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May 26, 2004

Online Journalists a Target?

"We do question the real reasons for their arrests," said Reporters Without Borders. "It is all the more important to look into these cases because both of them were investigating issues that are sensitive for the authorities,"

Two UA reporters have been arrested this week. With stories like these, I'm always curious about what's really going on.

And I was wondering what The Liberal Media's take is on the situation--how much is really corrupt journalists and how much is supressing free speech?

Posted by TulipGirl  |  11:05 PM|  TrackBack (0)  |   Words

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An excellent question, but unfortunately also one that's well-nigh impossible to answer. Even Gongadze, the headless poster boy for Ukrainian media freedom, had some unsavoury ties with oligarchs. And you know about the head of Radio Liberty going over to the Dark Side to work as Yanukovich's spokeswoman, right? With friends like these...

Anyway, after a couple years of trying to figure out the answer, I've given up - for me the important things are whether honest journalists are being harassed, beaten up and killed (they are), and whether anybody with any power - either in Ukraine or in the West - is doing anything to stop it (nope).

Posted by: The Liberal Media at May 27, 2004 04:12 PM

Thanks, TLM, for the feedback. It's so hard to "read" what's really going on here.

When you say, "and whether anybody with any power - either in Ukraine or in the West - is doing anything to stop it"--what do you have in mind? What do you think would help?

Posted by: TulipGirl at May 28, 2004 05:52 AM

From the West, no specific measures really, just a much tougher line in general - acceptance that Kuchma isn't a democrat and isn't going to become one. He has no desire to sell out to Russia but every time he plays that old bluff we immediately forgive him and welcome him back into our arms. After a decade of "helping" Ukraine "reform" I think it's time to just let things rot for a while and see how bad ordinary folks are willing to let it get. Pretty cynical, I know...

Posted by: The Liberal Media at May 28, 2004 04:10 PM

I think it's time to just let things rot for a while and see how bad ordinary folks are willing to let it get. Pretty cynical, I know...

I can understand where you are coming from. But considering the long, long history of Ukraine and the tolerance of all sorts of persecution and rough circumstances. . . Well, I just don't know if even things getting really rotten will make people feel like they *can* change things for the good. Yet, anyway.

Posted by: TulipGirl at May 29, 2004 01:26 PM