[governance] APC statement: A stand for WikiLeaks is a stand for freedom of information online

[Avri Doria]

Hi,

A very fine statement.

Thanks for sharing it.

a.

On 7 Dec 2010, at 09:39, Shahzad Ahmad wrote:

> Forwarded from APC Network. There is a statement about Wikileaks. Thought
> will be of interest to you. 
> 
> Best wishes and regards
> 
> Shahzad
> 
> ---------------------------------
> 
> APC says, A stand for WikiLeaks is a stand for freedom of information online
> 
> JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA TUESDAY DECEMBER 7 - The Association for
> Progressive Communications (APC) is deeply concerned about recent
> attempts by governments to limit access to online content recently
> published by whistleblower website WikiLeaks.
> 
> APC is also troubled by actions taken by private companies such as
> EveryDNS.net which disabled the domain name system services for
> WikiLeaks.org, Amazon which repealed web hosting services and Paypal
> which restricted access to WikiLeaks' account to prevent supporters from
> donating money.
> 
> APC believes that the ability to share information and communicate
> freely using the internet is vital to the realisation of human rights
> and to efforts to use the internet to contribute more accountable and
> transparent governance at global and national levels. A site like
> WikiLeaks can also play a vital role in aiding the fight against
> corruption in governments and corporations.
> 
> The APC Internet Rights Charter clearly states that:
> 
> *The internet must be protected from all attempts to silence critical
> voices and to censor social and political content or debate.
> 
> *Organisations, communities and individuals should be free to use the
> internet to organise and engage in protest.
> 
> *All information, including scientific and social research, that is
> produced with the support of public funds should be freely available to all.
> 
> As the world's longest-running online progressive network founded in
> 1990, APC has been troubled by trends over the last decade that show
> that such rights are increasingly violated and believes that the recent
> attempts to censor WikiLeaks provide additional reasons for concern.
> 
> The US government has been unable to provide evidence that lives have
> been put at risk by WikiLeaks disclosures.
> 
> APC appeals to all governments and the internet community to explicitly
> reject any form of online content control that limits freedom of
> expression and information, particularly information that contributes to
> more transparent governance, and that empowers citizens to hold their
> governments accountable. We urge them to assure the uninterrupted online
> presence of the WikiLeaks website.
> 
> A stand for WikiLeaks is a stand for freedom of information on the internet.
> 
> END
> 
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