Ecuador to Rule on Asylum Request of Alleged Rapist and WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange

Ecuador to Rule on Asylum Request of Alleged Rapist and WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange

By Margaret Janelle R. Hutchinson
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador – Ecuador has announced that it will make a decision on the asylum request of infamous WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, 41, by the end of the week.  Assange has been ensconced at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 19, avoiding extradition to Sweden where he will face charges of sexual molestation and rape.

Ecuador’s President wary of United States “secret courts” sentencing Assange to death, will personally decide whether to grant the WikiLeaks founder asylum. (Photo courtesy of The Sydney Morning Herald)

Mr Assange has said he fears if he is extradited he may later be sent to the US to face espionage charges, which could carry the death penalty. However, this argument was dismissed by prosecutors at his extradition hearing who said Sweden provided “protection against that sort of threat and violation”. No formal charges have been filed by Washington.

WikiLeaks, which facilitates the anonymous leaking of secret information, has published about 250,000 confidential U.S. diplomatic cables, causing embarrassment to the government and others. It also has published hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents relating to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa shares Assange’s fears, stating in a television interview Monday evening that,

“The process in Sweden needs to be reviewed, you have to consider the possibility of extradition to the United States, if there’s a secret tribunal there, if there’s any risk of a death penalty. It requires a large amount of information, an analysis of international law to make an informed, absolutely responsible and sovereign decision.”

A decision could be made as early as Wednesday.  Correa stated on Monday that the delay in the decision making has been due to the complexity of the case, but earlier reports indicated that Correa was waiting until after the conclusion of the Olympic games in London.

It is not clear how Assange would travel to Ecuador if he is granted asylum. By diplomatic convention, British police cannot enter the embassy without Ecuador’s approval. But he has no way of boarding a plane to Ecuador without passing through London and exposing himself to arrest.

Assange was arrested in Britain in 2010 because Swedish authorities wanted to question him about the sexual molestation and rape allegations, which he denies. His bail conditions included staying every night at the home of a supporter outside London.

British police say he violated his bail by staying at the embassy. After he entered it, they served him with notice to turn himself in — an order he ignored, marking a further violation.

Assange has not indicated why he chose to seek out Ecuador.  He interview Correa back in May, and the two seemed to share a similar outlook.  The interview showed a shared distaste for U.S. foreign policy and big media outlets.

“Cheer up. Welcome to the club of the persecuted,” Correa told Assange at the end of the 25-minute interview.

Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino confirmed that President Correa would personally determine the outcome of Assange’s application.

”The president will decide … We will have a meeting with the president to give information of what we have done. We have done a lot, we talked with Britain, we talked to Sweden,” Mr Patino told a news conference on Monday.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said yesterday that the Australian government had no interest in Mr Correa’s consideration of Assange’s asylum application.

”That’s a matter between him and Julian Assange,” Senator Carr said.

”I’d just say again – if America were interested in Julian Assange they could have sought his extradition from the UK at any time in the last two years.”

For more information, please see:

 BBC News – Ecuador to make Assange asylum bid decision ‘this week’ – 14 August 2012

The Christian Science Monitor – Ecuador to decide about Assange asylum this week – 14 August 2012

CNN – Decision on WikiLeaks founder’s asylum request coming, Ecuador says – 14 August 2012

The Sydney Morning Herald – Assange awaits Ecuador verdict – 15 August 2012

New Delhi Authorities Detain Protesting Yoga Instructor

By Karen Diep
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India – Today, New Delhi authorities arrested Baba Ramdev, a popular yoga instructor and Hindu talk show host, for his participation in an anti-corruption protest near Parliament.

Authorities arresting Baba Ramdev. (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian)

“Remove the Congress party and save the nation,” urged Mr. Ramdev amongst thousands.

Mr. Ramdev and his supporters marched in protest of the government’s failure to control corruption and retrieve black money stashed away in foreign countries.

According to the Times of India, a Congress representative declared the protest a stunt.

“Lok Sabha polls will be in 2014 and 99 per cent could be in 2013.  This protest is to ensure that no dishonest person enters Parliament.  Such people should be boycotted.  We do not have a political agenda,” shared Mr. Ramdev.

After his detainment, authorities moved Mr. Ramdev to a bus expected to transport the yoga instructor to a Bawana police station located outside of New Delhi.  However, a large number of Mr. Ramdev’s supporters climbed on the bus, delaying its movement.  In the end, authorities ordered ninety buses to round up the protestors.

“We’ve deployed adequate security for Ramdev’s march.  Everything should be in control,” said a New Delhi police spokesman to Reuters.  However, he refused to comment on whether Mr. Ramdev received permission for the protest.

“Delhi Police is a puppet in the hands of the Central government.  We will not do anything that disrupts peace.  We wanted to march towards Parliament in a peaceful manner to make our voices heard,” said Mr. Ramdev.

For further information, please see: 

The Guardian – Indian TV star Baba Ramdev arrested at anti-corruption walk – 13 August 2012

New Delhi – Ramdev detained by police, fails to reach Parliament – 13 August 2012

News of India – Baba Ramdev taken into preventive custody – 13 August 2012

Reuters – Baba Ramdev’s detention lifted, protest continues – 13 August 2012

Egypt President Replaces Top Military Officials

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt — In an unforeseen move last Sunday, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy discharged the country’s top military officials, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, and his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sami Anan.  Morsy said that his decision to relieve the two officials was “for the benefit of this nation.”

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy (C) recently replaced top military officials Hussein Tantawi (L) and Sami Anan (R), saying it was “for the benefit of this nation.” (Photo Courtesy of Daily News Egypt)

Morsy also appointed his Vice President, Judge Makhoud Mekki, the former Deputy Chairman of the Cassation Court.  He is the second vice president to be named in Egypt in 30 years.

In a statement read by official presidential spokesperson Yasser Aly on state television Sunday, Morsy also announced the cancellation of the supplementary constitutional powers declaration which gave the military legislative powers and budgetary control as well as the right to oversee the drafting of a new permanent constitution.  He also announced the removal of several other high ranking military officials and named their replacements.  According to Aly, the president will issue a new constitutional decree that “allows him to exercise full presidential powers.”

The army has not challenged Morsy’s decision to replace Tantawi.  State media quoted a military source saying there was no “negative reaction” from within armed forces.  In Cairo, thousands gathered overnight in Tahrir Square to express their support for Morsy’s move.  “The people support the president’s decision,” said the crowd.  Others mocked Tantawi’s departure, which was officially presented as a retirement.  “Field Marshal tell the truth, did Morsy fire you?” they said.

Morsy defended his decisions late Sunday night, denying that his motivation was to marginalize individuals or institutions by  abolishing provisions granting broad powers to the army and retiring Tantawi. He said all these decisions were for the interests of Egypt.

“The decisions I made today were not aimed at certain people and had not intended to marginalize institutions, and it was not my purpose to restrict freedoms,” said Morsy.  “I did not want to send negative messages about anyone, but my goal was to serve this nation and its people,” he said while hailing the work of the armed forces. “I want them to concentrate on their mission, protecting the nation,” he said.  Morsy stated that he acted “to ensure that we move towards a better future with a new generation and a long-awaited new blood.”

For further information, please see:

Al Bawaba — Morsi: Changes in Army Leadership Serve Egypt Interest — 13 August 2012

BBC News — Egypt President Mursi Explains Army Chief Replacement — 13 August 2012

Al Jazeera — Egypt’s Morsi ‘Empowered’ by Army Shake-up — 12 August 2012

Daily News Egypt — Morsy Assumes Power: Sacks Tantawi and Anan, Reverse Constitutional Decree and Reshuffles SCAF — 12 August 2012

Brazilian Women Rebel Against Mandatory C-Section Births

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASILIA, Brazil—Mariana Mignon knew that she wanted her child born through a natural birth since the day she discovered that she was pregnant. Only weeks before her due date, Mignon completely abandoned her obstetrician, health plan, and her own private hospital room to have a chance at a real vaginal birth in a free public hospital in Rio.

Brazil Has One of the Highest C-Section Rates in the World, But That Trend is Beginning to Change. (Photo Courtesy of MSNBC)

In Brazil, natural childbirth has fallen out of favor, with about 82 percent of children born via cesarean section among women with private health insurance. “If I’d stayed with my health care plan and my doctor, I would have had a C-section,” said Mignon. Brazil, on its own, has one of the highest cesarean section rates in the world.

The trend toward the C-section method may be shifting throughout the country as more women push for more of a say in their childbirth options—whether it be C-section or naturally, home or in the hospital, or with a midwife or a medical doctor. Olimpio Moraes Filho, a head doctor with the Brazilian Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists noted that, “We need to have a serious discussion in this country to see what can be done to change this culture.” “Women are starting to rebel, and they should,” Filho also noted.

The catalyst to this rebellion began in July when a medical regulating agency in Rio made it forbidden for doctors to conduct home births and for labor coaches from helping out in hospitals. In defense of this new rule, the agency argued that “there are many complications possible during labor that require immediate medical attention.”

Responding to this, women began to organize marches in 13 cities around Brazil. In the city of Sao Paulo, women bared their breasts, marched with posters that said “Our Children, Our Decision,” and chanted “Brazil, don’t follow Rio’s example.” By the end of the month, the resolution was reversed by court order and over 200 people gathered in Rio to celebrate the news.

According to the World Health Organization, people should avoid unnecessary surgeries, especially during childbirth—as there are many risks for a mother including infections, complications form anesthesia, hemorrhage, dangerous clots and an even longer recovery.

To reverse the trend toward C-section, Brazil’s federal government has decided to create a program called “The Stork Network” with the goal of “humanizing” the birthing process and teaching mothers and heath practitioners about the benefits of natural childbirth.

 

For further information, please see:

Mercury News – Brazilian Women Rebel Against C-Section Births – 12 August 2012

MSNBC – Brazilian Women Rebel Against C-Section Births – 12 August 2012

The Sun – Brazilian Women Rebel Against Cesarean Births – 12 August 2012

Yahoo News – Brazilian Women Rebel Against Cesarean Births – 12 August 2012