THE cost of guarding Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has blown out to more than $5 million as he prepares to mark his first anniversary taking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
The revelation comes as the Australian activist told Spanish media how he obtained new internal communications about himself from inside the British government’s most sensitive intelligence communications agency, the GCHQ.
And those communications include chatter from staff, some of whom suspect the activist is being set up.
On May 30 last year, the British Supreme Court dismissed an appeal and ruled the 41-year-old should be extradited to Sweden to face accusations he sexually assaulted two women there.
But instead, the Australian fled to the embassy of Ecuador located in upmarket Kensington in London, seeking asylum on the grounds that the charges were a ruse to send him to the US where he faces claims of leaking more than 250,000 sensitive government cables.
Scotland Yard has revealed that since June 19, when he was formally granted asylum, it has cost more than $5.2 million to provide around-the-clock police guards around the embassy.
With extra security from time to time for demonstrations, the constant police presence costs about $19,000 a day.
There are about eight police officers and video surveillance cameras outside the embassy at any given time.
Assange, who denies the rape allegations, has vowed to remain in his bolt-hole for however long it takes for the Swedish and British governments to agree he will not be sent to the US.
Meanwhile, speaking to Spanish television at his diplomatic sanctuary, Assange has revealed that under the Data Protection Act he requested all communications about him from the GCHQ.
In one 2012 email, an officer wrote to a colleague: “They are trying to arrest him on suspicion of (XYZ) … it is definitely a fit-up … their timings are too convenient right after Cablegate”.
Another says: “He reckons he will stay in the Ecuadorian embassy for six to 12 months where the charges against him will be dropped but that is not how it works now is it? Hes a fool – highly optimistic fool.”
The GCHQ confirmed the non-classified emails but said no decisions were taken from the remarks from general staff.
“We have reminded staff of the importance of professional behaviour at all times,” a spokesman said, reinforcing the emails Assange was entitled to receive under the Act were merely observations and not classified information.
Source: news.com.au Picture: guardian.co.uk
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