International Federation of Journalists Condemns US "Desperate and Dangerous" Backlash over Wikile

www.ifj.org...

Snip:

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the political backlash being mounted against the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks and accused the United States of attacking free speech after it put pressure on the website's host server to shut down the site yesterday.

The website's host Amazon.com blocked access to WikiLeaks after United States officials condemned the torrent of revelations about political, business and diplomatic affairs that has given people around the world unprecedented access to detailed information from United States sources, much of it embarrassing to leading public figures.

"It is unacceptable to try to deny people the right to know," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "These revelations may be embarrassing in their detail, but they also expose corruption and double-dealing in public life that is worthy of public scrutiny. The response of the United States is desperate and dangerous because it goes against fundamental principles of free speech and democracy."

The IFJ has taken no position on the justification for the release of hundreds of thousands of internal documents which have made headlines around the world in the last few days, but it has welcomed the decision of WikiLeaks to use respected channels of journalism including Der Spiegel, The Guardian, the New York Times, Le Monde and El Pais to filter the information.

"This information is being processed by serious, professional journalists who are well aware of their responsibilities both to the public and to people implicated in these revelations," said White. "It is simply untenable to allege as some people have that lives are being put at risk here. The only casualty here is the culture of secrecy that has for too long drawn a curtain around the unsavory side of public life."

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The most shocking issue in this situation, for many people across the world, is emerging as the vicious attack being waged by US and some other governments across the world. TThey could have responded differently.

Free speech has been eroded at an alarming pace in recent years, and the vicious response of the US and some other governments actually exposes how they are prepared to trample on the laws that protect investigative journalism and free speech -including the public's right to know. The world seems to be becoming galvanised on this issue, which may be a very good thing. Free speech has been implemented by stealth, bit by bit, but this situation has thrust it into the light of massive public scrutiny...which is what must happen to stop totalitarian laws from creeping in in the twilight. As WL say themselves - Lights On! Rats Out!

You know what really gets me about this whole WikiLeaks thing? It's the disparity between government overreaction to the leaks & Joe Publics reaction. Most of us proles are saying 'big deal, who cares' or 'show us the good stuff'. Lets be honest, nothing has really come out so far that would make any of us gasp.

Since the governments who this stuff relates to have access to the resources required to decrypt the insurance file, you have to wonder whether there's an atomic bomb in there that Assange is using as leverage of some sort & the ptb have gone into overdrive to put a lid on it before we get to find out? This in mind, you have to wonder if the current leaks are merely a carrot (or stick, depending on your position) But to what end Mr Assange?

Originally posted by HelionPrime
You know what really gets me about this whole WikiLeaks thing? It's the disparity between government overreaction to the leaks & Joe Publics reaction. Most of us proles are saying 'big deal, who cares' or 'show us the good stuff'. Lets be honest, nothing has really come out so far that would make any of us gasp.

Since the governments who this stuff relates to have access to the resources required to decrypt the insurance file, you have to wonder whether there's an atomic bomb in there that Assange is using as leverage of some sort & the ptb have gone into overdrive to put a lid on it before we get to find out? This in mind, you have to wonder if the current leaks are merely a carrot (or stick, depending on your position) But to what end Mr Assange?

Yep, he may even have informed them what's in there. They are visibly totally freaked about something!

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