Ecuador 'gravely concerned' about health of Assange

Julian Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy since June, has been granted political asylum by Ecuador, but the UK will not grant him safe passage to leave the country. Now his health is suffering.

After losing his appeal against extradition to Sweden for questioning on alleged sex-related charges, Assange entered the Ecuadorian embassy in London, seeking political asylum in that country. It was feared that should he be extradited to Sweden for questioning, he would then be sent on to the US on charges of espionage, over the release of sensitive diplomatic cables which have both angered and embarrassed the US government. 

Despite the fact that Ecuador granted asylum to Assange in August, the UK will not grant him safe passage to travel out of the country. UK officials would arrest Assange should he step outside the door. 

The Ecuadorian embassy in London is about the size of an apartment, and Assange has a small room to himself. His health is now suffering, possibly from confinement in such a small space. 

A senior Ecuadorian diplomat says that Assange's health is deteriorating, and that he should be given safe passage out of the country's London embassy should it decline further. Vice Foreign Minister, Marco Albuja Martinez told RT in an exclusive interview, “We have officially asked the UK for safe passage. But we are concerned that while UK authorities mull over the decision, Julian Assange’s health may break down completely.”  

News.com.au reports Martinez as saying, “Assange has grown noticeably thinner and we are very concerned about his health,” Martinez said. “If he falls ill we will have to choose between two alternatives – to treat Assange at the embassy or hospitalize him.” 

The news service also reports that Ecuador has requested a document from the UK Government, guaranteeing his safe passage to hospital and back to the embassy without arrest; but that no reply has yet been received. 

“We will not put pressure on them and will patiently await an answer,” Martinez said. 

However, a statement from the UK Foreign office reads, "Ecuador have not told us that Mr Assange is ill. However, were they to do so, we would consider the matter."  

While Martinez did not specify the medical problems involved, he did note that Assange had lost weight and said that denying him proper facilities for treatment would be “an issue of human rights.” 

Recent photos of Assange show that the 41-year-old is looking pale and gaunt, as with the image above of his recent speech to the UN General Assembly, and he has complained of a "racking cough." He does, however, exercise daily with a personal trainer, who is an ex-Special Forces soldier and fellow-whistleblower.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/335474

Malala recovering and in a stable condition in the UK

Malala Yousufzai, shot by the Taliban in Pakistan over her views on education for girls, is recovering from her ordeal, has regained consciousness and is in a stable condition in hospital in the UK.

15-year-old Malala Yousufzai has received worldwide attention for her efforts to promote the education of girls in Pakistan.

On October 9th, she was targeted by the Taliban while on her way home from school and shot in the head. 

The Taliban stopped the school bus in which she was traveling with her friends and the leader asked which girl was Malala Yousufzai, telling her to identify herself, otherwise all girls would be shot. At that stage they recognized Malala and shot her at point blank range. 

The bullet struck just above the back of her left eye, traveled down the side of her jaw, damaging her skull. It then went through her neck and lodged in the tissue above her shoulder blade. 

As reported on Digital Journal she was recently she was moved to the UK to ensure better hospital treatment for her grave wounds. Malala traveled in a medically induced coma to the UK last Monday. 

The good news is that she has since regained consciousness, although at present she cannot speak, and has stood for the first time since being shot by the Taliban. A photo of the recovering Malala can be viewed here. 

While the international community has responded to this tragedy with wonderful and significant donations to non-profit organizations that support education in Pakistan, Malala's family is struggling with the long-term rehabilitation costs and for her future education. 

 A team of people who have both personal and public ties to Malala and her family have now started a campaign to help fund both Malala's medical costs and also her future education. Anyone interested in assisting with this campaign can do so here.  

Read more and view video by The New York Times about Malala, produced in 2009: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/335359

Malala Yousafzai, Taliban shooting victim sent to UK (video)

Malala Yousafzai, the 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating education for girls, has been moved to the UK for further treatment. 

 

As reported on Digital Journal, 14-year-old Malala was shot in the head last Tuesday by a Taliban insurgent. The attack on her was made due to her campaigning for the right of young females to education in Pakistan.

 

Malala was shot in the head and neck while she sat with classmates on a school bus as it prepared to drive students home from morning classes in Mingora, a city in the Swat valley. The attack caused widespread revulsion, both in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world. It also prompted questions on the state's ability to tackle militancy.  

 

Malala's life was saved by neurosurgeons in a Pakistani military hospital and she has been in intensive care ever since. Malala has been kept sedated and on a ventilator since she was taken to hospital, with tight security around her, as the Taliban has threatened to attack her again should she survive.

 

A Pakistani military spokesman has now said that doctors have now recommended she be transferred to a UK hospital, and gave the following statement, "Accordingly, the panel of doctors recommended that Malala be shifted abroad to a UK center which has the capability to provide integrated care to children who have sustained severe injury." 

 

"Pakistan has arranged with the United Arab Emirates for a specially equipped air ambulance which will be used to transfer Malala to the UK." 

 

The costs of transportation and treatment will be borne by the Pakistani government. The UK Foreign Office said that this move follows an offer made by the UK government to assist in her treatment in any way.  

 

Her flight left Rawalpindi on Monday morning and she is traveling on a specially equipped air ambulance with an army intensive care assistant. 

 

 The UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said: "Last week's barbaric attack on Malala Yousafzai and her school friends shocked Pakistan and the world. Malala's bravery in standing up for the right of all young girls in Pakistan to an education is an example to us all.

 

"Malala will now receive specialist medical care in an NHS hospital. Our thoughts remain with Malala and her family at this difficult time." Former prime minister, Gordon Brown said, "I know that Britain will offer Malala the best treatment possible and the British people will welcome her, hoping and praying for her recovery." 

 

Brown, who is UN Special Envoy for Global Education, said he would be visiting Pakistan next month to talk with President Zardari about Malala's cause and girls' education. 

 

Malala's main crime, according to the Taliban, is the diary she kept, describing how the Pakistan Taliban prevented girls from going to school when they controlled the Swat Valley in 2009. 

Read more at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/334859