WikiLeaks founder was arrested today at 9:30am by British police on behalf of Swedish authorities. He was charged at the city of Westminster magistrates with one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape. Bail was refused and he now faces a stay in HMP Wandsworth until December 14th. Assange's lawyers claim allegations are made up and are politically motivated over the Embassy Cables scandal, a viewpoint held by many others.
This arrest comes after MasterCard and Visa cut off support for WikiLeaks (yet still letting you fund the Ku Klux Klan), as well as PayPal and Amazon cutting ties with the site.
Despite the arrest WikiLeaks has pledged to continue publishing the Embassy Cables.
I personally share the view that this arrest is motivated more by the leaked Cables than these supposed rape allegations (which appear rather weak), especially as efforts to arrest Assange weren't really strong despite these rape allegations being present long before the leak of the embassy Cables.
Showing posts with label WikiLeaks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WikiLeaks. Show all posts
Dec 7, 2010
Nov 29, 2010
WikiLeaks - China prepared to abandon North Korea
One of perhaps the most controversial leaks relates to yesterdays post on the troubles in Korea.
According to leaked US embassy cables China are getting fed up of their North Korean allies, referring to them as a "spoiled child". The comments came from China's vice foreign minister as he told US officials that the April 2009 missile tests were just a way of gaining Washington's attention. China also appear to be readying for the reunification of Korea, with officials assessing that they could cope with 300,000 North Koreans in the event of serious instability before having to use military to reseal the border. A Chinese ambassador also warned that North Korea's nuclear activity was "a threat to the whole world's security".
South Korea's then vice-foreign minister, Chun Yung-woo, has also claimed to have been told by two named senior Chinese officials that they believed Korea should be reunified under Seoul's control, a view which was becoming popular with Beijing, especially from younger Communist Party leaders who no longer feel North Korea is a useful or reliable ally. Chun has said North Korea has already collapsed economically and that a political collapse in inevitable after Kim Jong-il's death despite efforts to obtain Chinese help and secure his son, Kim Jong-un's, succession.
Both Chun and a senior Chinese official have said China's influence over North Korea is over-estimated and they are unable to dissuade them from their self-defeating policies, with public opinion getting increasingly critical of the North's behaviour.
In summary, it would appear the end may be nigh for North Korea and, with it, the division of the Korean Peninsula. Events over the last couple of weeks, perhaps even caused by realisation that their time might be running out, may work as a catalyst towards China's abandonment. However, not everyone is in agreement with the validity of these reports (coming from a South Korean interpretation) or how ready Beijing is to abandon the North.
Personally, I feel the collapse of North Korea and reunification of the peninsula is the best situation, leading me to hope that these reports are true and that we will have a unified Korea within the next few years with minimum bloodshed.
According to leaked US embassy cables China are getting fed up of their North Korean allies, referring to them as a "spoiled child". The comments came from China's vice foreign minister as he told US officials that the April 2009 missile tests were just a way of gaining Washington's attention. China also appear to be readying for the reunification of Korea, with officials assessing that they could cope with 300,000 North Koreans in the event of serious instability before having to use military to reseal the border. A Chinese ambassador also warned that North Korea's nuclear activity was "a threat to the whole world's security".
South Korea's then vice-foreign minister, Chun Yung-woo, has also claimed to have been told by two named senior Chinese officials that they believed Korea should be reunified under Seoul's control, a view which was becoming popular with Beijing, especially from younger Communist Party leaders who no longer feel North Korea is a useful or reliable ally. Chun has said North Korea has already collapsed economically and that a political collapse in inevitable after Kim Jong-il's death despite efforts to obtain Chinese help and secure his son, Kim Jong-un's, succession.
Both Chun and a senior Chinese official have said China's influence over North Korea is over-estimated and they are unable to dissuade them from their self-defeating policies, with public opinion getting increasingly critical of the North's behaviour.
In summary, it would appear the end may be nigh for North Korea and, with it, the division of the Korean Peninsula. Events over the last couple of weeks, perhaps even caused by realisation that their time might be running out, may work as a catalyst towards China's abandonment. However, not everyone is in agreement with the validity of these reports (coming from a South Korean interpretation) or how ready Beijing is to abandon the North.
Personally, I feel the collapse of North Korea and reunification of the peninsula is the best situation, leading me to hope that these reports are true and that we will have a unified Korea within the next few years with minimum bloodshed.
Nov 28, 2010
WikiLeaks Releases Over 250,000 US Embassy Cables
There is extremely big news currently concerning the leak of over 250,000 secret US Embassy cables to various worldwide newspapers by WikiLeaks.
There is far too much information for me to get into one post and it's getting rather late. So for anyone who for some reason might be reading this (I had 1 view from the US yesterday!) I'll simply link to my personal favourite for online news, The Guardian.
Main Story
Live Updates
EDIT: The WikiLeaks database is up!
There is far too much information for me to get into one post and it's getting rather late. So for anyone who for some reason might be reading this (I had 1 view from the US yesterday!) I'll simply link to my personal favourite for online news, The Guardian.
Main Story
Live Updates
EDIT: The WikiLeaks database is up!
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