Yeah, does anyone routinely extradite people just for questioning? Something about that doesn't seem quite kosher.
Julian Assange arrested
- Thread starter Candlelight
- Start date
Cultcross can answer this better than me, but I don't believe you can.
It's apparently now supposed to be possible within the EU to be whisked away to another member state on the flimsiest of pretexts.
I haven't spend a great deal of time on the particulars of this case, but if as I understand it from the garbled press reports, he is in custody under a European Arrest Warrant, which means he can be arrested elsewhere in the EU and returned to the issuing country for charge and trial. It isn't strictly the same thing as an 'extradition' in the sense that we might extradite someone from the US, say. If Assange had left the EU the power of arrest would be void.
The requirement to issue an EAW is that you are ready to charge, no interview or anything like that is permitted when the detained person is returned to you. But you don't have to be charged to have one issued. European courts as a general rule don't go in for charging people who aren't in custody or otherwise physically available to the court.
That's mighty convenient. "Oh the process requires interrogation, that's right..."If true, they're playing by different rules to us. When we bring someone in on an EAW, we're not allowed to interview them, we must be charge ready before the warrant is issued, and interview precedes charging decision here.
They're talking in circles anyway. If his presence is required for prosecution, why is an interview (love the word 'interrogation' there) necessary? And if it is, how is the prosecution ready to proceed?
As near as I can make out, the UK judiciary always does what the government wants in politically sensitive cases, which means that Assange will be deported. If the plane doesn't land on a US AFB first, I expect the Swedes will turn Assange over to the US. Which may make the concession of agreeing not to prosecute on a capital charge. But Assange is most likely doomed to indefinite solitary confinement, under harsh conditions, like Bradley Manning's. It doesn't get much attention but this is also deliberate cruelty.
I would completely disagree with that, actually. What makes you say that? There is not a 'UK Judiciary' but I'm assuming you mean England & Wales. In my experience the government has been regularly frustrated by judicial rulings on domestically sensitive matters. Particularly in relation to terrorism, lately.
In this matter, the only thing the English court may rule on is a) whether the warrant is valid and b) whether any of the special considerations apply to refuse handover (they won't). Ultimately, if the warrant is valid, he will be handed over, which is why his counsel is arguing that it is not.
Switch
Captain
In a mild snag for the Americans, they still can't come up with shit against Assange.
It is wrong to imprison people who have not broken the law.
An impression fostered by really knowing of a few recent cases where political interests were at stake, most notably the Stephen Lawrence case; the Mezgrahi case; the Iraq war. Yes, I know a law lord or whatever privately pointed out the English participation was illegal. The key thing is that it didn't make a difference, that it was all hushed up.
That is very "few" so I will bow to your greater knowledge.
To me, I think we, as a people have a right to know what's going on. What we don't know can hurt us.
Pfffft....I seem to remember of the people, by the people, for the people. To me, secrecy just keeps everyone in the dark and stupid. Be it what politicians are doing, corporate wrong doings, extra terrestrial life, Kennedy's death.....I don't think we are better off in ignorant bliss. National Security is two of the most abused words ever....just slap those two words on there for any justification. Truman said he regrets starting the whole national securtiy nonsence more than the bombing of japan, and Isenhower warned us of the growing industrial military complex. When we got corruption and abuse of power....you still want those guys keeping secrets? Security....the excuse/justifcation of the oppressor.
And given the fact our taxes pay them all, in addition to commen sence, we have a right to know..we are THIER bosses, not the other way around. I wonder how many gasps of shock that last line just caused.
I support Wikileaks, and I feel that whole sexual scandal was merely created to make him look like a bad guy.
We need whistle blowers, because, as much as some people don't want to admit to, but America's not immune to the idea of government trying to control its people. It's been around for ages, and anyone who thinks it's untrue, mainly because 'it's America!" shows how historically ignorant people, especially Americans can be.
And I am an American, so I'm not in any mood for any speeches about so-called patriotism and other nonsense.
If there's stuff being hushed up, I want to know what it is, and why.
I think the rape charges are a bunch of crap, a government trying to make a whistler blower or anyone else that makes them look bad by making them look bad and making up stuff is not a new concept.
It's like a Mafia guy wacking someone he's got a problem with.
It's like a Mafia guy wacking someone he's got a problem with.
^ Well, there's no accounting for taste...
Assange is out to DESTROY democracy, not to save it. Bit hard to be a benefit for something you hate.
American "democracy" is more about a lot of bureaucracy and politicos out for their own damn good.
I'm not sure destroying that is a bad thing.
I agree. I don't recall having a government hiding and with holding things, and trying to shot those up who wants to learn/tell the truth, a democracy.
Tell that to the Bush Administration.
Lots of people have been killed, or threatened with death if they say what they saw/heard/know.....ranging from corporate scandal, military abuse, political corruption, UFO's/ET life, medicine, etc. Many by our own politicians/military/and other authorities.
You ok with that?
Public might be happy, I sure as hell want to know what our government and military is up to....and I don't give a damn about the 'national security' card...that ranks up there with the race and gender cards to me.
We need to have the government by the balls, not vice versa.
Pfffft, as I said, they will o to any lengths to make someone look bad if that person is considered a threat to themselves or their so-called 'national security', or as I like to call it, "Status quo"
Having power over people is like a game, or a hobby or passion. I think Ted Turner himself said about having a lot of power, "It's better than sex!" To those in power, the regular people mean nothing to them, seeing them suffer and toil is what they enjoy doing.
I support whistle blowers and watch dogs, and I have the same faith and trust in the military and in the government.......and I quit voting 7 years ago.
