By Michaela Whitton at theantimedia.org
United Kingdom — Believed to be the largest leak of secret documents in history, the Panama Papers are the latest revelations exposing global corruption. The worldwide investigation supposedly exposes the secretive offshore industry the world’s elites use to hide assets and swerve rules. Based on a library of more than 11 million leaked files, it claims to have exposed a host of characters using offshore companies to facilitate bribery, arms deals, tax evasion, financial fraud, and drug trafficking.
Few will be surprised that the global rich and famous hide their money offshore, regardless of their country of origin. While the Panama Papers are set to identify a cast of characters, from the stars of pitch and screen to political establishments, it’s worth pointing out that the 2.6 terabytes of data hail from just one law firm in onetax haven. They are the tip of the iceberg in spotlighting the shadowy corners where elites stash their cash.
Though much of the public reveres whistleblowers, as author and human rights activist Craig Murray points out, this particular leaker has made the mistake of turning to the Western corporate media to publicise the results. The crucial part of this story, according to Murray, is who is managing the leaked information: the “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.” He explains they are funded and organised by the U.S.A’s Center for Public Integrity, which includes sponsors such as the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Endowment, Rockefeller Family Fund, W. K., the Kellogg Foundation, and the Open Society Foundation, which is owned by George Soros.
All roads lead to Putin
Considering those guarding the information, it is unsurprising that here in the U.K., corporate press coverage has shown an overarching focus on official enemies like Putin and Assad. With the media dominated by glaring close-ups of Putin and misleading headlines, it seems the British public are only privy to information about official establishment foes while the misdemeanours of tax dodgers are practically ignored. From what Murray says, the identities of those behind managing the leak could also explain the deafening silence on the hundreds of Israeli companies and shareholders implicated.
With the enemies of the West paraded by British news outlets, by mid-morning only the Mirror and the Metrohad given brief mention to the fact that David Cameron’s father and a host of senior Tory figures had reportedly used tax havens for the rich and powerful. David Cameron’s late father, Ian, is allegedly named as a client of Mossack Fonseca, the firm at the centre of the scandal. Using it it to protect his investment fund from U.K. taxes, he is said to have built up a significant legacy, part of which was inherited by the Prime Minister. The irony is not lost on many, especially in view of Cameron’s previous pledges to clamp down on tax dodgers and havens. He has described them as “morally wrong.”
Few will hold their breath for any of the rich and powerful named in the files to be held to account for the details released the latest data splurge. Undoubtedly, it will soon become clear whether there will be any real consequences of a leak of this size, particularly when most of the information will remain private. While tumbleweeds blow through the corporate media on the fact that the Tories were up to their necks in global corruption, Twitter users didn’t hold back.
Quelle Surprise! David Cameron’s father and senior Tory figures named in Panama Papers https://t.co/gouwDD9V4A
— Chris Down (@PlingetheElder) April 4, 2016
What David Cameron said about tax avoidance in 2013 – and what he did https://t.co/iT79LxFG6k pic.twitter.com/FDx6mdxNL1
— غدير السلامة (@alslamag19792) April 4, 2016
Panama Papers reveal UK at heart of facilitating tax avoidance https://t.co/HrQpHVLVno
— David Mortimer (@ukfathers) April 4, 2016
Panama Papers allege offshore link with notorious #British heist https://t.co/P37Rcg1Ltv #ZippedNews https://t.co/D1EsVKr7Kq
— News in Summary (@news_in_summary) April 4, 2016
Google #Panama: Panama Papers: David Cameron’s father linked to Mossack Fonseca behind leak: Tory MPs, donors … https://t.co/7tmqn86OV7
— CoolPanama.com ♥ (@CoolPanama) April 4, 2016
Get the popcorn… Cameron’s dad & top Tories named in leak about tax haven firm. #bbcdp https://t.co/YIbPELLf7e pic.twitter.com/XoXS025QE8
— Jim AK (@jamesak47) April 4, 2016
@BBCNews makes no mention of UK tax dodgers such as Camerons dad. Shocking journalism#statemedia
— scott c forbes (@thiajock) April 4, 2016
#panamaleaks @guardian why are you talking about putin when there are other world leaders and david camerons dad who have actually dodged
— viren patel (@viren2468) April 4, 2016
Gideons family firm and Camerons dad – we knew they had dodgy tax deals so where the hell was HMRC? #panamapapers
— PamCrossland (@PamCrossland) April 4, 2016
The Sins of the Father.https://t.co/LsyAxJRIfT
The Sins of the Sonhttps://t.co/qsosE9rKXX
— Kanjin Tor ™ (@xugla) April 4, 2016
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