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| We are hurtling back into a Soviet abyss, into an information vacuum that spells death from our own ignorance. All we have left is the internet, where information is still freely available. For the rest, if you want to go on working as a journalist, it's total servility to Putin. Otherwise, it can be death, the bullet, poison, or trial – whatever our special services, Putin's guard dogs, see fit.* |
Anna Politkovskaya (30 August 1958 – 7 October 2006)
*Today 15 years ago, Anna Politkovskaya got murdered. Vladimir Putin celebrated his 54th birthday.
Ouch. And sadly it is true of many countries. PS: I am not wishing Putin many returns of the day.
ReplyDeleteAh, the most honourable Mr Putin may became 200 years old, tonight loosing all his teeth, though, with the exception of one – for terrible toothache 59 minutes per hour, 24/7.
DeleteIrony! You have a good handle on the world stage Sean.
ReplyDeleteTo name but a few of many: Journalists like José Carrasco (murdered 1986 during the fascist dictatorship of Margaret Thatcher's "dear friend" Pinochet by a death squat), like Veronica Guerin (Ireland, 1996), like Daphne Caruana Galizia (Malta, 2017), like Ján Kuciak (Slovakia, 2018) and Anna Politkovskaya I did and do admire; their work, their professionalism and most of all: their courage.
DeleteJust have a look at one single country's list.
It simultaneously frightens and infuriates me. The truth does not go away, not matter how deeply you bury it.
DeleteThe truth does not go away, but there are others who can not only frighten but kill you.
DeleteWhich is why I am not sure if I would have the cojones to be(come) an investigative journalist in certain countries.
In Germany so far it is easy. Only sometimes I felt fancy to choose another route back home at night.
I am certainly not brave enough and thank and applaud those who are - while mourning the very, very high price that some of them pay.
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