Götterdämmerung
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Washington - To further cement his credentials as a whistleblower in the eyes of the world, Edward Snowden has been awarded the 2013 Whistleblower Prize by a coalition which includes Transparency International Germany.
The Government Accountability Project (GAP) has announced the news on Thursday, noting that the 2013 award is particularly significant, as it marks the first year of involvement by the anti-corruption organization Transparency International.
The award is given in partnership with the Federation of German Scientists (FGS, the German Pugwash Group) and the German chapter of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA).
The award also carries a prize of 3,000 euros.
Since 1999, the Whistleblower Prize is awarded every two years to individuals "who reveal significant threats to society, peace and the environment."
In Snowden's case, this specifically relates to his revelations of pervasive surveillance and the storage of communications data by the US government. This suggests a violation of Article 10 of the Basic Law in Germany, as well as G10-law that regulates compliance of intelligence services with Article 10.
The Government Accountability Project champions government and corporate accountability and transparency by defending whistleblowers, advancing occupational free speech and by empowering citizen activists.
Since its founding in 1977, GAP has fought to make large bureaucratic institutions accountable through "the effective exercise of conscience."
Snowden has recently been awarded 12 months asylum in Russia.
Edward Snowden honored with 2013 Whistleblower Prize
In German: Whistleblower-Preis für Snowden | tagesschau.de
The Government Accountability Project (GAP) has announced the news on Thursday, noting that the 2013 award is particularly significant, as it marks the first year of involvement by the anti-corruption organization Transparency International.
The award is given in partnership with the Federation of German Scientists (FGS, the German Pugwash Group) and the German chapter of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA).
The award also carries a prize of 3,000 euros.
Since 1999, the Whistleblower Prize is awarded every two years to individuals "who reveal significant threats to society, peace and the environment."
In Snowden's case, this specifically relates to his revelations of pervasive surveillance and the storage of communications data by the US government. This suggests a violation of Article 10 of the Basic Law in Germany, as well as G10-law that regulates compliance of intelligence services with Article 10.
IALANA's Germany section, Otto Jaeckel told the media:
"Edward Snowden's whistleblowing did a great service to Germany and other EU member states,"
"We should compete to take him in out of conviction, but also out of gratitude."
Executive Director of the Government Accountability Project (GAP), Bea Edwards said:
"This award honors the actions of whistleblower Edward Snowden. Scientific and transparency organizations in Germany are disturbed and angered by the intrusive surveillance of Europeans by the NSA. They represent a society that has suffered protracted repression at the hands of totalitarian governments, and they recognize the courage required to bring illegal government actions to the attention of the public."
Edda Müller, Chair of Transparency Germany stated:
We owe Edward Snowden that his courageous actions have consequences. International treaties limiting the sovereignty of Germany must be changed. Great Britain, as a member state of the European Union, must explain very clearly in Brussels its position on the basic rights of EU citizens. Moreover, Germany needs to ensure adequate protection of whistleblowers through appropriate legal regulations.
The Government Accountability Project champions government and corporate accountability and transparency by defending whistleblowers, advancing occupational free speech and by empowering citizen activists.
Since its founding in 1977, GAP has fought to make large bureaucratic institutions accountable through "the effective exercise of conscience."
Snowden has recently been awarded 12 months asylum in Russia.
Edward Snowden honored with 2013 Whistleblower Prize
In German: Whistleblower-Preis für Snowden | tagesschau.de