Ecuadorans Rally Behind Assange, Correa over Asylum

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/08/21-0


A group of Ecuadoran natives take part in demonstrations in support of Assange in Quito on August 20, 2012 (AFP Photo / Rodrigo Buendia)

Hundreds of Ecuadorans took to the streets Wednesday in support of President Rafael Correa's decision to grant WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange political asylum in the country.

Social activists and other supporters from around Ecuador gathered in the city of Quito, rallying in the capital’s Plaza Grande and around the city holding placards that read “Without true freedom of expression there is no sovereignty,” and “Viva freedom of expression. Support Julian Assange.”

"We're here to support the timely and correct decision to grant asylum to Julian Assange and also to reject the hostile reaction of Great Britain in cahoots with United States," said Betty Wanda, a 28-year-old lawyer.

“I think this government has stressed with its courageous decision to give diplomatic asylum to Julian Assange that for us it is a symbol of the freedom of expression on the international level, which has broken the cliché that one cannot touch the powerful. In this sense I believe that there is a need to show support and condemn the threats by the United Kingdom to try to raid our diplomatic mission there, in London,” said lawmaker Pedro de La Cruz, according to El Telegrafo daily.