PHM-Exch> Swiss Press Club censorship of civil society

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Alison Katz <katz.alison at gmail.com>

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*Below is the open letter sent to the Board of the Swiss Press Club, among
others, to report on the censorship of alternative media and civil society
by the Executive Director, Guy Mettan, on the occasion of a press
conference just before the WHA, at which the Swiss delegation to the World
Health Assembly were presenting the Swiss government’s position on a
variety of  issues including WHO reform. *

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*The extraordinary behavior of the executive director is strongly
reminiscent of “Les Nouveaux Chiens de Garde” (The new watch dogs)
referring to a recent French film documenting the service offered to those
in power, by certain journalists who collude, often with zeal, in
preventing democratic discussion of issues that are critical to the people
and in this case, to their health and survival. *

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*It is no wonder that “Health for All” remains a dream. We must support
independent journalism everywhere and I want to thank the other staff of
the Swiss Press Club whose welcome and respect for freedom of expression
were exemplary.  *

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*Alison*

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*Open Letter to the Board of the Swiss Press Club*



*Guy Mettan, Executive Director of the Swiss Press Club,*

*Silences alternative media and insults citizens*



Dear Members of the Board of the Swiss Press Club,

On Monday 14 May 2012, a press conference on “Switzerland and Global
Health, Swiss foreign policy in the area of health and reform of the World
health Organization”.

As a member of the People’s Health Movement (PHM), I attended the press
conference in order to report back to the PHM electronic information
network (phm-exch).  I am not a professional journalist but I contribute
articles to newspapers, medical journals, and magazines on various aspects
of international health.

I also contribute regularly to alternative media working on health and
environmental issues, and in particular the People Health Movement internet
information network (phm-exch) which serves health professionals and /or
health activists all over the world. I was an international civil servant
with the World Health Organization for 18 years. I continue to defend the
constitutional mandate of the people’s international health authority.

The PHM is closely involved in the highly controversial issue of current
WHO reform *which was the subject of the press conference*. Furthermore,
PHM, on invitation by the WHO, has participated in all the preparatory
discussions on WHO reform that were open to civil society.

Other “simple citizens” were also present at the press conference. Their
particular interest was the Swiss delegations’ position on the 1959
Agreement (WHA 12-40) between the WHO and the IAEA which prevents the
former from fulfilling its mandate in radiation and health, and the
re-establishment of a department of radiation and health, which was closed
down 3 years ago, leaving WHO with no competence in this critically
important area of public health.

After the four ambassadors’ presentations, the participants were invited to
ask questions. There were a dozen journalists in the room of whom 5 or 6
asked a question. With a censorious gesture of the hand, Guy Mettan
indicated a vigorous “No” several times to a young woman wishing to ask a
question. He informed participants that the Press Conference was for
professional journalists and that “he would not take questions from anyone
else in the room”.

Ambassador Silberschmidt intervened to say that he and the other
ambassadors were very willing to answer questions posed by citizens. Forced
to concede and show a minimum of good will and respect for democracy,
Mettan announced that professional journalists with press cards would have
priority and then he “would allow one question from one other person in the
room”.

Astonished at what appeared to be an attempt to censor civil society and
alternative media, I remarked that there were no more questions from
journalists and that twenty minutes of press conference remained.

“You are here to make propaganda” replied Mettan and he announced that the
press conference was over.



Shocked by this behaviour, I approached the podium to ask Mettan about the
status of alternative media at the Swiss Press Club. Without replying to
this question, Mettan lashed out again: “You are here to make propaganda”
and he added “You are here to criticize WHO”.

It is interesting to note that Raphael Saborit, who is the spokesperson for
the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs came rapidly up to the
podium to support Mettan, and repeated his words. His unfortunate gesture
somewhat tarnished the courtesy shown by the four ambassadors.

This clumsy censorship had surprised the participants and attracted a small
crowd of people one of whom filmed the exchange. Under this pressure,
Mettan informed me that I could ask questions after the press conference
during the tea break. I observed that the point of a press conference was
that the journalists present take advantage of the discussions. Some of the
ambassadors were still present around the podium and listening to the
exchange. Mettan snapped at me “So ask your question!” which I then
did.[1]<#137e9a0696cdfcdb_137c6c2fee7a9d20_137c0fd32036ba49__ftn1>

Dear Members of the Board of the Swiss Press Club,

I leave aside the question of Guy Mettan’s lamentable rudeness.

I observe that the Executive Director of the CSP deprived the Swiss
Ambassadors of the opportunity to respond to question posed by alternative
media, which may reflect the positions and aspirations of Swiss citizens.
He also deprived the Geneva and international media of precious information
on the complex and controversial question of WHO reform. Alternative media,
often linked with associations and NGOs, are privy to specialized
information which are rarely available to professional journalists working
for mass media. Their questions are often incisive and the responses are
especially important for their internet readers.

Just to put the incident in context, I must explain that the group,
IndependentWHO (of which I am a member and of which PHM is a founding
association)  had  held its own press conference at the CSP three days
before (for the Scientific and Citizen Forum on Radioprotection: from
Chernobyl to Fukushima). Two women, welcoming us with warmth and
professionalism, had informed us about the interesting press conference
that was to take place the following Monday. We had asked if the event was
open to the public and if we could participate and they had replied “Of
course, you are very welcome!”

I remind you that “the SPC was established by the Republic and Canton of
Geneva and the City of Geneva for public institutions” and I would like to
ask the following question:

Given that a large proportion of information today is disseminated through
alternative media (often electronic networks) what is the position of the
SPC on the participation in press conferences of the many people who are
active in the dissemination of information through these networks?



It goes without saying that I respect the current procedures of the SPC. I
assume that the SPC fully recognizes the legitimacy and value of
alternative media and the need to offer facilities for these networks in
the interests of plurality of information sources and freedom of
expression.

Yours sincerely,



Alison Katz

Member, Peoples Health Movement, IndependentWHO, SolidaritEs, Centre Europe
Third World




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[1] <#137e9a0696cdfcdb_137c6c2fee7a9d20_137c0fd32036ba49__ftnr> I welcome
the fact that the Swiss delegation recognizes WHO as the chief architect of
international health policy. But the delegation also supports the
“multiplicity of health actors” including public private partnerships
(PPP). One of the biggest and most influential of these is the Global Fund
which deals with the three big killers worldwide (AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria), and WHO does not even have a seat on the board of the GF. Is
support for PPPs  therefore incompatible with support for WHO as the
central architect of international public health?




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