WikiLeaks' Assange seeks asylum in Ecuador, an anti-press regime
Assange defends the publishing of classified diplomatic cables as a right to freedom of expression, but turned to a country that has been accused of limiting press freedom in recent years.
Mexico City
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy – and in doing so, chosen an unlikely ally.
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Sara Miller Llana moved to Paris in April 2013 to become the Monitor's Europe Bureau Chief. Previously she was the paper's Latin America Bureau Chief, based in Mexico City, from 2006 to 2013.
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The man who defends the publishing of classified diplomatic cables as the ultimate right of freedom of expression is turning to a government that has been accused of major declines in press freedom in recent years, according to experts.
“There has been a serious, serious deterioration of freedom of the press in the last five years in Ecuador,” says Carlos Lauria, the Americas director for the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York.
The Ecuadorean foreign minister, according to the Associate Press, reported that Mr. Assange sought refuge in the Andean country's embassy in London, and is seeking political asylum.
Ecuador is now reportedly weighing the request.
Assange has been wanted for questioning in Sweden after two women accused him of sexual misconduct there during a 2010 visit. Last week the British Supreme Court said it would not reopen his extradition case, paving the way for him to be sent to Sweden.
Assange shot to international attention in 2010 with the publishing of US diplomatic cables, the largest leak of classified US documents in history.
Why Ecuador? Mr. Lauria says it could possibly be linked to the television interview Assange did with President Correa on his television show The World Tomorrow in May.
On the show, according to this transcript, the two talk about WikiLeaks and Correa defends their publication, saying:
"First you don't owe anything, have nothing to fear. We have nothing to hide. Your WikiLeaks have made us stronger as the main accusations made by the American Embassy were due to our excessive nationalism and defense of the sovereignty of the Ecuadorian Government.
"On the other hand, WikiLeaks wrote a lot about the goals that the national media pursue, about the power groups who seek help and report to foreign embassies. We have absolutely nothing to fear. Let them publish everything they have about the Ecuadorian Government. But you will see how many things about those who oppose the civil revolution in Ecuador will come to light. Things to do with opportunism, betrayal, and being self-serving."
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