The Guardian reports: The plan to spirit the surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden to sanctuary in Latin America appeared to be unravelling on Friday, amid tension between Ecuador’s government and Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks.
President Rafael Correa halted an effort to help Snowden leave Russia amid concern Assange was usurping the role of the Ecuadoran government, according to leaked diplomatic correspondence published on Friday.
Amid signs Quito was cooling with Snowden and irritated with Assange, Correa declared invalid a temporary travel document which could have helped extract Snowden from his reported location in Moscow.
Correa declared that the safe conduct pass issued by Ecuador’s London consul – in collaboration with Assange – was unauthorised, after other Ecuadorean diplomats privately said the WikiLeaks founder could be perceived as “running the show”. [Continue reading…]
Certainly the U.S. government is known for its bullying. Blackmail, simple political horse trading or Mosad type actions for extraction(or more) would not be out of the question.
One can only wonder how Assange grandstanding towards Correa, (who previously has hailed Snowden for exposing US spying) could now cause him to claim a document invalid so that it reduces Snowden’s chances of making it to Quito.
“The situation of Mr Snowden is a complex situation and we don’t know how he will solve it.” Yeah, it’s his problem- despite Correa’s tough guy rep, saving face as to “who is the boss” sends a much different message than compassion and admiration towards those who put their life at risk.