Re: Assange Amazing Adventures of Captain Neo in Blonde Land
Posted: Fri May 18, 2018 8:46 am
Ecuador to remove Julian Assange's extra security from London embassy
President Lenin Moreno makes order after revelations of multimillion dollar spy and security operation set up for WikiLeaks founder
Guardian staff and agencies
Last modified on Fri 18 May 2018 08.05 EDT
President Lenin Moreno makes order after revelations of multimillion dollar spy and security operation set up for WikiLeaks founder
The president of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, has ordered the withdrawal of additional security assigned to the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has remained for almost six years.
The move was announced a day after an investigation by the Guardian and Focus Ecuador revealed the country had bankrolled a multimillion-dollar spy operation to protect and support Assange, employing an international security company and undercover agents to monitor his visitors, embassy staff and even the British police.
Over more than five years, Ecuador put at least $5m (£3.7m) into a secret intelligence budget that protected him while he had visits from Nigel Farage, members of European nationalist groups and individuals linked to the Kremlin.
Rafael Correa, the then Ecuadorian president who approved of the operation, later defended the security measures as “routine and modest”.
However, his successor, Moreno, appears to differ in his view. His government said in a statement: “The president of the republic, Lenin Moreno, has ordered that any additional security at the Ecuadorian embassy in London be withdrawn immediately.
“From now on, it will maintain normal security similar to that of other Ecuadorian embassies.”
Moreno has previously described Assange’s situation as “a stone in his shoe”.
Ecuador suspended Assange’s communication systems in March after his pointed political comments on Twitter. Assange had tweeted messages challenging Britain’s accusation that Russia was responsible for the poisoning of a Russian former double agent and his daughter in Salisbury.
Reuters contributed to this report
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... on-embassy
A visual guide to Ecuador's Julian Assange spy operation
The Ecuadorian government has spent millions of dollars on surveillance of the WikiLeaks founder at its London embassy
Luke Harding, Dan Collyns, Niko Kommenda, Josh Holder and Cath Levett
Wed 16 May 2018 07.57 EDT Last modified on Wed 16 May 2018 10.03 EDT
The Ecuadorian government has carried out a multimillion-dollar surveillance operation designed to protect and support Julian Assange during his six years of political asylum in the country’s embassy in London, according to documents seen by the Guardian.
The surveillance operation
In 2012, Ecuador’s intelligence agency hired an international security company to establish the programme for a monthly cost of $55,000 (£40,000), which was paid from a “special expenses” budget.
The documents describe how the company’s secret agents slept 100 metres (330ft) away from the embassy in a modest basement flat costing £2,800 a month, in one of the most expensive parts of London.
From a control room inside the Ecuadorian embassy, the security team oversaw Assange’s contacts.
His guests went through a security check upon arrival, handing over their passports and mobile phones. The operatives recorded each guest’s passport number and nationality, as well as the purpose of their visit, building up a comprehensive log of everyone Assange met during his stay. According to the documents, the security company sent the confidential list of Assange’s visitors to Ecuador’s government.
The logs are likely to be of interest to Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating allegations that Russia helped Donald Trump win the 2016 US presidential election. The FBI has interviewed at least one person involved in “Operation Guest”, which later became known as “Operation Hotel”, it is understood.
Some of Assange’s “social” visits were from famous names including Pamela Anderson and Vivienne Westwood, as well as the WikiLeaks staff member Sarah Harrison.
There were also “extraordinary reports” that included daily logs of Assange’s activities within the embassy, noting his general mood.
Activities outside the embassy were also monitored and recorded. One report included photographs of anti-Assange protesters with signs that read “We want you out of our embassy”. It was even noted when a packet of sweets was thrown on to the balcony – seemingly a present for Assange.
Surveillance reports included photographs of protesters, sweets thrown on to Assange's balcony and an American superfan who spent two days outside the embassy
Inside the embassy
This level of scrutiny came after the security company installed CCTV cameras in the embassy’s lobby and a conference room, and on the balcony.
Initially, Assange slept in a narrow room next to the balcony, but he later came to take up more than one-third of the embassy’s ground-floor space and sleep in a larger back room.
Assange’s realm was home to WikiLeaks and its computers, and not covered by CCTV. It was off limits to diplomats, with access controlled by door codes.
This surveillance did not come cheap
According to documents seen by the Guardian, the Ecuadorian intelligence agency spent at least $5m on the surveillance operation.
The agency’s expense reports alarmed the Ecuadorian financial controller, who asked how more than $400,000 could have been spent in the first five months of the operation without a single receipt.
In March, the intelligence agency was shut down by Ecuador’s president, Lenín Moreno, who described Assange’s continuing presence as an “inherited problem”.
That same month, embassy staff cut off his internet access.
Ecuadorian government sources say Quito is considering a plan for where Assange might go next, making his future more uncertain than ever.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-in ... -operation
Ben Gartside
BuzzFeed Contributor
The UK inquiry looking into Russia and the Cambridge Analytica scandal had agreed a provisional date for a public interview session with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, before abandoning the plan after a call from the Foreign Office, BuzzFeed News has learned.
Foreign Office officials called the Digital Culture, Media and Sport committee after learning of the plan to interview Assange from the Ecuadorian embassy in a high-profile public forum, according to a well-placed source.
The closely watched DCMS inquiry, chaired by Conservative MP Damian Collins, was originally set up to look at fake news back in January 2017. But the MPs on the committee have been going down different paths, holding headline-grabbing public sessions with everyone from fake news academics to Brexit whistleblowers to representatives from the US tech giants.
Daniel Leal-olivas / AFP / Getty Images
Just this week, the DCMS inquiry has interviewed a Canadian data firm with links to Cambridge Analytica and doubled down on threats to issue a summons to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. On Thursday, the inquiry announced it would again be interviewing former Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix, while also saying Vote Leave campaign's Dominic Cummings would be referred to the House, which could see the Brexit strategist found in contempt of parliament.
When it came to interviewing Assange – an exercise sure to again grab global headlines for the inquiry – the DCMS committee had intended to take evidence about Cambridge Analytica's attempts to contact him. A committee spokesperson, though, maintains the committee's decision not to interview him via video link wasn't influenced by the Foreign Office phone calls.
“As is normal with select committees, we’re in regular contact with many government departments, including the FCO. We wouldn’t go into detail about private phone calls conducted as part of business,” the spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.
“Our interaction with FCO had no bearing on the Committee’s decision not to invite Assange to give evidence.”
But the existence of a long email chain seen by BuzzFeed News reveals DCMS officials were in contact with Assange’s lawyer over several weeks, after the WikiLeaks founder initially was invited by the committee to respond with written evidence to some of the claims from Alexander Nix.
Responding to the invitation, Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson wrote to the DCMS committee on March 7 asking whether he'd be able to give the evidence via video link.
"[Assange] would of course prefer to attend to give evidence in person. However, in light of these unjust circumstances, we propose that he provide his evidence by video-link to enable the Committee to properly test his evidence. We believe this will be more fruitful for the Committee.
"In addition, given the evidence Mr Assange will contradict was given live, it is also only fair and proper for Mr Assange to be able to respond in the same way and to answer any further questions the Committee might have."
A senior DCMS official emailed back a week later, saying members of the committee had met to discuss Assange's proposal in private, and wanted to know more information about what he'd address.
"The Committee had a private meeting this morning and discussed the issue. They would like more details on the specific issues that Mr. Assange would be willing to talk about," the official wrote.
On 19 March, Robinson said Assange would be able to go into more depth about "Cambridge Analytica's alleged dealings with WikiLeaks". She also suggested dates for the hearing.
"We understand that the Committee meets on Tuesdays," Robinson wrote. "Mr. Assange can make himself available to the Committee on 27 March, 3 April and 10 April. Should the Committee wish to propose a different date, please let me know."
The same DCMS official replied on the same day, lining up a date for the hearing: "Depending on what the Committee decides tomorrow, an alternative date could be Wednesday 28 March. Would Mr Assange be free on that date?"
Robinson replied: "Mr Assange can participate on Wednesday 28 March".
A day later, Assange tweeted, along with a video showing a comical explosion in a house: “I have accepted a request by the select committee of the UK parliament @CommonsCMS to give evidence, via video link, about Cambridge Analytica, and other matters, later this month.”
According to a source, the tweet caused UK foreign officials to call the DCMS committee to check whether Assange was right. It had the effect of "slapping the committee on the wrist” said the source.
Despite the backroom plans, the DCMS inquiry went on Twitter that afternoon to distance itself in public: "Mr Assange has offered to appear before the DCMS Committee, but no formal invitation has been issued for him to attend."
Two days later, the DCMS committee decided not to go ahead with the plan to take Assange’s evidence in a public forum.
Assange’s lawyer Robinson told BuzzFeed News the situation raised questions about foreign officials trying to intervene in the conduct of a committee.
“It is disturbing if the government has intervened in what should be an independent Parliamentary process,” Robinson said.
“It is particularly concerning if the Foreign office intervened behind the scenes to prevent Julian Assange from speaking to the Committee, and giving evidence directly that could have been interrogated and informed the Committee.”
Justin Tallis / AFP / Getty Images
When BuzzFeed News called Sir Alan Duncan to ask whether he placed any of the calls to the DCMS committee, or the inquiry’s clerks, the senior foreign minister labelled the suggestion "complete rubbish".
“I wasn't even aware they were trying to make him appear before them. This is complete rubbish in every respect," Duncan told BuzzFeed News over the phone.
“If they are asking for him to appear, that's a matter for the committee, not for me.”
The foreign office admitted to calling the committee in the wake of Assange’s tweet, but denied it was an attempt to coerce them into not taking the evidence.
“Any suggestion that the FCO encouraged the DCMS Committee not to take evidence from Mr Assange is completely false,” a foreign office spokesperson said.
“As the government department responsible for the UK’s relationship with the Ecuadorian Embassy, the FCO contacted the DCMS Select Committee to ask if Mr Assange, as he was alleging, had been invited to present evidence to the committee.”
https://www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/markdi ... ssion=true
Assange 'split' Ecuador and Spain over Catalan independence
Stephanie Kirchgaessner
Last modified on Wed 16 May 2018 17.47 EDT
WikiLeaks founder met separatists and tweeted on the issue, which sources say triggered a backlash from Madrid
Julian Assange’s intervention on Catalan independence created a rift between the WikiLeaks founder and the Ecuadorian government, which has hosted Assange for nearly six years in its London embassy, the Guardian has learned.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said Assange’s support for the separatists, including a meeting in November, led to a backlash from Spain, which in turn caused deep concern within Ecuador’s government.
While Assange’s role in the US presidential election has been an intense focus of US prosecutors, his involvement in Spanish politics appears to have caused Ecuador the most pain.
The Ecuadorians cut Assange’s internet connection and ended his access to visitors on 28 March, saying he had breached an agreement at the end of last year not to issue messages that might interfere with other states.
Quito has been looking to find a solution to what it increasingly sees as an untenable situation: hosting one of the world’s most wanted men.
Julian Assange on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London
Julian Assange appears in front of the media on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London in May 2017. Photograph: Jack Taylor/Getty Images
In November 2017, Assange hosted two supporters of the Catalan independence movement, whose push for secession from Spain had plunged the country into its worst political crisis since returning to democracy. Assange has said he supported the right to “self-determination” and argued against “repression” from Madrid.
He was visited by Oriol Soler, a Catalan businessman and publisher, and Arnau Grinyó, an expert in online communications campaigns. Their meeting, which was reported by the Spanish press, took place a little over a month after the unilateral Catalan independence referendum, and 13 days after the Spanish government responded to the unilateral declaration of independence by sacking the administration of the then Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, and assuming direct control of the region.
Assange has been a vocal critic of Madrid’s handling of the Catalan crisis and described the independence movement as “the redefinition of the relationship between people and state”, and “the most disciplined Gandhian project since Gandhi”.
Julian Assange ⌛ (@JulianAssange)
What is occurring in Catalonia is the redefinition of the relationship between people and state. The most disciplined Gandhian project since Gandhi. Its results will spread everywhere. pic.twitter.com/sS8XRXfota
October 14, 2017
Though Assange’s supporters deny he explicitly supported Catalan independence, his tweets and videos on the issue annoyed the Spanish government.
A Spanish diplomat told the Guardian that Spain “conveyed a message” to Ecuadorian authorities that Assange was using social media to support the secessionist movement and sending out messages “that are at odds with reality”.
“Spain and Ecuador are obviously countries that maintain a constant and fluid dialogue in which matters of interest to both parties, including this issue, are raised and discussed,” the diplomat said.
“Spain has, on a number of occasions, informed the Ecuadorian authorities of its concerns over the activities that Julian Assange has engaged in while in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.”
The source said Spain’s foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, had also addressed the issue when it arose in November, saying attempts had been made “to intervene, manipulate and affect what should be the natural democratic course of events in Catalonia”.
In December, Ecuador’s president, Lenín Moreno, reminded Assange that he should refrain from trying to intervene in Ecuadorian politics.
Q&A
What would happen if Julian Assange left the Ecuadorian embassy?
US intelligence agencies and Spanish authorities have separately claimed that Russia has had a hand in their domestic affairs. US agencies have accused WikiLeaks of working with Russian intelligence to try to disrupt the US election by releasing hacked emails from Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and Spanish officials have suggested that much of the messaging on social media about the Catalan crisis originated in Russia.
Soler and Grinyó declined to comment on their meeting with Assange. However, in a tweet written four days after visiting the embassy, Soler said the Catalan independence movement sympathised with Assange, as its leaders and activists had “suffered jail, exile, spying, censorship, injustice, fake news and financial blockades”. The visit, he added, had been transparent and legal.
In 2016, Assange met two members of the anti-austerity party Podemos, according to visitor logs obtained by the Guardian in conjunction with the magazine Focus Ecuador.
They were Pablo Bustinduy, the foreign affairs spokesman, and Miguel Ongil, a deputy in the Madrid regional assembly and a party funding, transparency and anti-corruption expert. Podemos opposed a unilateral referendum on secession, but said it would in principle have supported an independence referendum agreed between the Spanish and Catalan governments.
A spokesman for Podemos told the Guardian: “Pablo Bustinduy visited Assange in the embassy while on a trip to London to take part in the pro-remain Brexit campaign. He was accompanied by Miguel Ongil, a specialist in the fields of transparency and political participation.
“It was an informal visit, during which they discussed the issues of protecting whistleblowers, freedom of expression and information in Europe, and democracy on the internet. They also inquired after his legal situation.”
A spokesperson for Ecuador’s foreign ministry said: “[We reiterate that] Ecuador maintains excellent and fraternal relations with Spain and the vast majority of countries.”
This article was written in collaboration with Fernando Villavicencio and Cristina Solórzano from Focus Ecuador
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... eparatists