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Wikileaks, a deadly sparkler or a candid rebuff
By Barrister Amjad Malik
Wikileaks is throwing an important and sensitive leaked information in public arena and have published material of ethical, political and historical significance while keeping the identity of sources anonymous, providing a universal way for the revealing of suppressed and censored info of which public have a right to know. The Freedom of Information Act in many western countries allow access to certain levels of governmental information at some stage giving light to how the business of Govt was conducted, but the magnitude and flow of current revelations acting as a deadly sparkler or a candid rebuff to all those who opened their mouth without thinking as to what they are saying and what if this information may come in the public domain in sometimes sooner. Let’s see who has to gain or lose as a result of these indecent exposures.
First of all, it’s beyond imagination that the only superpower of the world was not aware of the contents to be leaked, so without believing in conspiracy theories , I will say that information which was not prejudicial to national security of the United states was allowed to be freed by third party which has no potential to damage the home country. Of course, it caused embarrassment but to whom at best to some diplomats but mostly foreign leaders, and USA had an excuse to blame the culprit who stole the documents and the one who published it, thus it played a victim of crime. But the leaked communication mostly are the conversations of dignitaries reported by the Diplomats gauging the situation. Most of it is one sided, nothing from USA govt to the outer world but inwards from overseas to USA mainland, so lion share of shame is scooped by head of states overseas mysteriously.
Looking at the information leaked, critics feel that it’s not highly sensitive or classified documents but a lower tier exchanges of Foreign Office Bureaucracy which cause no harm to Govts, but their exposure pose a significant embarrassment to the ones who are the centre of discussion and are a mouthpiece .
I think this leak will contain a lot of irrelevant rubbish mixed with a few useful exchanges making headlines. Topping the rank is King Abdullah’s support for Iran’s invasion, and Pakistan’s nuclear assets and concerns surrounding it. King Abdullah’s gossip with US high ups will cause a stir and will widen the gulf between sectarian based religious divide and Iran which is already positioning to raise highly volatile political issues such as Palestine’s liberation siding by Hizbullah opposing Israel, it will take advantage from the inner hate of Saudi Arabia to unite Shiats.
One thing is for sure that these leaks have posed a serious risk to unorthodox means of exchanges between diplomats and there will be a full scale review in imminent future towards the methods, language, and mechanism of communication. It will also call for a review of storage facility of the data which consist of such exchanges in an interception free mechanism which have the potential to stir foreign relations with countries and its leaders. We may see old coded language back or very succinct and diplomatic language in the future exchanges. But being the most powerful in a unipolar system gives an advantage to USA that it just has to say sorry in a bid to erect damage control process with a promise that next time their allies faithful verbatim will not be allowed to go public. They could have stopped and ceased this disclosure too but there is always a next time and besides these leaders were needed to be taught a lesson too, which is to try and be faithful to their own countries too for once. The media has proportionately served the national interest to separate chaff from grain and highlighted the issues which are of public interest and best suited to their country’s inner and outer policy.
In Pakistan’s relevance its astonishing that Former Premier was thanking USA for supporting the appointment of the COAS General Kiyani, and sitting President was fearful of his life and yet another coup and was sharing it with a foreign country envoy rather than his own party. He was further eyeing on his sister for his succession ignoring all the stalwarts of his party who has served the party for decades. Some rightly say that in Pakistan democracy starts from the courtyard of leaders and ends in the backyard hence military comes and goes like a wind so easily as no one is there even in hundreds willing to oppose their rule. Democracy in the grass root level has never been a priority of these leaders. Pakistani leaders are expert enough to deny any exchanges and no matter how deadly the revelations are there will be utter and complete denial or a challenge to the varsity of the leaked exchanges. Concerns about nuclear arsenal are part of an established campaign against Pakistani armament and are not a new thing as Pakistan faces more deadly attacks from Indian side than the West. One thing is for sure that Wikileaks have ignited a debate internationally and created a global fever to know more so let’s foresee and forecast what is next, you never know in the rubbish one finds a golden key one day, though it’s like finding a needle in a haystack.
Barrister Amjad Malik is a Chair of Association of Pakistani lawyers (UK)
Thursday, 02 December 2010
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