HONG KONG — Edward Snowden broke two days of silence Wednesday to further explain his decision to flee to Hong Kong, saying he wanted its legal system and its people to “decide my fate.”
In an interview with the South China Morning Post posted online late Wednesday, Snowden said he stood by his decision to come to this semiautonomous city after leaking documents about a high-level U.S. surveillance program.
“People who think I made a mistake in picking Hong Kong as a location misunderstood my intentions,” he said in the interview. “I am not here to hide from justice; I am here to reveal criminality.”
He added, “I have had many opportunities to flee HK, but I would rather stay and fight the United States government in the courts, because I have faith in Hong Kong’s rule of law.”
By speaking with Hong Kong’s oldest English-language newspaper, Snowden seemed to be directly addressing the city he has chosen as his safe harbor.
Some in Hong Kong are responding. A rally is being organized Saturday to support the 29-year-old former government contractor, who has been in the city since May 20. A Web site, www.supportsnowden.org, has been set up with details about the event, which will include speeches from human rights activists and local legislators.
Activists in Hong Kong said they admired Snowden’s effort to shed light on his government’s practices.
“He is a brave man. The authorities cannot use the ‘anti-terrorism’ excuse to invade people’s privacy without boundaries,” said Yang Kuang, a prominent Hong Kong activist. “I hope more and more people will stand out and expose such practices.”
Snowden said in his interview that he has “been given no reason to doubt [Hong Kong’s] legal system.”
“My intention is to ask the courts and people of Hong Kong to decide my fate,” Snowden said.
Snowden is up against an extradition treaty between the United States and Hong Kong that many view as being clear — that in the vast majority of cases, Hong Kong must cooperate with U.S. government requests for help apprehending suspected criminals.
The United States has yet to file a formal extradition request, although there are other ways for the governments to be cooperating.
James To Kun-sun, a Hong Kong legislator and solicitor, said that even without an extradition request, the United States can ask Hong Kong law enforcement to watch Snowden while the U.S. Justice Department moves on its investigation. The FBI has a legal attache in Hong Kong, and Snowden has also identified a CIA presence in the city.
“I suspect in this case .
In an interview with the South China Morning Post posted online late Wednesday, Snowden said he stood by his decision to come to this semiautonomous city after leaking documents about a high-level U.S. surveillance program.
“People who think I made a mistake in picking Hong Kong as a location misunderstood my intentions,” he said in the interview. “I am not here to hide from justice; I am here to reveal criminality.”
He added, “I have had many opportunities to flee HK, but I would rather stay and fight the United States government in the courts, because I have faith in Hong Kong’s rule of law.”
By speaking with Hong Kong’s oldest English-language newspaper, Snowden seemed to be directly addressing the city he has chosen as his safe harbor.
Some in Hong Kong are responding. A rally is being organized Saturday to support the 29-year-old former government contractor, who has been in the city since May 20. A Web site, www.supportsnowden.org, has been set up with details about the event, which will include speeches from human rights activists and local legislators.
Activists in Hong Kong said they admired Snowden’s effort to shed light on his government’s practices.
“He is a brave man. The authorities cannot use the ‘anti-terrorism’ excuse to invade people’s privacy without boundaries,” said Yang Kuang, a prominent Hong Kong activist. “I hope more and more people will stand out and expose such practices.”
Snowden said in his interview that he has “been given no reason to doubt [Hong Kong’s] legal system.”
“My intention is to ask the courts and people of Hong Kong to decide my fate,” Snowden said.
Snowden is up against an extradition treaty between the United States and Hong Kong that many view as being clear — that in the vast majority of cases, Hong Kong must cooperate with U.S. government requests for help apprehending suspected criminals.
The United States has yet to file a formal extradition request, although there are other ways for the governments to be cooperating.
James To Kun-sun, a Hong Kong legislator and solicitor, said that even without an extradition request, the United States can ask Hong Kong law enforcement to watch Snowden while the U.S. Justice Department moves on its investigation. The FBI has a legal attache in Hong Kong, and Snowden has also identified a CIA presence in the city.
“I suspect in this case .