Freedom of Information and Expression along with Freedom of the Press are tenets that societies are built on.
The Right to say what you feel or write an opinion is what many of us are enjoying both on and off line. Where are the limits, if any, to these freedoms?
The Rights accorded persons and news media must be measured against the interest and well being of the people. Else we will have a situation where random and rampant abuse of those privileges prevails.Alongside these rights are also parameters within which we must operate lest we become liable for the infringement of a variety of laws. Simply put, these freedoms come with responsibility.
The Internet and online media removed the boundaries of global communication. Say one thing and the whole world knows about it because it has gained a viral life of its own and the spread is rapid and extensive.
Julian Assange, an Australian who runs a news organization or business driven by the desire to un-classify what was hitherto classified. Nothing and particularly Government information was sacred anymore.
Leaks offered to and presented by WikiLeaks included cable, email and memo transmissions between government officials in and of various countries.
The public suddenly has been thrust into the world of government and intriguingly, the darker side of government business.
This can only be a good thing for the furtherance of the Freedom of Information tenet.
However, without limitations, the exposure of sensitive information and transmissions stands to endanger not just individuals but also government administrations. Relationships within and with other countries may well be strained, as we have to review the basis for such relationships based on the disclosures made by WikiLeaks.
There is the popular side, as we describe football stadia sometimes, where many who had hitherto made guesses about the rationale behind certain leadership decisions are excited by the insight given to such decisions by the leaks.
Suddenly, we think we now know why the War in the Gulf took place. We are better aware of the actions and acts of major oil conglomerates in the Nigeria Delta Region of Nigeria. We now know what the US Secretary of State thought of some of the country’s supposed allies, enemies and threats from regions of the world. Everyone is captivated by the leaks and what it says about their country’s leadership.
The Bad side of this information explosion is the conviction of thoughts that only existed in bars and roadside cafes.
Allegations and rumours now seem to be confirmed or solidly refuted based on all of this. There will still remain a divide between the believers and non-believers of any government in any country regardless.
The Ugly part of this whole saga is the realizations that dawn on the public regarding certain issues affecting them.
Whilst 150m Nigerians wondered what had become of their President, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, everyone else seemed to know and were making clandestine moves to seize control of their nation.
It is not news that the major powers of the world tend to know more about any country and happenings within than the people of the country themselves.
No major surprise that the Americans, British, French, Russians, Chinese or even Germans would know that Nigeria was on the verge of disaster at many points in her history and more so recently.
A bit more of concern were the disclosures of alleged conversations pointing to the influence of Shell, the oil major, on the government of Nigeria. The troubles in the Niger Delta and the causes propagated by those ‘fighting’ as militants may be in danger as conviction and anger grows borne out of the disclosures, true or not.
One wonders which is the greater achievement or the greater evil between the extent of the disclosures, and what it means for freedom of information, or the extent of the embarrassment and potential danger to governments and people.
Presidents and other leaders may end up looking weak, strong, ill-informed or not even in control of their various administrations depending on how the disclosures are read and interpreted.
Regardless of the dangers, regardless of the impact of the disclosures on the rest of the world, Julian Assange has achieved two major things in his lifetime, so far.
He has given the world something to focus upon as a shield from the dire economic circumstances that prevail globally and he has also dealt a big blow to those who do not believe in giving the freedoms required for information dissemination and circulation.
While one side of the fence is celebrating, the other side is fuming whilst the onlookers are greatly amused.
Where do we go from here? Like the advent of Napster to the chagrin of the Music industry giants, you shut down WikiLeaks and many more who have been shown the light, will spring up and the virus can no longer be stopped.
Curiosly, I would be interested in knowing or having an insight into who killed JFK, Bola Ige, Dele Giwa, and Harry Marshall etc. than I would be concerned about if President Jonathan feels he is personally up to the job of presiding over Nigeria. I have already made a firm decision on that.
Julian Assange has certainly made his mark in today’s world. Chasing him around the world on a warrant over rape allegations can only seem like a witch hunt. The fear of WikiLeaks is the beginning of wisdom for many governments, leaders, diplomats and people.
What do you think? Good, Bad or simply too Ugly to contemplate the consequences?
