Ecuador rebukes Assange for mocking Australian politicians in video

[struggle4progress]

Source: Agence France-Presse via Globe & Mail

PARAMARIBO, SURINAME —
Published Friday, Aug. 30 2013, 8:20 PM EDT
Last updated Friday, Aug. 30 2013, 8:21 PM EDT

Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa on Friday chastised WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for making fun of Australian politicians in a video shot at his place of refuge in Ecuador’s London embassy.

“We have sent him a letter: He can campaign politically, but without making fun of Australian politicians. We are not going to allow that,” Mr. Correa said here on the sidelines of a South American summit.

Mr. Correa was referring to a video featuring Mr. Assange in a comedy wig singing and sending up Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, his predecessor Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott in the runup to Australia’s Sept. 7 elections. The video has been watched 465,942 times since it was downloaded on Monday.

Despite being holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy, Mr. Assange is running for a senate seat in his native Australia ...

“... as a matter of courtesy we are not going to bar Julian Assange from exercising his right to be a candidate. Just so long as he doesn’t make fun of Australian politicians or people” ...




Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/ecuador-rebukes-assange-for-mocking-australian-politicians-in-video/article14058947/

[joshcryer]

1. Flexing the recently passed Communications Law?

Not sure where Correa thinks he has a right to tell Assange how to handle his own politics.

[struggle4progress]

5. Assange is a guest in Quito's embassy -- and perhaps a somewhat troublesome guest

if one is to judge from this summer's earlier brouhaha about the alleged "safe-passage" document for Snowden that apparently came from someone in the embassy, unsigned, embarrassing Correa and forcing his repudiation of it

Diplomacy involves nuance: if Quito was willing to jab a sharp stick in London's eye by offering Assange a refuge from the action of UK courts clearing the way for extradition and Swedish prosecution, it does not follow that, with Australian federal elections only a week off, Quito is also indifferent to possible perceptions in Canberra that Assange's expressed contempt for Australia's politicians might mirror some parallel contempt for those politicians by Ecuador

[joshcryer]

9. Just thought it was ironic.

"Pro-speech" guy being told to shut up by anti-speech guy who just so happens to be giving him safe haven.

[carla]

11. Correa

is changing into an authoritarian. He is against indigenous people's rights, he is for oil and gas exploration. Making fun of politicians is a part of the game. He is becoming a tyrant and needs to be put away...soon.

[joshcryer]

12. Yeah, his walking over indigenous rights has been on my radar.

What's pathetic is that now Assange has aligned himself with an anti-speech authoritarian who at any moment can revoke his asylum and send him to UK's jails.

[George II]

17. Isn't Assange living off Equador's hospitality?

[joshcryer]

2. Here's the video, WTF Correa?

I think it's hilarious. Wonder how they got a green screen in there.

[struggle4progress]

6. What you see there may depend on your sensitivities. Given that Assange is hiding

from a rape prosecution, and that his party has just preferenced a "men's rights" party and a pornography industry front group above more natural and more mainstream allies in the coming Australian elections, the fact-- that the video refers to Labor leader Julia Gillard as "freckle-tits" and calls Australia's voters "cunts" -- might be read as further evidence of Assange's misogyny

But YMMV I suppose

[karynnj]

7. Ugg! What a creep

Yet in recent days, I have not been certain who would win a DU poll question on "Who do you trust (or respect) more President Obama or Julian Assange? That is beyond troubling to me.

[joshcryer]

8. Fair enough.

I took that language as something geared to AU audiences but you have a fair point. I know Aussies can be vulgar as all get out.

[Turborama]

3. *uploaded on Monday

Sheesh, the interent's been around long enough for reporters to know by now the difference between uploading and downloading.

[Lasher]

10. Id be grateful if theyd just remember where the apostrophe's go.

[geek tragedy]

4. Talk about one-night stands you wind up regretting. nt

[7962]

13. Push him out the door and let nature take its course.

Maybe Snowden needs a roommate?

[bemildred]

14. Like Putin then, you can stay if you don't make trouble.

Apparently it is not only the NSA that can be hoist on it's own petard.

[marble falls]

15. Actually they were embarressed by the really cheesy quality of the video.

[treestar]

16. Free speech and all that

Oh yeah we don't have freedom here, but they do in Ecuador

I'm amazed that the nation of Ecuador is that sensitive to the feelings of Aussie politicians. Who probably don't care. Whom they were already sticking in the eye by giving Julian an embassy cot.