How Australia can end the Assange stalemate

Donald Rothwell
5 December 2012

... First, the Australian High Commission in London can continue to support Assange and provide him with consular assistance and where appropriate seek consular access to check on his welfare. Regular visits of this nature would also give to Australia some independent capacity to monitor Assange's health.

Second, Australia could seek diplomatic assurances from Stockholm that if Assange is extradited to Sweden he will be subject to due process under Swedish law, that any trial would be conducted consistently with international human rights norms, and that Australia would enjoy full consular access to Assange during this time.

These assurances would assist in ensuring that Assange was treated in the same manner as any other person under Swedish law. A possible outcome of this process is that the Swedish prosecutor may determine that Assange has no case to answer and all potential criminal charges against him are dropped.

In addition, Australia could seek an assurance from Sweden that following the completion of all Swedish legal proceedings that Assange would be deported to Australia. This would be an entirely appropriate outcome for an Australian citizen who has been subject to extradition to a foreign country ...

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4408852.html