Lexi,

As far as the legality is concerned, Sweden, France, Italy and many other countries have warrants issued from the prosecutor's office, so the English system is more of an anomaly. These warrants are seldom issued on a whim, and require some level of evidence. The word of one complainant would be very unlikely to be sufficient, however, two women with corroborating stories is far more persuasive.

The motive of the women and the prosecutor might get him to court, but as the judge and assessors are independent, and with the attention, it is getting I doubt they would risk their careers with shonky judgments.

The concern that JA has is that once he is in Sweden, the US will apply to extradite him to the US.

Dear SM,

I personally feel that the entire business reeks.
These two women are a bit suss - changing their
stories to suit themselves - and their actions
(especially giving and attending a party for
Assange a few days after the supposed "rape")
belies the charges they are claiming. It seems
that they do have other motives (including possibly -
financial ones).

Also I listened to the news on TV and it seems that
Julian Assange's Australian female legal adviser
has been stopped from travelling freely by plane
and has to apply for permission from Australia House
before she can do so.

As I stated earlier - it appears that
someone else is pulling the strings here.
We need to ask - Why?

Very very unlike you Lexi to claim that woman claiming rape might just be making it up. Hmmm.

Dear runner,

What do you mean it's very unlike me to
question something that doesn't appear to be
quite right. Searching for the facts is part of
my professional training. Are you just simply
stirring?

Dearest Lexi,

As usual, I agree with Runner in his last comment. Surely you must be aware of the ambivalence that victims of abuse may feel towards the alleged abuser ? The years that an abused young girl spends in the same household with her abuser, before she puts it all together and either leaves or registers a complaint against him ?

Before we get too paranoid about all this particular instance, let's look at the facts. Two women have laid complaints against Assange, on grounds which, if true, even you, I'm sure, would not put up with yourself. Whatever happened to "If it's not on, it's not on"? And since when does forcing oneself on a sleeping woman constitute consent ? What the hell is happening to the sisterhood ?

Does he have a case to answer ? Never mind all the cunning plans being launched by the CIA or MI5 or Mossad or whoever - does he have a case to answer ?

That's up to the courts to decide, British justice at its finest, in the full glare of disclosure and transparency. Let's wait and see, and keep demanding a transparent process :)

Cheers,

Joe

Thank you for your post Lexi on this critical issue.

As concerned as I am about the plight of Julian Assange himself, I think the issue of the status of the sanctity of Australian citizenship is clearly at stake here. If this has not already gone by the wayside ?, even in the case of David Hicks, whom presumably did not deserve to experience rendition, torture and imprisonment at Gitmo for so long without Australian Govt intervention. In the case of Manduh Habib, he was rendered tortured and imprisoned and was still was not charged with any wrong doing.

You would have to be proud to have a guy that can endure all that, still refers too himself as an Australian citizen, despite his Govt ever compensating him appropriately for the injustices committed against him.

Equally Assange is another brave Australian, doing what Australians once did. Backing up their beliefs with actions, is doing what activists do. Too actively search for the truth and make sure that as many people know the truth as possible. Assange's Wikileaks is simply an activist movement in the computer age. If all the wikileaks users were in one city at the same time it would be a mighty big peaceful demonstration that would take an awful lot of police on horses too ride over the top of. If the US or the oligarchs have their way, this may well be the last stand of effective activism.

The Australian Govt whomever they may be, must act/ should have already acted, to prevent the rendition through suspect legal process and dubious motives, of Assange to the US or anywhere else without charges and evidence. Or what are we ?.