EPO People Power - Part II - Talking About Corruption
In Part I (this morning) we spoke about the media's failure or unwillingness to cover corruption in Europe, at least certain corruption (e.g. committed by those who pay the media). We previously showed EPO staff representatives were similarly gagged and repressed for using the "wrong" tone in communications about very serious issues that impact thousands of workers.
I can relate and I actively challenge this; some folks (dubbed "hired guns" by SRA or others) are trying to prevent fake security people with deeply authoritarian and monopolistic tendencies from being criticised in public. That's not even limited to me; they try to subject others to the same self-censorship.
They are, in effect, portraying the victims of abuse as the real problem. Apropos inversion of blame:
This week CPJ spoke of French journalists and said: "All journalists must be allowed to work freely without fear of imprisonment" (in Europe too, journalists can be arrested, not just in Algeria).
EPO workers must maintain the freedom of expression before the EPO becomes "another Algeria".
Moreover, European media must "grow a pair" and start writing about EPO corruption; its well demonstrated (by inaction) cowardice just serves to discredit any notion that we still have free and functioning press in Europe.
Throughout the week this week, as well as next week, we'll refocus on EPO Cocainegate for a bit, based on people with firsthand experience.
"I have worked directly with Luis Berenguer at the EPO," one of them told us. "Like any narcissist, he regards himself as a charismatic leader and wants to be liked and admired by everyone. In reality, he is not the most pleasant person to be around when he hobbles with his crooked leg across the top floor of the EPO headquarters in Munich, where his office is right next to the presidential area."
We'll soon speak about how Berenguer treats women. We alluded to this in passing last month. █
