Online Rebellion
The year was 2006. The year when the netizens witnessed a hitherto unheard of a rebellion that shook the cyber world. The most sensational event in the field of journalism "Wiki Leaks" took birth.
What made "Wiki Leaks" a sensation.
Let me start with a simple example. Suppose, a Prime minister or a President of a country went on a goodwill tour to another country. Whatever the Prime minister or the president speaks openly in the Diplomats meet, press conferences or an official banquets will be covered by the national and international media. Generally, these speeches are harmless. These speeches reveal the policies and objectives of the country represented by its Prime minister or head of the state of that country.
But, if the same PM or the President reveals his secret thoughts and policies within inner circles or to the different ambassadors or embassies of that country located in different countries, they speak of that particular country's real face and real attitude.
Naturally, such things are highly guarded secrets.But, such highly guarded secrets brought in to light. How? Answers can be found in the following lines of the article.
The first success of Wiki Leaks.
A group of 60 tiny islands in the Indian ocean are called ' Chagos Islands'. The inhabitants of these islands are of African descent known as Chagossians.
Great Britain, not only occupied an area of 5,44000 square kilometers of land around Chagos islands, but declared the occupied area as , "Environment preservation and protection zone”, though there was a dispute going on about the ownership of Chagos islands between Britain and Mauritius since years.
In 60s, America planned a military base in the largest islands of Chagos islands, Diego Garcia. Britain agreed to hire the island to America. As a part of the agreement, Britain in 70s Made the locals evacuate Diego Garcia. In this connection Britain faced the allegations that it threatened the locals with dire consequences if they refuse to evacuate.The hapless inhabitants, described by the Americans as "Forest dwellers", had to live in Britain and Mauritius as second class citizens in those countries facing social and financial discrimination. But, they never left the hope of returning back to their Motherland.
In this scenario, the agreement reached between Britain and America, which comes to an end in 2016, was either to be renewed or to be added new conditions in order to be carried further. Negotiations in this connection went on.In 2009, Collin Roberts, foreign affairs in charge of Britain, sent a cable to the American ambassador's office said that in The area declared by Britain as, Environment preservation and protection zone, no human will set foot.
Is this this the real intention of Britain ? Is this plot behind Britain's sinister thought of doing business in a large scale which drove the innocent and unsuspecting natives from their legal homes?
Wiki Leaks exposed the real intentions of Britain. Basing on this cable, the victims of Chago islands filed a case in Britain.
It goes without saying, Britain had no proofs to thwart the allegations. As a result, a case has been registered and a highly placed officer received the summons to defend Britain.
What are these Cables?
Ever since Wiki Leaks started its activities in 2006, Wiki Leaks released lakhs of Cables. Majority of the Cables are related with America.
A Cable consists either a conversation got by tapping a phone or a secretly pictured video by secret cameras.
But what's the origin of the word "Cable"?
The word Cable in the present context means, a secret written message. It's a communication that takes place between a country and it's embassies in other countries.
Origins.
In the 19th century cables laid under the sea used to carry the messages sent in the lines of Telegrams. That's why such messages earned the name Cables.
Now with the advanced technology, no country uses the Morse code to communicate with it's embassies located in other countries. In 20th century, Radio waves carried the messages.Now E-Mails are in vogue. But because of the importance of the messages, countries are using networks not accessible to the general public.
Though the medium of cable is no more in use, it's origin remained even today.
As an example, an official of the embassy sends the details of Manmohan Singh's visit of Japan or any other country through an E-mail. But, China's reactions or feelings on the tour of Manmohan Singh's Japan tour will be sent through a cable.
About Julian Assange.
Julian Assange, the founder of Wiki Leaks was a hacker when he was in teens. He was born in Australia in the year 1971.He started Wiki Leaks in Iceland in the year 2006. He toured many countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Belgium to name a few. All along he maintained Wiki Leaks as a secret Movement. He carried his mission for some time from Sweden. But because of the allegations of sexual harassment on two women, European union served an arrest warrant on Assange. With this Assange had to come to Britain. He challenged the arrest warrant, which was struck off by Britain court. Since 2012' Assange took political asylum in the embassy of Ecuador in London.
Functioning of Wiki Leaks.
The team under the leadership of Assange consists of journalists, software programmers and network engineers. Wiki Leaks is not just restricted to exposure of Cables. It exposes conversations over the phones and Videos also. For this purpose Wiki Leaks avails the services of willing government employees, officers, corporate professionals and anyone who has the access to information, which Wiki Leaks thinks worthy of exposure. In other words a government's secrets hidden under the wraps, but necessary for the people's interests and attention.
The information providers are known as "Sources."
"We don't ask for the information. We don't refuse the information that comes from the willing sources." is the motto of Wiki Leaks.
"Sources" are the strength of Wiki Leaks.
Wiki Leaks takes care of the authenticity of the information. Depending on the necessity Wiki Leaks goes in to the field to verify the veracity of the information. Anyhow their way of functioning is a closely guarded secret. They use unique and most innovative methods. Nobody knows where their Servers are located. Under any circumstances, the identity of the source will not be revealed. It believes firmly in the Journalistic code of conduct.
Structure of Wiki Leaks.
Except the name of Assange and to some extent, the name of the official representative Daniel Doumesheet berg, none of the details pertaining to 1200 members of Wiki Leaks are known because of danger to their lives.People from 4 different continents ranging from old to young and men to women are actively involved with Wiki Leaks.All of them can speak 10 languages fluently. All of them lived abroad for their education or for other reasons. Many are Master degree holders and doctorates.The entire organization survives on donations.
Wiki Leaks related to India.
A few days before the 1971 Indo- Pak war, the then PM, Indira Gandhi toured America and expressed her confidence that America will not support Pakistan with the American president Richard Nixon. But America not only supported Pakistan , but America's foreign secretary, when he met Nixon in White House used a derogatory word to describe the PM of India as, "old witch."
This information was leaked by Wiki Leaks
More leaks about India.
During the regime of Henry Kissinger as the foreign secretary of America, Wiki Leaks leaked that, the then Socialist leader George Fernandes approached the CIA, for funds. But it did not take place. Leela, Fernandes's wife dismissed the information as a piece of fiction. In the year 1976' during the emergency period, American ambassador in India sent a cable to his country that Sanjay Gandhi, second son of Indira Gandhi, has grown in to an Extra constitutional power. During the same year in August, Wiki Leaks said that there were three attempts on the life of Sanjay Gandhi.
Before Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime minister of India, Wiki Leaks released a cable saying that Rajiv Gandhi acted as a middleman in the proceedings of a deal between Saab - Scania of Sweden and India , for selling fighter air craft .
Mother of all Wiki Leaks.
The biggest ever leak from Wiki Leaks, known as Collateral murder video has created a storm in the world. The source for this sensational video was an American soldier Bradley Manning who was posted in Iraq during America - Iraq war in the year 2009. Bradley has sent a video and three lakhs cables to Wiki Leaks, which released the cables and the video in the year 2010.
It has become famous as " the collateral murder video of 2007."
Contents of the video.
The video presented the atrocities of American forces. It was on 12th July, 2007, the patrolling helicopters fired on 11 people on the land, which included Nameer Noor, a Reuters photographer and his 40 year old driver. Another driver, who came to lift the wounded was also dead along with two girls.
This video mirrored the murderous attitude of America towards Iraq.
Birth of many other leaks.
- Inspired by Wiki Leaks, many leaking organizations came in to existence. They are:
- Trade Leaks with the aim to leak commercial atrocities.
- Brussels leaks with the aim to leak in the European Union's activities.
- Open Leaks on the lines of Wiki Leaks.
- Balkan Leaks with the aim of exposing the irregularities in Balkan countries like Bulgaria, Serbia.
- Indo Leaks with an aim to expose the atrocities and irregularities in Indonesia.
- Ra Leaks, with an aim to expose the inadequacies in Russia.
Transparency is the criteria.
Wiki Leaks promises that each leak will be accompanied by, a commentary and the supporting proof.It's aim is to see that Freedom of expression is held aloft. Through this, Wiki Leaks aims to project transparency in the political economical and envoy related affairs between the countries.
Ultimately Wiki Leaks vows to consolidate and strengthen democracy and Press freedom.
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