Letter: Julian Assange is no problem
An Australian called Assange is causing our government problems. No one understands why.
The situation is clear. Assange went to the Embassy of Ecuador and asked for political asylum.
The Ecuadoran authorities granted his request and he is safely in the embassy, in a degree of reasonable comfort. All threats of entering the embassy to arrest him under a valid European Arrest, have been withdrawn.
If he leaves the embassy, he will be arrested, this country has no option. Assange is costing this country nothing. His expenses are being met by Ecuador.
Unless he escapes, hardly likely with the police ring around the embassy, he will be a guest of the Ecuadoran authority for an indeterminate period.
Do we need to be bothering about this man, who we did not invite to this country and who has violated our hospitality?
Our country has problems. Let us solve them and ignore the position of Assange. We all know where he is.
John P Mellor
Wolverhampton
Comments for: "Letter: Julian Assange is no problem"
The Original Jake
How much is the 'police ring' costing? Presumably Ecuador isn't picking up that bill.
John
"Assange is costing this country nothing."
Really? I wonder how much this 24/7
Police barricade is costing us?
I suppose a fair point could be made that we are charging OURSELVES for the Police by not just looking the other way as he slips out the back door..
Dave Livingstone
Costing us nothing! At the last count it had cost the UK taxpayer over one million pounds, the ring of policemen costs us a lot of money not to mention the protest control costs!
KarenK
"Assange is costing this country nothing."... hardly, "with the police ring around the embassy" - how much do you think that is costing?
James
I don't think the writer clarified to himself what he wanted to say before he put fingers to keyboard. The letter makes no sense. It presents Assanage as a 'guest of the Ecuadoran authority' yet also as someone who has 'violated our (the UK's I presume) hospitality'. It also says we have 'no option but to arrest him' yet 'should ignore (his position)'.
I get the feeling you really need to understand Swedish law, the extradition treaties between the USA and UK and the USA and Sweden plus much else besides to be able to properly debate Assange's situation. But whatever your view, it's an awkward diplomatic stand-off which can't simply be ignored.
Jesus H Corbet
How much does the police ring (snigger) cost?
Err probably nothing? I assume the police are getting paid regardless of whether they are in the ring or not. A drain on resources yes, but additional cost no.
Jesus H Corbet
unless of course they were on overtime