[Lamplighter]

Christian Science Monitor
James Bosworth
8/17/12

Assange asylum case ripples through Latin America

Ecuador's decision to grant asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
could have an impact on extradition cases throughout Latin America.

Ecuador has called for every acronym in the hemisphere (OAS, UNASUR, ALBA, UN, etc.)
to hold immediate meetings regarding the Julian Assange asylum case and the issue of its embassy in the UK.

Leaving aside the specifics of that case for a moment, one of the secondary consequences
of this event is that it could bring up questions about a whole host of other recent
high profile political asylum, embassy refuge, and extradition cases around the hemisphere
that have occasionally impacted bilateral relations.

[Several cases around the world are listed]<snip>

In every instance, you'll hear, "But this case is different because...."
Yes, yes, every asylum case is different. Yet, there are similarities.
In every case, one side claims there have been various crimes committed
that must be prosecuted while the other claims political persecution.
Balancing justice for crimes against potential abuse of power by governments is tough.
Sure, we all think we know it when we see it when it comes to asylum cases,
but many people disagree about the cases listed above and others.