for any reason. That’s what they are threatening to do.

SBS NEWS: What will happen if the UK does storm the embassy? 
RAUL GANGOTENA: That will be something that the international community will have to deal with. With this unfriendly, hostile action we have already asked the United Nations to be aware of what’s happening. Because we are a law abiding country, subject to international conventions that we respect, so we have to asked those organsations of the international organised and civilised community to take care of some people from the foreign office.   

SBS NEWS: Pro-Assange activists have called Britain’s threats an ‘act of war’, do you think your country and government sees it that way?
RAUL GANGOTENA: Well, our minister has said that it is hostile and unfriendly, and that we are going to display all the diplomatic actions necessary to counteract this threat.

SBS NEWS: What diplomatic options are open to you?
RAUL GANGOTENA: We have always been open to any rational and friendly solution to any problem, but this threat of just storming our embassy is something that the diplomatic community and international organisations have to deal with.
 
SBS NEWS: Why has Ecuador taken a particular interest in Julian Assange’s case, why offer him support?
RAUL GANGOTENA: Because he has come and asked for our protection in our embassy, and once in our embassy… it’s not discretionary. If someone comes to your mission and asks for protection because he says that he’s in danger, you have to give them the protection. And then, he has applied for political asylum and our government is considering the application that he has made for political asylum. It’s not a special interest in this citizen. It would be the same with any other person of any other nationality or [place] of origin, because it’s a humanitarian duty that we have to comply with.
 

Julian Assange.

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Your Comments

i am a dangerous man

madman - from sydney, 10 months ago

wikileaks and julian assange if you cannot keep your secrets, it is your mistake. why are you chasing an innocent man?

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