New at length statement released by Edward Snowden.
The gist of the message is that the Obama administration is using an “extralegal penalty” and violating his human rights by trying to have him extradited back to the United States.
There’s also this article out from Reuters – very strangely put together piece – based on a letter in Spanish which Snowden reportedly sent to Ecuador. The quotes make Snowden sound a little unhinged or perhaps like he’s playing to what he imagines his audience to be in Ecuador. But it also seems possible that the oddness of the language is a product of Reuters translation from Spanish back into English.
Here’s one passage …
“While the public has cried out support of my shining a light on this secret system of injustice, the Government of the United States of America responded with an extrajudicial man-hunt costing me my family, my freedom to travel, and my right to live peacefully without fear of illegal aggression.”
Possibly this was written in English, translated into Spanish and then translated back into English? And that accounted for some of the tone?
Tone aside, the gist is consistent with the more formal statement released through Wikileaks, which is that the government of the United States is somehow violating his human rights and acting in an extrajudicial manner by revoking his passport and trying to have him extradited to the United States. At a human level, no doubt, Snowden’s pretty screwed. It’s no fun to have the full force of the United States brought down on you like this. But is Snowden really surprised by any of this?
