Truth will out
“ ... at the length truth will out. “
– Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
Those with power would be well-advised to take heed of these words from Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, that eventually, truth finds a way out.
Of course, truth is not always hidden for nefarious reasons. I believe most of us accept that there are details of national security that would be insensitive, unhelpful, or even dangerous to release at certain times. We must trust our experienced governments, acting on the advice of highly educated specialists, to make informed judgments on such issues.
Over time, situations change. Sensitivities change. Friendships change. New details come to light and allow us to place the past in a broader, more informed, context. We must remain vigilant to identify the right times to release facts. Because timing is critical.
When the truth is locked-up and suppressed at the highest levels to protect individuals, it becomes a caged tiger; explosive upon release. Perhaps those withholding the key to the cage should consider how history will judge them. In time, withholding facts becomes rewriting history, and there are countless examples through the centuries that such an action is not a good long-term strategy and only leads to deeper diplomatic angst and embarrassment. For example:
The British East India Company, with support and encouragement from the British Government, acting as the great civiliser of India beginning in the 18-Century, where the truth is that the Company was the first Government-sanctioned, corporate raider and slowly destroyed India. At the start of the 18th century, India’s share of the world economy was 23% – as large as the whole of Europe. By the time the British departed, it was 3% [Shashi Tharoor: Inglorious Empire].
Japan’s downplaying or denial of atrocities it undertook such as the thousands of deaths during the Rape of Nanjing in 1937-38 and the comfort women in World War II.
The Nixon Administration’s attempts to cover-up its involvement in the 1972 break-in at the Watergate Office building.
Gorbachov’s initial attempts to suppress the full extent of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
George W Bush’s assertion that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, so the US and like-minded countries must launch an attack.
The ongoing and countless breaches of trust by Facebook over the use of our private data for corporate gain, even though the company assures us, they protect our privacy with great care.
The Australian Government saying that it was an international hero saving East Timor from the Indonesian invasion. It appears now that we were a reluctant peacekeeper, whose primary focus was to retain a good relationship with Indonesia and to share the proceeds from natural resources at a higher rate than that recently negotiated.
A slightly different example is when parties believe they will not be caught: For example, Witness K asserting that the Australian Government bugged the Timor-Leste Government building to listen in on conversations for commercial benefit. The Australian Government’s case to suppress these allegations has left them facing such great international embarrassment and disquiet that they should consider dropping the case.
The rise of the truth is often slow. It begins as a rumour. People start to feel the stories don’t quite add up. Facts conflict. Some of those on the inside, release documents or details because they believe it is time. Ultimately there is a tipping point when enough people find enough detail that the truth can no longer hide.
When leaders are caught suppressing the truth for extended periods, it becomes extremely difficult to put any positive spin on why the facts were hidden for so long.
Somewhere between premature release and late release leading to embarrassment is a middle ground. A time when the truth can be released with dignity, and promote positive discussion about the events to which it relates. When involved parties explain to the public that an earlier release may have been harmful, and a later release seen as manipulation. When an apology can be given for wrongs done.
When the difficult times have passed, we should release details that were suppressed, with diplomatic sensitivity and through official channels, explaining the context of their suppression. If errors of judgement were made, we could then be transparent.
Surely it is better to accept wrong with dignity, protect reputations, and be on the right side of written history than to continue shaping a scenario to protect a few individuals who acted improperly at a particular time.
Reading
Shashi Tharoor, Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India, Penguin. Available on Bookdepository.
'Beyond the pale': Official history of Australia's East Timor operations on ice amid censorship claims, Michael Koziol, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 November 2019.
Australia’s history with East Timor isn’t pretty but it must be told truthfully. Paul Daley, The Guardian, 13 November 2019.