#right2know

Article by: Isaac Smoler Schatz

On Tuesday, May 21st, we went to the Right2Know Campaign office in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The organization’s core tenets focus on protest rights, communication rights, and participation in civil society. The scope of activities and projects in progress span from organizing protest marches in the Gauteng Province (which contains Johannesburg and Pretoria), driving litigation proceedings against telecom corporations and government agencies, and providing legal consulting and support for under-served groups.

We had the opportunity to meet with Thami Nkosi, Gauteng Province Campaigns Organizer, who explained the organization’s mission, some of the actions they’ve taken so far, and insights into the dense political history of South Africa’s young democracy. Although he condemned many practices by both politicians and civilians, he did so in such an eloquent and well-articulated manner that his passion, frustration, and hope for what the future holds for political discourse in this country showed. He stated that despite the effects of corruption permeating the executive and legislative branches of government, the bastion of democratic hope is alive thanks to the judiciary. Right2Know seeks amendments to the Protection of State Information Bill and opposes other legislation and policies that broaden state secrecy. In the private sector, R2K advocates for closer government oversight and regulation of telecom giants like MTN-SA, Vodacom, and Cell C who are culpable for some of the lack of accessibility to information due to price fixing and unreliable service for rural customers. Thami praised the judicial system that has delivered critical decisions ensuring the integrity of the other branches of government for its accountability to the people of South Africa.

As a CSI major on this journalism program, R2K definitely appealed to me and got me excited about the kind of activism Thami and the rest of his team continue to demonstrate.

#findnikiv #paintingnowww #gray #lovewins #Right2Know #labelGMOs (at DHS)

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I dunno, maybe the NSA can tell me better than I can what’s going in in my head!

Wegen des unklaren Ausgangs werden bis 12. Dezember in Oregon offiziell erneut die Stimmen gezählt für das Referendum Measure 92 zur Kennzeichnung von GVO Produkten

The South African press is being attacked on multiple fronts, warns Mark Weinberg of the Right2Know campaign, which is part of a “trend of authoritarianism challenging press freedom.”

Weinberg formed part of a panel of guest speakers who spoke at the Stellenbosch University Department of Journalism for International Press Freedom Day. The other guests included Jo Van Eeden, Editor of Volksblad, as well as Tim Du Plessis, head of Afrikaans newspapers at Media24.

Weinberg warned of a worrying trend in the government’s handling of the press, and noted, for instance, the resurgence of “old Apartheid laws”, such as the touting of the National Key Points Act to avoid damaging fallouts in increasing cases.

The threats highlighted at the event include much more than censorship and worrying legislation, such as the Protection of Information Bill, however.

Weinberg drew attention to the need for complete “media transformation”, and referenced the detrimental effects of the political economy of the immensely concentrated media businesses in South Africa.

“The primary business, is the business of business,” Weinberg explained in reference to the functioning of the South African media. Press freedom, he explained, is, thus, also threatened by the monopoly-like constitution of the media as business in South Africa, and “anti-trust laws” will be required to stop this threat.

In its current form, Weinberg noted, the South African media cannot, and “does not serve the information needs of our democracy.” To such an extent, that he added while gesturing quotation marks, “the compromise that was reached in 1994 – ‘freedom’ – has reached its limits.”

Responding to the need to legislate against monopolies in the media business, Tim Du Plessis, of Media24 a subsidiary of Naspers, retorted that no legislation was needed, since “the harsh reality facing our businesses will end [this status quo] by itself.”

Du Plessis explained that the extent of the threat from government’s side is more subtle than it seems, especially with regards to the political elite, who “adhere to the letter of the law [on the free press], but not the spirit of the law.

“Even with draconian laws, it will be difficult, in light of digitalisation, to fully suppress the media. Our current government is too inept to meaningfully suppress media freedom in the 21^st century.”

Jo Van Eeden noted the “fast lane journalism” associated with digitalisation, and how this was changing the media landscape. Her major concern, however, was the ethical backbone of journalism in such an age and under such threats.

Du Plessis remained optimistic, and said: “Press freedom is like a parachute – you only miss it when you really need it. But the season of incremental encroachment on media freedom will end at the end of the Zuma-era.”

http://www.r2k.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/SpyBill-new.jpg

Basically these are the charges you could be charged with if you dare decide to mess with the Secrecy Bill

Penalties in the Protection of State Information Bill (the Secrecy Bill)

Offences & Penalties in the Secrecy Bill:

A) 2 years – Failing to comply with the provisions of the Act if you are an official or the head of an organ of state.

B) 2 years - Intentionally destroying, removing, altering or erasing “valuable information”.

C) 5 years – Intentionally providing false information to a national intelligence structure.

D) 2 years – Gaining unauthorised access to any computer which belongs to the State.

E) 5 years – Modifying the contents of any computer which belongs to the State with the intention of impairing the operation of any computer, programme or data.

F) 10 years – Modifying or destroying classified information or otherwise rendering it ineffective.

G) 10 years - Producing, selling, designing, distributing or possessing any device which is designed to overcome security measures for the protection of state information, OR using such a device to overcome security measures designed to protect state information.

H) 5 years – Disclosing or possessing classified state information. Limited public interest defence.

I) 10 years - Intentionally intercepting any (electronically communicated) classified information without authority. No public interest defence.

J) 10 years - Harbouring or concealing a person who you know, or have reasonable grounds to believe or suspect, has committed or is about to commit an offence classified as espionage or hostile activities. No public interest defence.

K) 15 years – Classifying state information for ulterior motives, including to conceal corruption, incompetence, inefficiency or administrative error, or to prevent embarrassment. No public interest defence.

L) 20 years – ‘Hostile activities’: Communicating classified state information which you know would directly or indirectly benefit a non-state actor engaged in hostile activity that would prejudice the national security of the Republic. No public interest defence.

M) 25 years – ‘Espionage’: Communicating classified state information which you know, or ought reasonably to have known, would directly or indirectly benefit a foreign state. No public interest defence.

N) 25 years - ‘Espionage’: Receiving classified state information which you know would directly or indirectly benefit a foreign state to the detriment of the national security of the Republic. No public interest defence.

Information gathered from:

• http://www.r2k.org.za/2013/02/17/secret-state-of-the-nation-report

It is not all bloom and gloom after all; with the Right2Know campaigners on our side we have not yet been completely overthrown. This campaign is an establishment to confront the Secrecy Bill and was formed in August 2010 to do so but they have taken a stand in tackling issues which relate to that of the Secrecy Bill. However, we as a nation should continue to not have any high expectations so therefore don’t ululate just yet. I mean news reports claim that the government is already privatising the President’s Nkandla home expenditure investigation. Next thing you know they will drop the investigation all together. With that said there is no doubt in my mind that our president [WILL] pass this Bill with his Nkandla expenditure controversy which president would not want to cover its tracks. We need to consider that he has been face to face with the law on one too many occasions

Nonetheless this not to criticise but to create some awareness that citizens can easily join the Right2Know team to stand up against any secrecy from the government and derogatory clauses the Bill comes up with before and after it has been implemented. It is never too late to speak out and hopefully no one will be unfairly prosecuted once the Bill has been taken into play or else the government can expect an outburst from dissatisfied citizens especially from those who are part of the campaign.

This campaign aims at eliminating the cloud of secrecy that hovers in South Africa and that our rights are fully acknowledged particularly when it comes to issues mentioned in the State of The Nation Report. The Right2Know team simply states that “secrecy robs us all equally of the opportunity for real social justice” and I couldn’t agree more. Right2Know also prides itself at coming up with solutions for problematic factors involving access to information by society as well as taking into consideration the rights of whistle-blower. However, it is not a guarantee that the government will listen unless the team takes drastic measures.

The team also wishes to target National Security within our government as protestors rights are not being taken into consideration when it comes to expressing their views and feelings. Instead the standards in which policemen handle a protest are poor and have become very violent as though these men think the whole nation is at war. The president fails once again to acknowledge that such behaviour is unacceptable and this further puts the Right2Know protestors at risk, especially if they wish protest against any further dissatisfactory factors which involve the Secrecy Bill. Without a doubt police will disturb and intervene with their pistols if they feel the need to.  

Furthermore if you wish to join the movement feel free to log on to the Right2Know site:

·        www.r2k.org.za/info

Information gathered from:

·        http://www.r2k.org.za/2013/02/17/secret-state-of-the-nation-report/

The Right2Know Campaign has created a beautiful calendar celebrating South Africa’s brave, heroic whistleblowers. If you’re still looking for a calendar for 2013, why not order one (or two or three) of these? All you need to do is to donate a small sum to cover postage costs.

This weekend I went to a protest which was held to oppose The Secrecy Bill, also known as the South African Protection of State Information Bill. 

I made my way to South Africa House which acts as the South African High commission, an impressive building built in the 1930’s which borders the east side of Trafalgar Square. I arrived to see a small crowd which certainly overcame their lack of numbers with their overwhelming enthusiasm. The protesters were proudly wearing their brightly coloured South African flags, clothes and sportswear with placards pleading for freedom of speech and the peoples right to know. A letter was posted through the gates of the building containing all the signatures protesting the bill as no representative from the High Commission was present.

This bill would give the South African government the power and authority to classify,regulate and control information which is disseminated to the South African and international community. Anybody opposing this or leaking information could serve a jail term of up to 25 years. This will lead to a limited and regulated press which contradicts the right to freedom of speech, precisely what people fought so hard for in the dark days of Apartheid. The main concern is with the government regulating the media, who will regulate them? 

This weekend I saw people who love and care about their country and its future and this made me feel proud to be one of them

‘If freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we will be led like sheep to the slaughter’ George Washington