The deceit of Reporters Without Borders
CroRadio.net
The deceit of Reporters Without Borders
Salim Lamrani, Global Research,
November 7, 2007
On October 16, 2007, the Paris based organization Reporters Without
Borders (RSF) published its "Worldwide Press Freedoms Index 2007." RSF
claims to be neutral, objective and solely interested in press
freedoms. But this claim does not hold up to scrutiny. In reality the
2007 index, laden with contradictions, is nothing more than a fraud
and demonstrates, to the contrary, that the association directed by
Robert M nard since 1985 defends a very specific interest and
political agenda. (1)
To establish their 2007 index, which covers the period between
September 1, 2006 and September 1, 2007, RSF uses 50 criterion divided
into 7 categories, listed in order of importance. Under the first
category "PHYSICAL ATTACKS, IMPRISONMENT AND DIRECT THREATS," the
number of journalists and media assistants murdered, imprisoned,
tortured or ill-treated, kidnapped or disappeared, attacked or
injured, and threatened is given the highest priority. The presence of
Armed militias or secret organizations targeting journalists," as well
as whether or not journalists had to be accompanied by bodyguards or
use security measures (bullet-proof jackets, armoured vehicles etc)
while doing their work is also deemed of utmost concern.(2)
The next category RSF considered was "INDIRECT THREATS AND ACCESS TO
INFORMATION" and defines this as attacks on or threats against press
freedom activists, surveillance of journalists, problems of access to
public or official information, restricted physical or reporting
access to any regions of the country and problems getting journalist
visas for foreign media. (3)
The French organization then listed "LEGAL SITUATION AND UNJUSTIFIED
PROSECUTION," which was outlined as unjustified legal actions against
journalists, cases of violating the privacy of journalistic sources,
as well as failure to prosecute those responsible for seriously
violating press freedom. Censorship and self censorship, state
monopoly of media, free access to Internet, and economic and
administrative pressure are also included in the classifications. (4)
Using these standards, RSF establishes their annual index that
includes 169 countries. According to the organizationâ s figures, 105
journalists were murdered over the year. Iraq were at least 62 were
killed was the most dangerous place, followed by Mexico (8), Somalia
(7), Pakistan (4), Afghanistan (4), Sri Lanka (2) y Eritrea (2). It
would be no surprise if these countries ended up with the lowest
scores. However, with the exception of Eritrea ranking 169th, this is
not the case. In the end, Robert M nardâ s political and ideological
criterion overshadowed the rest. (5)
How is it that Eritrea, where only two journalists were murdered,
ended up ranked below Iraq (157), Mexico (136), Somalia (159),
Pakistan (152), Afghanistan (142) and Sri Lanka (156)? Perhaps because
that nation is on Washingtonâ s black list and RSF receives funding
from the CIA front National Endowment for Democracy, NED? (7)
Likewise what is the explanation for Cuba ranking 165 when not one
journalist has been killed there since 1959? Why is this nation ranked
below Iraq, Mexico, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Brazil
(84), China (163), United States (48), Haiti (75), Nepal (137),
Paraguay (90), Peru (117), Democratic Republic of the Congo (133),
Turkey (101) and Zimbabwe (149), where at least one journalist has
been killed? RSF explains that Cubaâ s poor ranking is due to
journalists being imprisoned. Just supposing the organization is
correct on this point â "which is actually far from being the case-,
wouldnâ t killing journalists still be more serious than imprisoning
them? (8)
RSF is so obsessed with Cuba that it does not hesitate in blatantly
contradicting itself. For example RSF considers China â "where one
journalist was killed - to be "largest journalist prison in the world"
with 33 media professionals in detention and 50 "cyber dissidents"
imprisoned, all figures according to the organization, is ranked above
Cuba. How can RSF expect to be taken seriously? Perhaps this malice
could be explained by the fact that RSF receives financial support
from the extreme right Cuban organization Center for a Free Cuba
(which itself is abundantly financed by Washington) whose president,
Frank Calz n, is a former leader of the terrorist organization Cuban
American National Foundation. (9)
In addition, how can Venezuelaâ s rank of 114 be explained? Even
though
not one journalist was killed there, Venezuela ranks below Brazil,
United States, Haiti, Paraguay and Turkey where at least one
journalist did lose their life. How can this rank be justified when in
Venezuela the press enjoys a freedom that would not be tolerated in
even the largest western democracy (some private media have openly
called for the assassination of President Ch vez on various
occasions)? Perhaps it is just part of RSFâ s propaganda war against
President Hugo Ch vez, the U.S.â s central target in Latin America.
(10)
What has happened in Bolivia to cause this nation to fall from 16th in
2006 to 68 a year later? Where journalist killed? Where private media
sources closed? Nothing of the sort. But President Evo Morales, who
has launched spectacular economic and social reforms, is now in
Washingtonâ s sites. RSF, faithful to its principals, follows the
lead
of its sponsors and vilifies all the progressive and popular
governments of Latin America. (11)
Likewise, how can the classification of Iran (166), where not one
journalist was killed, be explained except by the fact that this
country is part of the axis of evil designated by Bush? Why is the
U.S. (48 and 111) separated into two categories (national territory
and extra-territorial)? What other reason could RSF have to make this
distinction other than the obvious objective of exonerating the U.S.
for violations committed in territories it occupies? (12).
As one can easily see, Reporters Without Borders is not a reliable
source. Its hidden political agenda has become all too evident and its
malice toward certain nations that are on the U.S. blacklist is hardly
a matter of coincidence. The generous contributions received from the
NED explain RSFâ s alignment with the White House. Robert Menard does
not direct an organization that defends press freedoms, but instead a
propaganda office financed by economic and financial conglomerates at
the service of the worldâ s powerful.
Article in french,¨La supercherie Reporters sans fronti ¨res¨,
October
30th 2007.
Translated by Dawn Gable.
Notes
(1) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Classement mondial de la libert de
la
presse 2007. Lâ Erythr e en derni ¨re position pour la premi ¨re
fois;
les membres du G8 regagnent du terrain, sauf la Russie , 16 de
October, 2007. http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24011 (site
consulted 17 de October, 2007).
(2) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Classement mondial de la libert de
la
presse 2007. Crit ¨res pour lâ tablissement du classement mondial
2007
de la libert de la presse , 16 October, 2007.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24018 (site consulted 17
October, 2007), criterion 1 to 12.
(3) Ibid., criterion 13 to 19.
(4) Ibid., criterion 20 to 50.
(5) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Barom ¨tre de la libert de la
presse
2006Â , 2006. http://www.rsf.org/tues_2006.php3 (site consulted 17
October, 2007); Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Barom ¨tre de la
libert de
la presse 2007Â , 2007. http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=73
(site consulted 17 October, 2007).
(6) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Classement mondial de la libert de
la
presse 2007. Lâ Erythr e en derni ¨re position pour la premi ¨re
fois;
les membres du G8 regagnent du terrain, sauf la Russie , op. cit.
(7) Robert M nard,  Forum de discussion avec Robert M nard , Le
Nouvel
Observateur, 18 April, 2005.
www.nouvelobs.com/forum/archives/forum_284.html (site consulted 22
April, 2005).
(8) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Classement mondial de la libert de
la
presse 2007. Lâ Erythr e en derni ¨re position pour la premi ¨re
fois;
les membres du G8 regagnent du terrain, sauf la Russie , op. cit.
(9) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Barom ¨tre de la libert de la
presse
2007. Journalistes emprisonn s , 2007.
http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=76 (site consulted 17
October, 2007); Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Barom ¨tre de la
libert de
la presse 2007. Cyberdissidents emprisonn s , 2007.
http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=79 (site consulted 17
October, 2007); Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Lettre ouverte ses
d tracteurs , R seau Voltaire, 12 September, 2006.
http://www.voltairenet.org/article143413.html?var_recherche=Reporters...¨res
(site consulted 12 de septiembre de 2006); Salim Lamrani, Â La
Fondation nationale cubano-am ricaine est une organisation
terroriste , Mondialisation, 27 July, 2006.
(10) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Classement mondial de la libert
de
la presse 2007. Lâ Erythr e en derni ¨re position pour la premi ¨re
fois;
les membres du G8 regagnent du terrain, sauf la Russie , op. cit.
(11) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Classement mondial de la libert
de
la presse 2006. Cor e du Nord, Turkm nistan, Erythr e: le trio
infernal , October, 2006.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19318 (site consulted 17
October, 2007).
(12) Reporters sans fronti ¨res, Â Classement mondial de la libert
de
la presse 2007. Lâ Erythr e en derni ¨re position pour la premi ¨re
fois;
les membres du G8 regagnent du terrain, sauf la Russie , op. cit.
Salim Lamrani is a French professor, writer and journalist who
specializes in U.S.-Cuba relations. He has published the books
Washington contre Cuba (Pantin: Le Temps des Cerises, 2005), Cuba face
l'Empire (Gen ¨ve: Timeli, 2006) and Fidel Castro, Cuba et les
tats-Unis (Pantin: Le Temps desCerises, 2006).