WikiLeaks Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Russia supporters smile and wait outside the stadium prior to the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match between Greece and Russia in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, June 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajyama) / Shuji Kajiyama

OSLO, Norway (AP) — A Norwegian lawmaker has nominated WikiLeaks for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, saying Wednesday that its disclosures of classified documents promote world peace by holding governments accountable for their actions.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee keeps candidates secret for 50 years, but those with nomination rights sometimes make their picks known.

Snorre Valen, a 26-year-old legislator from Norway's Socialist Left Party, told The Associated Press he handed in his nomination in person on Tuesday, the last day to put forth candidates.

"I think it is important to raise a debate about freedom of expression and that truth is always the first casualty in war," Valen said. "WikiLeaks wants to make governments accountable for their actions and that contributes to peace."

Special Report: WikiLeaks

Valen also announced his choice on his blog, where he wrote that WikiLeaks had advanced the struggle for human rights, democracy and freedom of speech, just like last year's winner, Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Valen cited disclosures of nepotism and corruption in Tunisia's presidential family, saying WikiLeaks "made a small contribution to bringing down" that regime.

The prize committee typically receives more than 200 nominations, so being nominated doesn't say anything about a candidate's chances of actually winning. And there's no way of knowing for sure that people who announce candidates actually submitted a legitimate nomination to the award committee.

Kristian Harpsviken, a leading Nobel-watcher and director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, said he didn't consider WikiLeaks as a strong candidate for the 10 million kronor ($1.6 million) award.

"The reason I think it's unlikely is that there has been so much criticism of WikiLeaks, not least how they have handled identification issues of people in the documents," he said. "I don't think it quite does the trick."

Harpsviken keeps a list of "possible and confirmed nominations," based on public announcements and his own sources. His list this year includes WikiLeaks as well as Bradley Manning, the Army private accused of leaking material to the website.

Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva, Afghan human rights advocate Sima Samar, and several rights groups including U.S.-based Wings of Hope and Cuban opposition movement Damas de Blanco are also on the list.

His own top guess is Russian rights group Memorial, followed by activists Leymah Gbowee of Liberia and Ory Okolloh of Kenya.

The committee will announce the winner in October.

60 Minutes coverage of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange:

Julian Assange, The Man Behind WikiLeaks
Assange: WikiLeaks Played "Inside the Rules"
Poll: What's your take on WikiLeaks?
Segment: Julian Assange, Part 1
Segment: Julian Assange, Part 2
Extra: Assange Stays on the Move
Extra: Assange's Defense & Daniel Ellsberg
Extra: Assange On Playing By The Rules

[imthaid]

OUTSTANDING! Except, it doesn't seem to carry as much weight since the prize was also give to Obama for accomplishing absolutely nothing.

[jgg000101]

great, a socialist norwegian nominating someone who deliberately wants to cause America harm. I see a pattern developing.

[imthaid]

And, how long has america been deliberately causing other countries harm? The rest of the world now views america as the enemy. Rightly so.

[LtSmily]

The Nobel prize is such a comedy of errors it reminds me of a Saturday night live skit with Eddie Murphy when he wins an Oscar, then melts it down for the gold in it... Wait does the Nobel Peace prize have gold in it? I want one.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
Si Wikileaks venait ? ?tre d?sign? pour le prix Nobel, ce ne sera que justice,
Wikileaks a rendu service au monde,
plus encore, malgr? les pressions, les menaces, la pers?cution de Julian Assange, wikileaks est rest? fid?le ? ses convictions
==================================

If Wikileaks had to be nominated for the Nobel Prize, it will only justice
Wikileaks was serving the world
more, despite the pressures, threats, persecution of Julian Assange, Wikileaks remained faithful to his conviction
"au revoir"

[Former_Marine_Sgt]

If Asange manages to win the Nobel Peace Prize, I'm moving off this planet.

[imthaid]

Former_Marine_Sgt...And?

[peacefulperson]

Well, they had Nobels out like candy now, so they might as well give it to yet another person/entity that doesn't deserve it. If the committee thinks a computer hacker has seriously impacted the world toward peace, then it just shows how out of touch the committee is and how the prize is more of a marketing scheme than an honor. I suppose they want to increase donations to wikileaks website, just like they were trying to increase buzz for Al Gore's film and increase demand for Obama souvenirs.

[No_Absolutes]

I just threw-up in my mouth. This guy is not about peace and he is certainly not about "the peoples right to know". He's all about himself. He's all about "look at me." The only difference between him and Kim Kardasian is that Kim has a great a$$.