The Lifeboat News
[ Message Archive | The Lifeboat News ]

    Re: Craig Murray: A Swedish Court Injects Some Sense Archived Message

    Posted by Raskolnikov on June 5, 2019, 7:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Craig Murray: A Swedish Court Injects Some Sense"

    ...and yet those foul creatures can turn around and publish things like this with a straight face:

    https://www.dumptheguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/05/the-guardian-view-on-media-freedom-democracies-must-defend-it

    This week’s police raids on media organisations have sparked outrage in Australia. But concern should be felt much further afield. With media freedom under growing pressure worldwide, they are a reminder that in liberal democracies as well as dictatorships the work of journalists, in the public’s service, can be imperilled.

    On Tuesday, Australian federal police searched the home of a News Corp political editor who had reported that the nation’s surveillance agency was seeking to broaden its powers to spy on Australian citizens without their knowledge. Just a day later, they raided the national broadcaster ABC over stories on the clandestine operations of special forces in Afghanistan – including incidents of troops killing unarmed men and children.

    Both actions relate to stories that appeared well over a year ago. They are of clear public interest. They both relate to allegations of publishing classified material, contrary to the Crime Act. Police say that such publication could “undermine Australia’s national security”.

    To inform the people of what the government is doing in their name is not just a privilege of journalists but their duty. The national interest is not threatened by the embarrassment of authorities and institutions. What it cannot survive is the erosion of accountability. Raids like this week’s inevitably have a chilling effect, not only on reporters, but also on potential whistleblowers.

    Sound familiar to anyone over there at fraudian towers? Probably not above the deafening noise of cognitive dissonance.

    It wouldn't be quite so disgusting if they were consistent instead of constantly trying to juggle these double standards.

    Message Thread: