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pnwmom

(108,996 posts)
Sun Jun 9, 2013, 11:21 PM Jun 2013

I wonder why Snowden went to Hong Kong instead of Iceland.

He says he wants to get asylum from Iceland or another country that values free speech. So why didn't he go directly there?

He thinks the US is too repressive so he went to China instead. But Hong Kong is a part of China now and not really considered a bastion of free speech.

Makes a lot of sense.




http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040528&slug=wdig28

HONG KONG — A former Hong Kong radio host and Chinese lawmaker said yesterday that he quit both posts under pressure from Beijing officials displeased with pro-democracy comments he made on the air.
Allen Lee said Hong Kong's free-speech rights were being eroded, and opposition lawmakers agreed the territory's liberties were facing an ominous new threat. Beijing stirred outrage here last month by ruling that Hong Kong people cannot democratically elect their next leader in 2007 and all lawmakers in 2008.

In a legislative hearing yesterday, Lee described several meetings in which Beijing officials, whom he refused to identify, relayed the message that top Chinese authorities were not happy with his public support for direct elections in Hong Kong.

Lee is one of three Hong Kong radio hosts to go off the air in recent weeks, raising worries about the free-speech rights that were guaranteed for at least 50 years when the territory was returned to China in July 1997.

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still_one

(92,422 posts)
2. I think the reason is because we all know China doesn't spy on its citizens
Sun Jun 9, 2013, 11:26 PM
Jun 2013

Last edited Mon Jun 10, 2013, 01:15 AM - Edit history (1)

Cha

(297,731 posts)
10. Yeah, maybe he wants a job in Hong Kong's equivalent
Mon Jun 10, 2013, 12:39 AM
Jun 2013

of NSA and 3 months later.. he's outta there with his stash. Only where's he gonna go? Iceland?

 

LittleBlue

(10,362 posts)
3. He doesn't want to go to prison
Sun Jun 9, 2013, 11:29 PM
Jun 2013

It's pretty obvious.

The administration robots on here and in the media are ignoring that a nation like Iceland is probably too small to resist the US on something like this.

Cameron27

(10,346 posts)
7. Some info here
Sun Jun 9, 2013, 11:46 PM
Jun 2013

Statement regarding involvement of IMMI in Edward Snowden asylum request

Reykjavík, Iceland and San Francisco, California

... We are currently attempting to get in touch with Mr. Snowden to confirm that this is his will and discuss the details of his asylum request. Our next step will be to assess the security implications of asylum, as it is possible that Iceland may not be the best location, depending on various questions regarding the legal framework - all of these issues will be taken into account. We are already working on detailing the legal protocols required to apply for asylum, and will over the course of the week be seeking a meeting with the newly appointed interior minister of Iceland, Mrs. Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, to discuss whether an asylum request can be processed in a swift manner, should such an application be made.

In due course we will release further statements as useful and necessary.

https://immi.is/index.php/86-statement-regarding-involvement-of-immi-in-edward-snowden-asylum-request

https://twitter.com/immimedia




dlwickham

(3,316 posts)
4. maybe it's just me but this reminds me of communist spies defecting to the Soviet Union
Sun Jun 9, 2013, 11:32 PM
Jun 2013

does the average person stop and think that maybe China was behind his releasing all the information and that he didn't do it on his own?

roamer65

(36,747 posts)
6. Really reminds me of the Christopher Boyce affair from the '70's
Sun Jun 9, 2013, 11:39 PM
Jun 2013

Disillusioned at what we were doing, went to the Soviets with secrets and then found they were just as bad or worse.

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