‘We call on you to ensure that whistleblower Edward Snowden is treated fairly, humanely and given due process. The PRISM program is one of the greatest violations of privacy ever committed by a government. We demand that you terminate it immediately, and that Edward Snowden be recognised as whistleblower acting in the public interest — not as a dangerous criminal.’ The lines are from a petition being circulated around on social network in favour of Edward Snowden the former 29 year old National Security Agency (NSA) staff who last week spilt the beans over agencies covert activities in spying over the Americans through breaking into their private telephone calls, personal social network, involving nine service providers like Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, Pal Talk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, Apple though all of them have vehemently denied involvement in this operation codenamed PRISM by the NSA. Across the board the Americans have said that such an incident is a gross violation of the personal privacy of the US citizens, in the name of national security though there were other means of ensuring the security of its citizens. Along with the US citizens and politicians the EU governments are angry over the incident and many said such an act by NSA is unwarranted, unacceptable and unnecessary. In a law suit filed in New York, the American Civil Liberties Union accused US government of a process that was ‘akin to snatching every American’s address book.’ There is also an allegation that the operation PRISM was put together with the help of the British government, which they denied.

The National Security Agency (NSA) is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting US government communications and information systems, which involves information security and cryptanalysis/cryptography. The NSA is directed by at least a lieutenant general or vice admiral. NSA is a key component of the US Intelligence Community, which is headed by the Director of National Intelligence. The Central Security Service is a co-located agency created to coordinate intelligence activities and co-operation between NSA and other US military cryptanalysis agencies. The Director of the National Security Agency serves as the Commander of the United States Cyber Command and Chief of the Central Security Service. By law, NSA’s intelligence gathering is limited to foreign communications, although domestic incidents such as the NSA warrantless surveillance controversy have occurred. However Snowden, while talking to the first time about the issue to London’s Guardian and US’s Washington Post last week said “United States has mounted massive hacking operations against hundreds of Chinese targets since 2009 as a part of a global campaign.” However, the operation did not stop there but later entered into intercepting communication between US citizens and with anyone NSA wanted to snoop upon. This was surveillance of the highest order, leaving the entire world in the dark. The US politicians, the media and people in general brands such an act by the NSA as a breach of trust between the government and its people while Barrack Obama defends it by saying that whatever has been done, was done in national interest. Snowden was the American version of Julian Assange, the Australian born editor, journalist and activist who took the world by storm when he leaked many classified documents of the US State Department thorough his WikiLeaks. Every country is entitled to do whatever is necessary to ensure its national security but the people have the right to know about the process, the mandate and nature of operation. NSA is somewhat like our NSI or India’s RAW. Britain has its own MI6 and Pakistan ISI. US became hyperactive about its security after the 9/11 and there were even allegations that in some university libraries hidden cameras were installed to monitor who checks out what type of books, times they check it out and make a background check about their personal identity. The accesses committed by the Homeland Security in airports are often seen even by the Americans as acts normally experienced in a police state. Former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam, the noted Indian film star Shahrukh Khan and cricketer Irfan Pathan and even the late Senator Edward Kennedy had to go through uncomfortable situations at US airports. Shahrukh Khan after his return to India even made a move titled ‘My name is Khan.’ Personally every time I travel to US I am detained at the airport, taken to a back room, made to sit there for about an hour and have to face silly questions like how tall are you, what is the colour of your hair and are you sure you do not have a middle name? Once I get back my passport I politely ask the interrogating officer what was this all about? He shrugs his shoulder and answers ‘I do not know. The Computer picked you up.’ I have had some sort of long term visa since 1976, studied in US, visited the country on many different occasions, wrote on number of times condemning terrorism on US soil and elsewhere and were involved with quite a number of organisations in Bangladesh that project US programs and policies. However, last time had to wait for about two months for my visa to attend an international conference, where I was a paper presenter, promised to preside over an academic session. When finally the visa was issued the conference was over. I am not sure if I was a victim of operation PRISM. I have many friends in US and regularly communicate with them, but mostly on family matters and other worldly issues. These had nothing to do with security or any such matters.

After Edward Snowden leaked to the world about the NSA’s sweeping internet and telephone surveillance program not only the American citizens were alarmed and angry but also the relationship between China and US has been put under extreme stress, notwithstanding the fact that China is the largest trading partner of US after Canada. However, the Head of the NSA General Keith Alexander defended his agency’s broad electronic surveillance program last Wednesday, saying that they have helped thwart dozens of terrorist attacks and that Snowden’s public disclosure has done ‘great harm’ to the US security. Many US lawmakers have branded Edward Snowden as a traitor and demanded that he be tried on charges of committing acts of treason. However, the US Constitution is very clear about who can be tried for an act of treason. In Article Three, Section Three of the Constitution defines treason as “Treason against United States, shall consist only levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.” So many American legal experts argue that Snowden cannot be tried for treason as he did not give aid or comfort to any US enemy and where are the two witnesses who will testify in the court that Snowden has committed any such crime? They argue that he may be tried under other criminal laws but surely not for treason. But before doing this the whistleblower will have to be traced and brought back to America. Last time he was seen in a hotel in Hong Kong after which he went missing. There is a rumour that Snowden may be given a political asylum in China or in some South American country.

Now what does program like PRISM mean to people in Bangladesh or elsewhere? Simply stated, you must be careful when you are communicating with any person in US through any electronic media. Recently Bangladesh has amended its Anti Terrorism Act of 2009 which says conversation between two persons over any electronic media that includes any social network can be used as evidence in the court of law. As program PRISM these amendments have also been incorporated in the Act in the name of national security. Used improperly (there is every chance of that happening) it can grossly violate the human rights of the citizens of Bangladesh as the programme PRISM did to the people of US according to Human Rights activists and organisations. The US is very vocal about the global human rights but now it is perhaps time to look at their own backyard. After all this nation has produced greats people like Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Dr Martin Luther King. History remembers them for fighting for democracy, human rights, and the honour and dignity of the people. What US does under the current circumstances is a matter Obama administration has to decide. But what happens in Bangladesh is something the people of this country will have to decide. As for Edward Snowden, whether he will be treated as a traitor or a hero only history will deicide in future.

The writer is a former Vice-chancellor, University of Chittagong. - See more at: http://www.daily-sun.com/details_Edward-Snowden:-A-traitor-or-hero_528_2_5_1_0.html#sthash.DMZfWMAR.dpuf