As the Obama Administration tries to figure out a way to put Julian Assange (spokesperson for WikiLeaks) under wraps, a disgruntled love triangle brings more clout to the table (thus far) than espionage charges. Assange, is now wanted by INTERPOL (November 2010) for sexual offences being alleged by Swedish radical feminist, Anna Ardin and friend.
The parties involved include; Julian Assange (Australian publisher and internet activist), Anna Ardin (employed by the University of Uppsala), and an 'unidentified friend' of Anna Ardin.
Assange is best known as the spokesperson of whistleblowing website, WikiLeaks, recently recognized for its release of classified material involving the United States in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and the November 2010 release of diplomatic cables.
Assange has won several awards through out his career including; the Amnesty International Media Award, Economist Index on Censorship Award, and the Sam Adams Award. He has also been nominated as one of the “25 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World”, and on November 12 he was leading in a poll by Time magazine for Person of the Year in 2010.
Anna Ardin, known in Sweden for her feminism views on how men achieve social dominance through sex, has been known to be bent on revenge. In January Ardin posted a blog entry on ‘7 Steps to Legal Revenge by Anna Ardin’, which included a statement, I’ve been thinking about some revenge over the last few days… An article on the blog can be read here.
It is also noted that this is not the first time Ardin has accused someone for molestation of a sexual nature in Sweden.
Ardin reportedly invited Assange to Stockholm, and was briefly appointed his press secretary during his visit.
The story begins the weekend of August 15. Assange wanted to attend a Swedish crayfish party and Ardin made the arrangements.
According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen, Assange sexually harassed a woman (Ardin) in Stockholm then two or three days later traveled 20km to Enköping where he supposedly raped another woman. The Expressen concludes by an astonishing coincidence, the two women were friends. They decided a week later to go to a police station together saying that "Assange raped and harassed us”.
The women reported that a separate non-consensual incident of a similar character in which Assange allegedly had sex with them without using a condom. Their attorney, Claes Borgstrom, says “In both cases, what started out as voluntary sex subsequently developed into an assault.”
Chief prosecuter, Eva Finné overruled the prosecutor on the night the report was filed, saying “I don’t think there is reason to suspect that he has committed rape”.
On September 1, 2010 a senior prosecutor re-opened the rape investigation indicating that new information had come in.
On November 20, INTERPOL, listed Assange as wanted at the request of Swedish authorities for sexual offences.
Meanwhile,US Federal authorities are investigating whether Assange violated criminal laws by releasing leaked government documents on the WikiLeaks site, suggesting possible Espionage charges.
Rep. Peter King of New York seconded the charge and asked whether WikiLeaks can be declared a terrorist organization.
Tom Flanagan, former aide to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, called for the assassination of Assange in a tongue and cheek remark during a CBC TV political talk show.
Whether the leaked documents are considered a threat to national security or a mere embarrassment is yet to be rdecided. But one thing is for sure, the release of these documents has made Assange a target of revulsion by many government officials.
Assange, on the other hand, portrays himself as a crusading journalist whose objective is to expose lying, corrupt and murderous leadership and organization that use secrecy to conceal unjust behaviour.
In regards to the sexual offence accusations, Assanges has said "the charges are without basis and their issue at this moment is deeply disturbing"
Supporters claim that the sexual offence charges are outlandish and all part of a smear campaign.
Teena Clipston - Teena Clipston is publisher and editor-in-chief of TheGreenGazette. www.thegreengazette.ca
