(RSF/IFEX) – The 13 November 1997 edition of the daily “Liberation” published an interview with a former member of the security forces (le Departement protection-securite, DPS) of the National Front political party in which the man, referred to as “Dominique”, detailed the methods of harassment used by the DPS against journalists. The man said that […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The 13 November 1997 edition of the daily
“Liberation” published an interview with a former member of the
security forces (le Departement protection-securite, DPS) of the
National Front political party in which the man, referred to as
“Dominique”, detailed the methods of harassment used by the DPS
against journalists. The man said that “when a journalist is too
curious – for example, if, during the Tri-Colour Festival he
questions party members or DPS forces who are not inclined to
respond – we intervene. We break his camera `unintentionally’,
and the film is confiscated; if he has a tape recorder, we seize
the tape.” The former DPS member also mentioned that the National
Front compiled an index containing the “name, address and a
photo” of journalists who cover the party.
In its 1996 report “The National Front against the Media”, RSF
stated that, since 1990, there have been fifteen attacks against
journalists who were covering National Front activities. The
attacks were carried out by individuals, some of whom were
identified, claiming to belong to the party. Several journalists
have been targeted during the annual Tri-Colour Festival in
particular. Questioned about these attacks, Bruno Gollnisch,
Secretary General of the National Front, had replied that “these
incidents were blown out of proportion. We are not responsible
for everything that National Front sympathisers do.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
the DPS as reported in “Liberation”
an investigation being carried out as soon as possible
Appeals To
Elisabeth Guigou
Minister of Justice
Paris, France
Fax: +44 77 61 99
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.