N E W S

Havana. November 1, 2004

REPORTERS SANS FRONTIERES REPORT ON JOSE COUSO
“A terrible blow”, the cameraman’s
family charges
• For Javier Couso, his sister and his mother, the Reporters sans frontières report on the death of the Telecinco cameraman, the victim of U.S. gunfire on the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad, was drafted to defend U.S. interests

BY JEAN-GUY ALLARD —Special for Granma International—

“MY brother’s life has no price,” states Javier Couso, recalling how Reporters sans frontières tried to convince the family of Spanish cameraman José Couso – killed in Baghdad by U.S. troops – to bring a civil case before the U.S. courts instead of taking their claim against the U.S. government to the Spanish justice system.

“They took a view that clashed with ours because they proposed that we should file a case in the United States and we believed, after consulting with our lawyer, that that was not the principal way to go about things,” explains the young man from Madrid.

Javier Couso, his mother María Isabel Permuy, and sister Bárbara recently visited Havana to take part in the 4th World Conference of War Correspondents in the Cuban capital.

On April 8, 2003, a U.S. tank opened fire on the 14th floor of the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad where a large number of journalists were staying; journalists who were broadcasting their version of what was taking place in Iraq and a different view to that of those reporters “embedded” amongst the invading troops. José Couso did not survive the attack.

The three relatives of the Telecinco cameraman continue to ask themselves what is the real intention behind Reporters sans frontières’ involvement in the case, particularly when the family has asked them expressly to withdraw from the matter.

“The Spanish state signed the Geneva Convention and ratified the additional protocols that are designed to protect journalists specifically and with double protection for their status as civilians and journalists. So then this was the route we wanted to pursue because we trust our judicial system to defend our interests.”

But, suspiciously, that was not the opinion of Robert Ménard’s Parisian group, whose links with the U.S. intelligence services have been denounced on various occasions.

Maintaining their firm position over bringing a case against the United States was not easy for the Couso family, the victims of multiple pressure to abandon their fight. That included the judicial system of José María Aznar’s right-wing government, a government that had strong links with the U.S. administration.

“The former attorney general of the Popular Party said that he wasn’t going to waste his time,” recalls Javier Couso. “He didn’t come forward or even listen to the statements.”

For its part, Robert Ménard’s organization soon added its suspicious directions, its promises of a report that would be “spectacularly” researched.

José Couso’s widow and family members were totally astounded when they received a copy of the document, some hours before it was released to the press last January 15. Signed by Jean-Paul Mari, a journalist from Parisian weekly Le Nouvel Observateur and a personal friend of Lieutenant Colonel Philip de Camp –directly responsible for the murderous operation – the only serious aspect of the report was its luxury appearance.

“NOT EVEN THE FLOORS MATCHED UP!”

“When we analyzed the document closely with colleagues of my brother’s who were in the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad, they said that the plans that they had been shown didn’t correspond; nor the floors of the hotel or the direction of the shot…Imagine! And then we saw that the witnesses they had interviewed were almost all “embedded” journalists and that two of them were former soldiers…and besides that, one of them had been in U.S. military intelligence for several years…and the one who had drawn up the report is an acquaintance of the Lieutenant Colonel who ordered the firing…”

Worse still, the RSF “report” even goes as far as presenting a series of arguments that appears more like a defense of the soldiers responsible for the attack.

“Our lawyer also believes it is insulting to the family; they say that those who killed my brother are teetotalers, religious people, that they’re fathers…”

The three U.S. soldiers “are the self-confessed authors because they have spoken to the press about my brother’s murder,” emphasized Javier Couso.

The RSF report affirms that the attack on the Palestine Hotel was an error in the chain of command and that the soldiers involved were unaware that the journalists were there.

“Which is incorrect for several reasons,” explained Javier Couso. “Firstly because the day before there had already been an infiltration by combat vehicles and they were talking with journalists who had already given information to U.S. military intelligence. Secondly, because you can see perfectly from four kilometers through the sights of the M1 combat tanks and the sergeant said that he looked from window to window and didn’t see anyone, which shows that he was lying.”

Javier insists: “We’re talking about things that can be proven!”

The U.S. soldiers use thermal sights, explained the young man. “Speaking with the driver of a combat vehicle, we found out that they can fix on five different targets with the computers that are inside – five different targets at the same time! – and whilst they’re firing on one, if they have a combatant behind them, they can see him. This is the jewel in the crown of the U.S. ground forces!

“So there’s nothing more to be said.”

José Couso’s widow immediately protested against the document.

“My sister-in-law, Lola Jiménez, and her lawyer – my sister-in-law was crying! – then asked the RSF representative in Spain please not to present something like that.” But Robert Ménard’s group didn’t pay the slightest attention to the distressed woman’s request and convened, as had been arranged, a conference with the Madrid press.

“They told us it was something that had arrived from France,” added Javier, referring to the report. “And I came to the conclusion that they (in Madrid) had nothing to do with it, that the orders had come from France and they had to carry them out.”

“IF I DON’T LEAVE, IT’S BECAUSE I’M THERE TO GET INVOLVED”

In Madrid, the Reporters sans frontières report had a lot of repercussion, affirmed Javier. “There were many people in whose interest it was to promote the idea that it was an error rather than a war crime.

“They did what suited the United States?” Javier was asked.

“Effectively. I can clearly see a strategy to defend the interests of the United States.

“For this reason, we drew up a statement asking Reporters sans frontières to withdraw from the dispute which, to date, they have not done.”

Bárbara, Javier’s sister, is astonished by RSF’s behavior in relation to the request clearly expressed by the family to abandon the case.

“It’s very curious because we sent them a fax and we’ve received nothing, not even a “received with thanks”. And it was a petition signed by José’s mother and siblings.”

Does all this seem like a trick to you?

“Totally.

“Up until the report came out, I could say that we thought differently about the matter,” affirmed Javier. “But since the report and then the petition asking them to stay away from the case, for me they have behaved in bad faith. This is my opinion because if my family asks me to leave, I have to leave... and if I don’t leave, it’s because I’m getting involved in the matter.

He went on to say: “And that they have the cheek not to withdraw from the case seems an insult to us…including to my brother!”

Javier’s mother, María Isabel Permuy, did not hesitate in expressing her anger.

“It was a terrible blow! Because they sold to us the idea that the report had thrown up new facts and that it would be favorable for the case and it has been totally the opposite. They didn’t know what floor they were staying on, nor did they interview any journalist who was with José. All they mention are the reports and testimonies of people who were embedded amongst the occupation forces!”

Bárbara insisted: “Why didn’t they interview direct witnesses? There were lots of them. Why didn’t they interview any of the journalists from the Spanish channels for the report? Why have they done all this? I’d like them to explain to us, to his wife, to his mother and his brothers and sisters. I would love them to but…they haven’t even been capable of showing their faces!”