National Security Agency secrets leaker Edward Snowden on Monday accepted a Swedish human-rights award known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize," saying he had no regrets and would do it all again.
Getting a standing ovation in the Swedish parliament for getting the Right Livelihood award for revelations about the spy agency's massive surveillance program, Snowden — in exile in Russia and wanted by the United States on charges of espionage — spoke via video.
"I hope despite all we have accomplished in the last year, we all recognize that this is only the beginning," Snowden said, prompting a standing ovation,
RT.com reported.
"These are things that are unlikely to change soon," he said. "But they have been worth it, all the prices we paid, all the sacrifices we made, I believe we'd do it again. I know I would do again."
The prize was first announced in September.
A portion of the acceptance speech was posted by
Reuters.
"This is about us, this is about our rights," he added. "This is about the kind of societies we want to live in, the kind of government we want to have, the kind of world that we want to make for the next generation. And when we talk about government, we need to think not only about the quality of the government, but also the relationship that we have with it. Are we going to be a subject of government, or will we be partner to it?"
"There is so much more to do . . . and together we will achieve it," Snowden said.
Snowden's father, Lon, appeared on behalf of his son, the
Guardian reports.
"I am thankful for the support of the Right Livelihood Award and the Swedish parliament," he said. "The award will remain here in expectation that some time — sooner or later — he will come to Stockholm to accept the award," Lon Snowden said.
The awards jury, in its citation, said Snowden was being honored "for his courage and skill in revealing the unprecedented extent of state surveillance violating basic democratic processes and constitutional rights."
Also awarded was Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger.
Although Snowden will not receive the award's customary $70,000 prize money, the organization said it would "fund legal support for him," RT.com reports.
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