Assange asylum 'may harm Ecuador'

[struggle4progress]

4. Of course, the proximate matter is between Ecuador and the UK, since

Assange fled to the embassy to avoid being transported to Sweden under order of the UK courts. Perhaps the real matter is properly regarded as being between Ecuador and Sweden, since it is Sweden that has issued an arrest warrant for him. The claims, made by Assange, that the Swedish warrant is a pretext to set up his transport to the US for torture and/or execution, is an insult to European treaties governing successive extraditions: officials in both Sweden and the UK have pointed out that if Assange, in Sweden after extradition from the UK, were requested by the US, then both Sweden and the UK would be required to sign-off -- and Assange would be allowed to fight the required sign-offs in both Swedish and UK courts

Certainly, Ecuador has every interest in not acting as a US puppet -- but if the US itself applies no pressure, Ecuador also has some diplomatic interest in not offending Sweden or the UK