WikiLeaks: A Battle for the Truth?

My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and

collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government. Barack Obama

 E vidently, this statement signifies the importance of having transparent governance systems and ensuring the public’s participation in decisionmaking processes which can be called “a greater democracy.” However, the WikiLeaks revelations have raised much controversy on whether such transparency is desired within the ruling framework. Some condemn it for being irresponsible, illegal and an institution of terror. 

Others praise it for propagating the ‘truth’ and defend freedom of the press. Needless to state, WikiLeaks has tried the limits of transparency and censorship in modern day journalism and government affairs. Many statespersons and  governments appear rattled and threatened by the leaks especially the United States whose Justice Department was reported of their aims to prosecute Julian Assange, the founder of the site, and WikiLeaks under the Espionage Act. Numerous private companies and online payment systems such as Visa, Mastercard and PayPal terminated their services in response to protect their “terms of service” and hinder the organisation’s “illegal” leaking activities. Some of these terminations or suspensions were also cited as a result of indirect pressure from the US government, for example, the US Senator Joe Lieberman had personal interference in Amazon and Tableau Software’s closure of services to WikiLeaks. Amazon has denied such pressure to be a factor.

  In general, the leaks have been scripted to risk national security of the US and the lives of people in other countries. However, such claims remain to be proven and WikiLeaks is yet to be judged in the court of law. Nevertheless, the radical actions taken against the organisation, in

spite of the lack of evidence of illegal conduct and judgement by law, raises much concern

on existence of democracy. It is not the leaks which are alarming but the fundamentalist reactions of the government to neutralize and discourage citizens and journalists to exercise their power and freedom in raising their voice to spread the truth and efforts made for promoting  accountability of abusive power structures On the other hand, numerous media institutions and the public have expressed their support and sympathy to WikiLeaks. In a letter sent to Prime Minister Julia Gillard which was initiated by the Walkley Foundation and signed by ten members of the Walkley Advisory Board and elites of the Australian media, the following statement was made.

“In essence, WikiLeaks, an organisation that aims to expose official secrets, is doing what the media have always done: bringing to light material that governments would prefer to keep secret. It is the media’s duty to responsibly report such material if it comes into their possession. To aggressively attempt to shut WikiLeaks down, to threaten to prosecute those who publish official leaks, and to pressure companies to cease doing commercial business with WikiLeaks, is a serious threat to democracy, which relies on a free and fearless press.”

So what happened to freedom of expression and freedom of the press? What happened to the

potential human rights violations revealed through the leaks? Why are they not being investigated but an institution’s commitment in disseminating the ‘truth’ to the public is being “hunted” by the very system which preaches openness, participation and accountability? Are these the government’s attempts to promote justice and democracy or is it an institution of hypocrisy committed to secretive atrocities? WikiLeaks is an exemplary proof of what the free web and independency of a media organisation can achieve in terms of holding the potentially abusive power holders and structures accountable to the public and other stakeholders. 

According to Julian Assange, WikiLeaks has published more classified documents than the rest of the world press combined. He adds the following remark:

''That's not something I say as a way of saying how successful we are - rather, that shows you the parlous state of the rest of the media. How is it that a team of five people has managed to release to the public more suppressed information, at that level, than the rest of the world press combined? It's disgraceful.”

Regarding human rights violations and abusive practices, media institutions have either been manipulated by the power-holders to keep the citizens in an eclipse of awareness or they have miserably failed in their efforts and duty as a watchdog to expose abusive acts, for example, the controversial and indiscriminate killings of civilians revealed in the leaked video called “Collateral Murder.” WikiLeaks presents the need for independent press institutions which can efficiently deliver unbiased and free-from-influence reports to the public. This is in the interest of achieving that “greater democracy.” Today, we live in a technological era where the possibilities of new media, web journalism and relative ease of communication have promoted citizen journalism to a great extent. Citizens, independent journalists and media institutions are able to have a more active and participatory role in influencing matters which concern them and their respective families, communities, society, and even international communities. People are more easily, rapidly, independently and in unity able to report about human rights abuses, developmental needs, or other sensitive issues which require local, national and international interventions. People are freed from the chains of influences which function against humanity and below the surface. If freedom of expression and freedom of the press is not protected, then the public risk being voiceless and powerless and decision makers and governments can enjoy immunity to consequences of their actions committed against the law and human rights.

 Regarding WikiLeaks, we are witnessing a monumental period in history where governments and power holders are required to mirror their decisions and actions and respond to the international community. An attempt in disempowering and neutralizing voices which enabled such accountability is an attempt to “assassinate” the ‘truth’ and our fundamental rights. As Ron Paul, the Republican Congressman of Texas stated:

"In a free society we're supposed to know the truth.”

"In a society where truth becomes treason, then we're in

big trouble."

(Author can be reached at lawin.khalil@silcreation.org)