WikiLeaks rival emerges

Several people behind the controversial website WikiLeaks have broken away from founder Julius Assange to create their own venue for public disclosure, according to Swedish website DN.se. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an insider from WikiLeaks disclosed that a new service for whistleblowers called "Openleaks" will be launched on Monday, December 13. "Our long term goal is to build a strong, transparent platform to support whistleblowers — both in terms of technology and politics — while at the same time encouraging others to start similar projects," the official told DN.se. "As a short-term goal, this is about completing the technical infrastructure and ensuring that the organization continues to be democratically governed by all its members, rather than limited to one group or individual," the official added. The source also told DN.se that Openleaks will be complementary to WikiLeaks. "The two organizations are similar in that aspect that both are focusing on providing means for whistleblowers to anonymously provide the public with information," a source was quoted as saying. According to DN.se's source, Openleaks will differ from WikiLeaks in that it will not be for direct public consumption. Instead, documents submitted to Openleaks will be processed and published by collaborating third parties. All editorial control and responsibility is expected to be passed on to the publishing organizations. "We intend to split the work in a way where we handle only the anonymity and receiving end of the information," another official from Wikileaks told DN.se. "As a result of our intention not to publish any document directly and in our own name, we do not expect to experience the kind of political pressure which WikiLeaks is under at this time," the source concluded. Interestingly, Philippine opposition personalities launched on Friday a similar website that encourages whistleblowers to disclose information online. The Para sa Bansa ("For the country") website was set up by the July 1, 2010 Movement spearheaded by retired Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and "running priest" Fr. Roberto Reyes. (See: Website for anti-Arroyo whistleblowers launched) The Para sa Bansa whistleblowers website did not say whether it was inspired or in anyway influenced by the WikiLeaks phenomenon. - With AP, JV, GMANews.TV