'Shame on Ecuador, sacrificing the messenger' - Twitter reacts to arrest of Julian Assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London this morning.
Assange was shouting as he was carried out of the Ecuadorian Embassy in handcuffs and put into a waiting Met Police van, video footage showed.
The 47-year-old was escorted from the building by police at about 10.25am and footage showed him surrounded by officers as he was led into a waiting van.
His arrest has sparked controversy online with supporters spreading the message 'Free Julian Assange' while those in agreement with Assange's arrest took to Twitter to congratulate those involved in the operation.
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said "Julian Assange is no hero. He has hidden from the truth for years and years.
"What happened today was a result of years of careful diplomacy by the foreign office.
He said that Assange's arrest was a "very courageous decision" made by President Moreno in Ecuador "to resolve the situation that's been going on for nearly seven years".
"Julian Assange is no hero. He has hidden from the truth for years and years"
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) April 11, 2019
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says a "courageous decision" by Ecuador's new leader Lenin Moreno led to the arrest of #Wikileaks co-founder in Londonhttps://t.co/maAHGMUkjf #Assange pic.twitter.com/i8jzpSp4nq
President Lenin Moreno said Ecuador has withdrawn asylum status from the WikiLeaks founder after he "repeatedly violated international conventions."
"Today I announce that the discourteous and aggressive behaviour of Mr Julian Assange; the hostile and threatening declarations of his allied organization against Ecuador, and especially the transgression of international treaties, have led the situation to a point where the asylum of Mr Assange is unsustainable and no longer viable.”
Ecuador's president, @Lenin Moreno, released a video explaining his government's decision to withdraw Julian Assange's asylum status: pic.twitter.com/Bbeh5BBAAO
— DW News (@dwnews) April 11, 2019
He said Assange had provoked the decision and that Ecuador's patience had "reached its limit," adding that Assange had repeatedly broken the embassy's house rules by installing electronic and distortion equipment and blocking security cameras.
Moreno also confirmed that he had sought legal guidance that Ecuador's position was lawful and "in line with our strong commitment to human rights."
Very welcome news to see that Assange is out of the Ecuador Embassy. My thanks to President @Lenin Moreno and his government for their cooperation and tireless diplomacy in making this happen.
— Sir Alan Duncan (@SirAlanDuncan) April 11, 2019
However, social media users were quick to criticise the president for his decision.
shame on Ecuador, sacrificing the messenger.. won’t save corrupt President Lenin Moreno
— ♑️ Mark 👊🏻 🎶🍽👽🌋🏉 (@WorldOfMarkyD) April 11, 2019
and shame on the United Kingdom.. pathetic puppets of Washington
the United States should be condemned 😡
Julian Assange is a hero 🙏🏻#FreeAssange #BringJulianHome #JournalismIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/YCrlxamNPo
They were waiting for the tweet? "London police said Assange was arrested moments after Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno said on Twitter that the country had withdrawn his diplomatic asylum." https://t.co/N3Jdgg7rvR
— Alec Luhn (@AlecLuhn) April 11, 2019
#LeninMoreno sold #Assange but he will not be happy with the
— Jochen_Mitschka (@jochen_mitschka) April 11, 2019
thirty pieces of silver, at the end he will pay for it.
Meanwhile, actress Pamela Anderson tweeted her opinion on the matter this afternoon.
She tweeted: "I am in shock. I couldn’t hear clearly what he said? He looks very bad. How could you Equador ? (Because he exposed you).
"How could you UK. ? Of course - you are America’s bitch and you need a diversion from your idiotic Brexit bullshit."
I am in shock..
— Pamela Anderson (@pamelaanderson) April 11, 2019
I couldn’t hear clearly what he said?
He looks very bad.
How could you Equador ?
(Because he exposed you).
How could you UK. ?
Of course - you are America’s bitch and
you need a diversion from your idiotic Brexit bullshit.
She continued: "And the USA? This toxic coward of a President.
"He needs to rally his base? - You are selfish and cruel. You have taken the entire world backwards.
"You are devils and liars and thieves. And you will ROTT.
"And WE WILL RISE."
