Ecuador grants asylum to Assange

By Michael J.W. Stickings

You may have heard the news already, but let's recap:

Ecuador has granted asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange two months after he took refuge in its London embassy while fighting extradition from the UK.

It said his human rights might be violated if he is sent to Sweden to be questioned over sex assault claims.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the UK would not allow Mr Assange safe passage out of the country and the move was also criticised by Stockholm.

Ecuador said it would seek to negotiate arrangements for Mr Assange to leave.

"We don't think it is reasonable that, after a sovereign government has made the decision of granting political asylum, a citizen is forced to live in an embassy for a long period," Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said.

Let me just say that I'm completely behind Ecuador on this. There's no way Assange would ever get a fair trail in any country that he has exposed, and embarrassed, with his truth-telling, including the U.S., and it's good to see that at least one country deemed it important enough to protect him.

It should come as no surprise to you that for the most part I support Assange and Wikileaks and their efforts to enlighten us about the illiberal, undemocratic actions of our Machiavellian, Kafkaesque, and in many ways Orwellian states and corporations.

Assange does far more good than harm, and it should similarly come as no surprise that those states and their corporate cronies are trying to shut him up for good. If the future is anything other than the sort of totalitarian dystopia these states and corporations embody, history will ultimately vindicate him as one of the greatest freedom fighters of our time.

Let's hope Ecuador finds a way to get him out safely -- and to safety.