Thinking Wikileaks

SURAJ THAPA

Wikileaks has already come up with 251,287 leaked US embassy cables, the largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain. The documents gave people around the world an unprecedented insight into the US affairs abroad.

WikiLeaks claims to have brought the truth to the world by bringing forth fact-based stories without fear or favor. It has revealed important secret news and information to the public. They are trying to provide an innovative, secure and anonymous way for independent sources around the world to leak information to all journalists. They publish materials of ethical, political and historical significance while keeping the identity of their sources anonymous, thus providing a universal way for revealing suppressed and censored injustices.

The recent release of thousands

of sensitive diplomatic cables is

just the latest in a long list of “leaks” published by the secretive site, which has established a reputation for

publishing sensitive material from governments and other high-profile organisations.Wikileaks has got about 2,600 confidential documents

about Nepal out of which 2,278 were sent by the US mission in Nepal to his country. They give an idea as to what the Americans think about us and what they are planning to do.

But, more recently, the site has faced new challenges. The private life of Assange, its editor-in-chief, has been laid bare, and it has lost key staff and supporters. The site has also been targeted in a series of cyber attacks. Various firms, including web giant Amazon, have also terminated agreements to host the site and provide services to it. In addition, companies like Mastercard, Visa and PayPal have withdrawn the ability that allows people to donate to the site. Its Swiss bank account has also been closed.

But it is not the first time that the site has faced financial problems. Donations from individuals and organisations have saved the site. Only time will tell, if it can do it again with many sources of funding now cut off. Despite all of these setbacks, Wikileaks has largely remained defiantly online. It has moved its operations between various companies and countries. It has also encouraged volunteers to set up “mirrors” of the site-hosted on different servers around the world.