Thread by @flemingjude

It is no surprise that after subjecting Julian Assange to 9 mo.s of isolation, on the Eve of his 8th yr of Arbitrary Detention (@UN decision), Ecuador's president Moreno makes a new bid to expel him from asylum into the clutches of the US. (Thread)

Just as Eric Holder offered assurances to Russia regarding Snowden that he would not face the death penalty or torture, Ecuador's president is conflating the UK's assurances that it won't extradite Assange if he risks death penalty.

It amounts to an effort to eliminate the grounds upon which Assange's asylum was granted and should continue; Assange has feared extradition to the US b/c the US tortures, drugs inmates/suspects, lacks due process and he would lose his life to the meat grinder of US injustice.

The threshold for Assange's reasonable trust in any extradition proceedings should be based on past precedent treatment of whistleblowers, sources and journalists at the mercy of US injustice; cf. Chelsea Manning. Matt Dehart, Reality Winner, Jeremy Hammond

The threshold for Assange to be assured is that the UK abide by its own laws first and foremost: ie. The original EAW that started his arbitrary detention 8 yrs ago * (Dec 7 2010) was revoked in May 2017
UK law does not allow extradition of someone who has not been charged.

Back in 2014 when UK law was revised to reflect proportionality within the EAW framework, Assange HAD NOT BEEN CHARGED and should have been allowed to go free. But the UK enacted an "Assange exclusion clause" which made him an exception to the rule / new threshold for extradition

But now, as of Dec 6 2018, * 8 * years later, he is likely charged by US for espionage, theft and conspiracy so he WOULD be eligible for extradition to the US.

Britain has "held my beer" (Assange as a hostage) on behalf of the US for *8 long years of arbitrary detention*.

Hold my beer.

Now Ecuador is siding with the US and UK and has been since July 2018.

In the duration of *8 yrs arbitrary detention* what has changed?

UK law was revised in his favour
@UN decision in his favour
@UN appeal decision in his favour
IACHR decision to demand safe passage in his favour

Now, US charges about to be unsealed, not in his favour.

Any time things have shifted in Assange's favour, he *is the exception to the rule*.

Any time things have shifted against Assange, the media pile on to smear and libel him.

The timing of Ecuador's statement today is orchestrated to deflect from the 8th anniversary of Assange's arbitrary detention. He was put into solitary confinement after surrendering to UK police on Dec 7 2010, WITHOUT CHARGE.

The timing and tone of Ecuador's statement today is reminiscent of Eric Holder's empty assurances to Edward Snowden that his human rights will be respected:

https://twitter.com/flemingjude/status/1070756074310041601

The tone and timing of Ecuador's statement today is designed to:
a. undermine public support of Assange on the eve of the 8th anniversary of arbitrary detention,
and
b. undermine the basis for his asylum

https://twitter.com/flemingjude/status/1070756074310041601

Today's empty assurances from Lenin Moreno (and the UK) should be a loud invitation to Assange supporters to

GO TO THE EMBASSY IN LONDON, UK (3 Hans Cres.) tomorrow to demand freedom for Julian Assange as he marks EIGHT (8) YEARS of Arbitrary Detention.

As I've said before, Assange and Snowden are in the same boat: both do not trust US "justice" or any ally that may hand them over to the US.

Read Eric Holder's empty promises to Russian minister re: Snowden back in July 2013 en.wikisource.org/wiki/Holder_Le…