5 ms·

Letter from the grave (2009)

143 points by toddrew 14y ago

11Blade 14y ago
Something many take for granted here in the U.S. is constantly under attack from corrupt governments and powerful organizations(cartels, financial conglomerates and multinationals) in the developed and developing world. I would dare say that even our own press is somewhat more bridled now then ever. My respects for a man who walked tall despite the threats to his family and life.
sshumaker 14y ago
Who is the power behind the throne the author is talking about? Is it Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the president's brother and minister of defense?
- rdudekul 14y ago
  According to the following account by his wife, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is responsible: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january122013/lasantha-vid.php http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january122013/lasantha-vi...
toddrew 14y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_the_Mexican_Drug_War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_t... During the time I lived in Mexico there were 10 journalists killed in the state of Veracruz where I lived. They were journalists that spoke out about government corruption or cartel violence. During the same time the entire police force of Veracruz were fired in one day and the navy replaced them. Currently there's blogo del narco, borderland beat and a few other places online to read uncensored stories, but almost all have the writer's name. Something like Wikileaks for safe, anonymous reporting would be great for these countries.
- te_chris 14y ago
  I've nearly finished reading this: http://www.amazon.com/El-Narco-Mexicos-Criminal-Insurgency/dp/1608194019/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361126486&sr=1-1&keywords=el+narco http://www.amazon.com/El-Narco-Mexicos-Criminal-Insurgency/d... Absolutely fascinating account of the violence and history of the cartels and central America as it relates to the cartels.
- danohuiginn 14y ago
  >Something like Wikileaks for safe, anonymous reporting would be great for these countries. Couldn't agree more. If anybody is interested in building something in this area, please get in touch with me. I'm part of a group of investigative journalists looking at organized crime and corruption (http://occrp.org/ http://occrp.org/). Security is a big worry for us -- our journalists regularly receive threats and other harassment. We've talked about setting up an anonymous publishing system, but don't have the capacity to build it ourselves. I'd love to talk with anybody who has thoughts on how to do anonymous reporting. Especially, how do you put something up anonymously or pseudonymously, but still publicise and get a decent readership for it?
  - napoleond 14y ago
    I would like to help you with this, or at least talk it through with you, but the site in your profile is down and no other contact information is listed. (You need to put your email in the "about" section for it to show up--the email field is not public.) My email is in my profile :)
  - doktrin 14y ago
    I would be happy to contribute to such a project, however security is not my domain and I am therefore ill-equipped to take the lead.
  - S4M 14y ago
    I'd like to do something for this idea if I can. Can you drop me an email (in my profile)? The website on your profile is down, so I don't know how to get in touch with you.
  - wfn 14y ago
    Perhaps consider reaching out to the security folk at e.g. Tor Project? They've multiple mailing lists (https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo) and many friendly people on them. In particular, 'tor-talk' often finds itself engaged in all sorts of general Tor / anonymity-related discussions as well as Tor-specific technical nuances. It is usually rather welcoming and often sensitive to more or less any security-related (especially when Tor software does / can play a role in them) issues and questions. Of course this is the 'less hairy' technical side of anonymity; probably what you have in mind would involve social as well as network/software-based infrastructure, especially if outreach / readership (as you said) are important (and I suppose they would be rather central, as impact would basically (maybe) very much be / is a function of / directly depend(s) on readership sizes etc.) I suppose one would need to answer questions such as e.g. how to maintain an image of credibility(?) etc. if article authors only use pseudonyms. But making sure anonymity of the publishers / authors is possible at least in the narrow internet networking sense might be a start, perhaps.
- OGinparadise 14y ago
  Currently there's blogo del narco, borderland beat and a few other places online to read uncensored stories I have read a few of those stories and what I saw haunts me to this day. Never did I imagine that people would do such a thing to another human being. but almost all have the writer's name Part of me wants to call it bravery, but to me it's way too dangerous. You simply do not take any chances with such savages: they'll kill, rape, torture and then chop up you, your wife, daughter /son and everyone else dear to you. For all practical purposes the narcos have unlimited money, they have thousands of 'soldiers' in USA and can either pay them, wipe a debt off, initiation or just call in a favor. One phone call and it's done.
sbierwagen 14y ago
(2009)
- morsch 14y ago
  Another journalist from the same newspaper was shot (but not killed) today: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2013/02/17/attempt-to-silence-the-pen-again/ http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2013/02/17/attempt-to-silence-...
vincefutr23 14y ago
Interesting line - "we recognize that all human beings are created different." I feel as if humans are created equal, and are molded by different cultures. Nevertheless I agree with his plea for reverence of differences.
- jasonshen 14y ago
  Culture isn't the only thing that separates people. We aren't blank slates and this means we are not "equal" in the sense of being "exactly the same". That's what he means by "created different". I think you mean we are born with equal moral value / rights.
diego 14y ago
This is definitely not news, and it's a general interest article that's not particularly related to hackers in any way. Top spot on Hacker News right now. Admins, the community is telling you something: this site has become a Reddit clone with a more highbrow tone. Edit: if you downvote, please reply too.
- 11Blade 14y ago
  Its a leap, but perhaps the appeal to hackers is the same as journalists, transparency and sunlight are the enemy to those that which to oppress, control and dominate. Perhaps hackers are the few technorati that can effect transparent information sharing without journalists and editors being threatened and murdered. just a thought
- _delirium 14y ago
  I thought it was interesting, though I didn't vote on it either way. It seems reasonably meaty and brings up some interesting questions about journalism and governance. I guess it's not the best thing I've seen on HN, but I wouldn't put it among the top things I would like to see less of on HN either (self-help-book-style blog posts about "lifehacking", dieting/fitness plans, etc., are #1 on that list).
- eli 14y ago
  I didn't downvote you, but I'm not sure this is a helpful comment. I flagged the story because I think that's a much more useful and direct way to express that you don't think a certain story belongs on this site. And I realize I'm being a hypocrite here, but the only thing worse than off-topic stories is lengthy debates over what is and is not off-topic. (And, incidentally, the stories on HN tend to get rather off-topic over the weekend when, I imagine, much of its core user base is not checking the site. I wouldn't sweat it too much.)
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- doktrin 14y ago
  I enjoyed reading it. It was a sobering reminder of some highly relevant struggles and challenges concerned citizens the world over face. The argument can be made there are "other" forums where I could digest this information, but I don't really check "other" forums - I visit HN. I'm glad to get an occasional diversion from the otherwise fairly insular SV-centric content. Perhaps I lack your sensibilities regarding what constitutes acceptable content on HN, but this is not a post / contribution I would think of flagging.

143 points by toddrew 14y ago

Something many take for granted here in the U.S. is constantly under attack from corrupt governments and powerful organizations(cartels, financial conglomerates and multinationals) in the developed and developing world. I would dare say that even our own press is somewhat more bridled now then ever. My respects for a man who walked tall despite the threats to his family and life.

sshumaker 14y ago

Who is the power behind the throne the author is talking about? Is it Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the president's brother and minister of defense?

rdudekul 14y ago
According to the following account by his wife, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is responsible: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january122013/lasantha-vid.php http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january122013/lasantha-vi...

toddrew 14y ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_the_Mexican_Drug_War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_t... During the time I lived in Mexico there were 10 journalists killed in the state of Veracruz where I lived. They were journalists that spoke out about government corruption or cartel violence. During the same time the entire police force of Veracruz were fired in one day and the navy replaced them. Currently there's blogo del narco, borderland beat and a few other places online to read uncensored stories, but almost all have the writer's name. Something like Wikileaks for safe, anonymous reporting would be great for these countries.

te_chris 14y ago
I've nearly finished reading this: http://www.amazon.com/El-Narco-Mexicos-Criminal-Insurgency/dp/1608194019/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361126486&sr=1-1&keywords=el+narco http://www.amazon.com/El-Narco-Mexicos-Criminal-Insurgency/d... Absolutely fascinating account of the violence and history of the cartels and central America as it relates to the cartels.
danohuiginn 14y ago
>Something like Wikileaks for safe, anonymous reporting would be great for these countries. Couldn't agree more. If anybody is interested in building something in this area, please get in touch with me. I'm part of a group of investigative journalists looking at organized crime and corruption (http://occrp.org/ http://occrp.org/). Security is a big worry for us -- our journalists regularly receive threats and other harassment. We've talked about setting up an anonymous publishing system, but don't have the capacity to build it ourselves. I'd love to talk with anybody who has thoughts on how to do anonymous reporting. Especially, how do you put something up anonymously or pseudonymously, but still publicise and get a decent readership for it?
- napoleond 14y ago
  I would like to help you with this, or at least talk it through with you, but the site in your profile is down and no other contact information is listed. (You need to put your email in the "about" section for it to show up--the email field is not public.) My email is in my profile :)
- doktrin 14y ago
  I would be happy to contribute to such a project, however security is not my domain and I am therefore ill-equipped to take the lead.
- S4M 14y ago
  I'd like to do something for this idea if I can. Can you drop me an email (in my profile)? The website on your profile is down, so I don't know how to get in touch with you.
- wfn 14y ago
  Perhaps consider reaching out to the security folk at e.g. Tor Project? They've multiple mailing lists (https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo) and many friendly people on them. In particular, 'tor-talk' often finds itself engaged in all sorts of general Tor / anonymity-related discussions as well as Tor-specific technical nuances. It is usually rather welcoming and often sensitive to more or less any security-related (especially when Tor software does / can play a role in them) issues and questions. Of course this is the 'less hairy' technical side of anonymity; probably what you have in mind would involve social as well as network/software-based infrastructure, especially if outreach / readership (as you said) are important (and I suppose they would be rather central, as impact would basically (maybe) very much be / is a function of / directly depend(s) on readership sizes etc.) I suppose one would need to answer questions such as e.g. how to maintain an image of credibility(?) etc. if article authors only use pseudonyms. But making sure anonymity of the publishers / authors is possible at least in the narrow internet networking sense might be a start, perhaps.
OGinparadise 14y ago
Currently there's blogo del narco, borderland beat and a few other places online to read uncensored stories I have read a few of those stories and what I saw haunts me to this day. Never did I imagine that people would do such a thing to another human being. but almost all have the writer's name Part of me wants to call it bravery, but to me it's way too dangerous. You simply do not take any chances with such savages: they'll kill, rape, torture and then chop up you, your wife, daughter /son and everyone else dear to you. For all practical purposes the narcos have unlimited money, they have thousands of 'soldiers' in USA and can either pay them, wipe a debt off, initiation or just call in a favor. One phone call and it's done.

sbierwagen 14y ago

(2009)

morsch 14y ago
Another journalist from the same newspaper was shot (but not killed) today: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2013/02/17/attempt-to-silence-the-pen-again/ http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2013/02/17/attempt-to-silence-...

vincefutr23 14y ago

Interesting line - "we recognize that all human beings are created different." I feel as if humans are created equal, and are molded by different cultures. Nevertheless I agree with his plea for reverence of differences.

jasonshen 14y ago
Culture isn't the only thing that separates people. We aren't blank slates and this means we are not "equal" in the sense of being "exactly the same". That's what he means by "created different". I think you mean we are born with equal moral value / rights.

diego 14y ago

This is definitely not news, and it's a general interest article that's not particularly related to hackers in any way. Top spot on Hacker News right now. Admins, the community is telling you something: this site has become a Reddit clone with a more highbrow tone. Edit: if you downvote, please reply too.

11Blade 14y ago
Its a leap, but perhaps the appeal to hackers is the same as journalists, transparency and sunlight are the enemy to those that which to oppress, control and dominate. Perhaps hackers are the few technorati that can effect transparent information sharing without journalists and editors being threatened and murdered. just a thought
_delirium 14y ago
I thought it was interesting, though I didn't vote on it either way. It seems reasonably meaty and brings up some interesting questions about journalism and governance. I guess it's not the best thing I've seen on HN, but I wouldn't put it among the top things I would like to see less of on HN either (self-help-book-style blog posts about "lifehacking", dieting/fitness plans, etc., are #1 on that list).
eli 14y ago
I didn't downvote you, but I'm not sure this is a helpful comment. I flagged the story because I think that's a much more useful and direct way to express that you don't think a certain story belongs on this site. And I realize I'm being a hypocrite here, but the only thing worse than off-topic stories is lengthy debates over what is and is not off-topic. (And, incidentally, the stories on HN tend to get rather off-topic over the weekend when, I imagine, much of its core user base is not checking the site. I wouldn't sweat it too much.)
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
doktrin 14y ago
I enjoyed reading it. It was a sobering reminder of some highly relevant struggles and challenges concerned citizens the world over face. The argument can be made there are "other" forums where I could digest this information, but I don't really check "other" forums - I visit HN. I'm glad to get an occasional diversion from the otherwise fairly insular SV-centric content. Perhaps I lack your sensibilities regarding what constitutes acceptable content on HN, but this is not a post / contribution I would think of flagging.