The Global Casebook

An anthology for teachers and students of

investigative journalism
Edited and with introductions by Mark Lee Hunter
1
Table of Contents
Preface: Why this book exists and how to use it, by Mark Lee Hunter ..................................................4
1. Putting how over why......................................................................................................................................4
. How to use this book........................................................................................................................................4
!. "he state of the #ove#ent...............................................................................................................................$
%ha&ter 'ne. (i)ed but not forgotten..................................................................................................... 11
*. *ngry White Man: "he bigoted &ast of +on Pau), by ,a#es -irchik..........................................................11
.. (ro# .u)garia with Love, by *)exenia /i#itrova.......................................................................................10
%ha&ter "wo. "he 1round .eneath 'ur (eet: 2nvestigating socia) &heno#ena....................................3
*. "he 4choo) of Hard -nocks, by .arry 5eo#an............................................................................................3
.. /ivorced wo#en in ,ordan suffer fro# )engthy )ega) &rocedures: %hi)dren face the tough di)e##a of
choosing between their &arents, by Ma6do)een *))an........................................................................................!7
%. 8uro&e by desert: "ears of *frican #igrants, by 8##anue) Mayah ...........................................................4!
%ha&ter "hree. %an this &)anet be saved9 2nvestigating the environ#ent.............................................3:
*. 4trea#s of (i)th, by 4hya#)a) 5adav............................................................................................................3:
.. %onning the %)i#ate: 2nside the %arbon;"rading 4he)) 1a#e, by Mark 4cha&iro......................................73
%ha&ter (our. Who<s in charge here9 2nvestigating the crisis of governance........................................$$
*. 4tea)ing Hea)th in the Phi)i&&ines, by *vigai) M. ')arte and 5vonne ". %hua ...........................................$$
Part 'ne. =& to $>? of )oca) hea)thcare funds )ost to corru&tion ..............................................................$$
Part "wo. Hea)th &o)itics de#ora)i@e doctors...............................................................................................:
.. "he stage;#anaged fa#ine, by Lut@ MAkke ................................................................................................:0
%ha&ter (ive. "he )oca) face of g)oba)isation...................................................................................... 1>>
*. %asua)isation under#ining workers, by *)vin %hiinga..............................................................................1>>
.. * Buestion of ethics: "he )etter fro# Lundbeck, by *nne Lea Landsted...................................................1>!
%. 8x&orting an 8&ide#ic, by ,i# Morris.......................................................................................................11!
%ha&ter 4ix. (o))owing the Money: (rauds and offshore funds..........................................................17
*. 4tate aided sus&ect in huge swind)e, by Lucy -o#isar, Michae) 4a))ah and +ob .arry...........................17
.. 'ffshore %ri#e, 2nc., by the 'rganised %ri#e and %orru&tion +e&orting Pro6ect ...................................1!3
Part 'ne. %ri#e 1oes 'ffshore .................................................................................................................1!7
Part "wo. Las@)o -iss, the 'ffshore Master ..............................................................................................1!0
Part "hree. * +e&orter (or#s an 'ffshore ................................................................................................141
%ha&ter 4even. "raffickers and "yrants............................................................................................... 144
*. Latvian .rides, by ,a#ie 4#yth and *)eksandra ,o)kina..........................................................................144

Part 'ne. 2re)andCs sha# #arriage sca#....................................................................................................144

Part . 2re)and #ust take action to sto& sha# #arriages............................................................................140
.. (ie)ds of "error: the Dew 4)ave "rade in the Heart of 8uro&e, by *drian Mogos.....................................13!
%. * "a)iban 'f 'ur Eery 'wn, by Deha /ixit...............................................................................................171
%ha&ter 8ight. When the ga#e is fixed: 2nvestigating s&ort............................................................... 17:
*. -i))ing soccer in *frica, by (*2+...............................................................................................................17:
.. How to (ix a 4occer Match, by /ec)an Hi))...............................................................................................1$7
%. ,ack Warner sti)) won<t &ay 4oca Warriors their >>7 Wor)d %u& #oney, by *ndrew ,ennings...............1:!
%ha&ter Dine: "he War on "error........................................................................................................ 101
*. "he inte))igence factory: How *#erica #akes its ene#ies disa&&ear, by Petra .artosiewic@..................101
.. Hearts, #inds and the sa#e o)d war)ords, by 4te&hen 1rey.......................................................................>3
!
Preface: Why this book exists, and how to use
it
By Mark Lee Hunter
1. Putting how over why
When 2 brought investigators to #y 6ourna)is# c)ass at the 2nstitut franFais de Presse, #asters
students often turned into chi)dren. "hey wou)d #arve) at these strange heroes who uncovered secrets
and dared to #ake ene#ies. "hey wou)d ask things )ike, GWere you scared9H (ina))y 2 to)d the#, Stop
admiring these people so much. Its a way of telling yourself that you cant be like them. Stop asking
why they do the job and start asking how so you can do it too.
"his was unfair of #e, in one s&ecific way: "he why of investigative re&orting can<t be taken for
granted. 2 te)) &eo&)e that we do the 6ob to change the wor)d Iand ourse)vesJ. .ut the wor)d doesn<t
a)ways do what we &rove it shou)d do. 2t 6ust goes on being what it was. "hat )eaves on)y one reason
we can count on for #otivation: We try to )eave a true record of what we were, what we did, how we
)ived or died. 2n the &rocess, we say to the &eo&)e who )ived the stories we te)), 5es it ha&&ened, and
no, it wasn<t 6ust or fair. 2 said that to a #an 2 was writing about once in so #any words, and 2 a)so
said: My story wi)) &rove you were right, but it won<t fix your )ife. He said: G4o9H He had )ost ho&e,
but he was g)ad to have co#&any. "o our #utua) a#a@e#ent, when the story was &ub)ished he got his
career back. .ut that was the &art 2 cou)dn<t &ro#ise, and neither can you. "he on)y &ro#ise you can
sure)y kee& is to te)) the story.
2s that enough9 Perha&s not. .ut if you don<t be)ieve that te))ing the true story #atters, whether or
not you get a #ateria) resu)t, you shou)d do so#ething e)se with your )ife. 8ither you think te))ing that
is a #eaningfu) thing to do, or you don<t. 2f you don<t, nothing anyone #ight say wi)) convince you.
"hat<s fine, because nothing you #ight say can convince #e otherwise, either. "his book exists to he)&
you te)) such stories.
2. How to use this book
"he idea for this co))ection began during a se#inar for investigative re&orters in /akar, 4enega),
where 2 was teaching fro# Story!Based In"uiry# $ Manual for In%estigati%e &ournalists, #y &revious
I>>0J co))aboration with =D84%'. Partici&ants observed that they #ight have a better idea of how
to investigate if they had a co##on understanding of what a good investigative story )ooks )ike. 'f
course 2 had brought so#e sa#&)es with #e, and of course Ibecause that is the way trainers and
inte))ectua) &ro&erty rights tend to functionJ #ost of those stories were by #e or #y #asters students,
whose work at a (rench &ub)ic university was &ub)ic &ro&erty. .ut they wanted so#ething e)se and
so#ething #oreK s&ecifica))y, they wanted to know what 6ourna)ists around the wor)d were doing.
Were they facing the sa#e &rob)e#s of access to infor#ation, and if so, how were they so)ving the#9
Were they dea)ing with &ub)ics who &aid attention to their work, or did they have to fight for
attention9 How did they organise the#se)ves, and how did they turn their infor#ation into stories9
"his book tries to answer those Buestions, and to satisfy the desire that under)ies the# L the desire
for re&orters everywhere to fee) that they too can contribute to the renaissance of investigative
6ourna)is#. "his is a #ove#ent, and anyone who &ractices investigative 6ourna)is# can 6oin. IDot
everyone doesK there are sti)) &ractitioners who &refer to fo))ow their own &aths, and that<s fine.J 2ts
#e#bers are the great #a6ority of contributors to this book. 2<)) say #ore about the #ove#ent )ater.
4
My first ob6ective was to gather a broad range of #ateria), fro# within and outside the 1)oba)
2nvestgative ,ourna)is# Detwork I12,DJ L 2<# &roud to be a founding #e#ber L that e#bodies best
&ractice in ter#s of infor#ation gathering and storyte))ing. * second ob6ective was to &ersuade our
contributors to share their #ethods of conce&tion, research, organisation and co#&osition L the
foundation b)ocks of investigative work. 2f you don<t know what you<re )ooking for, you<re not )ike)y
to find it Ias 8dwy P)ene) of (rance said so beautifu))yJ. 2f you don<t know where and how to )ook,
you won<t find #uch even if you have the right idea. 2f you can<t organise the #ateria), you<)) #ake
s)ow and #eagre use of it. *nd if you can<t te)) a good story, who cares about the rest9 We decided to
start with the &rint #ediu#, because it is the #ost accessib)e L you on)y need a notebook and a &enci)
L and because writing ski))s trans&ose into different #edia very we)). 2n other words, if you can write a
good story, your chances of writing we)) for video or radio go u&.
When 2 sent out a ca)) for #ateria) through the 12,D and other 6ourna)istic organisations, Story!
based In"uiry was the #ain internationa) #anua) that integrates conce&tion, research and writing. 2
was re)ieved and g)ad to see that so#e contributors said that they are, in fact, using story;based
inBuiry #ethods. .ut #ore i#&ortant, this antho)ogy confir#ed that there are si#i)ar #ethods which
don<t yet have a na#e. 8very contributor to this book has been forced to confront the issues described
in the &receding &aragra&h, and to find so)utions. * &rofessiona) investigative re&orter in the 1st
century uses a #ethod. "hat #ay sound se)f;evident, but 2 can assure you that it was not a)ways the
do#inant &ractice in the decades fo))owing Watergate. "his is a ste& change, because it #eans that
un)ike &revious generations of investigators, this generation can trans#it its know)edge to its
successors in a c)ear, codified way.
"he afterwords to every artic)e in the casebook set that know)edge out. I2 #ay be wrong, but 2 canCt
think of any other co))ection of investigative work that contains so #uch current tradecraft. 2Cve known
so#e of the contributors for years, but 2 didnCt know how they were doing this stuff.J 2 sought this
#ateria) by sending our contributors a Buestionnaire that asked the# to #ake ex&)icit, in detai), certain
as&ects of their working #ethods. 2 g)ad)y ad#it that 2 ada&ted the Buestionnaire, in &art, fro# the
annua) awards a&&)ication for# of the =4;based organisation, 2nvestigative +e&orters and 8ditors
I2+8J, which 2<ve had occasion to fi)) out #yse)f. .ut 2 a)so asked contributors for infor#ation that
2+8 doesn<t ask for L in &articu)ar, how they organise their findings, and how they write.
2<ve taught thousands of 6ourna)ists by now, and 2 never #et one who cou)d not #ake a discovery on
his or her own. .ut 2<ve seen &)enty who were inca&ab)e of kee&ing track of their data and turning it
into a great story. .eginners think this 6ob is a)) about finding secrets, and the rest takes care of itse)f.
I4ick )augh.J Pros, )ike the ones in this co))ection, know that it<s about #anaging the )ogistics and
finishing the 6ob. "he contributors here wi)) te)) you how they did that.
8ach artic)e in this antho)ogy is a)so &receded by a brief introduction that evokes what for #e are its
key e)e#ents L the reasons that 2 wanted to use it here.
2n genera), 2 wanted stories that wou)d exe#&)ify different a&&roaches in ter#s of research and
writing, as we)) as different genres of investigation. 2n the &rocess of co))ecting stories, on a cou&)e of
occasions 2 found stories that attacked the sa#e sub6ect L for exa#&)e, the traffic in hu#an beings L
fro# the &ers&ective of a &ro6ect tea#, or an individua) effort, and focused on different as&ects of the
sub6ect. 'r, 2 found stories that used si#i)ar techniBues, such as archiva) research, to striking)y
different ends. "he fina) se)ection tries to #ake use of those coincidences, because to #e they show
that there are various ways of doing any sub6ect, and one of the# wi)) corres&ond to the &assions and
resources at your dis&osa).
2n so#e of these stories 2 did #inor co&y editing to correct gra##ar. 8ng)ish #ay be a g)oba)
)anguage, but that does not #ean it is unifor# in usage. "here are nu#erous idio#s, and 2 a)tered the#
when 2 cou)d not i##ediate)y gras& the#. 2 #ade one other editoria) decision: *t certain &oints 2
re#oved the na#es of individua)s or co#&anies na#es by authors. 2n genera), 2 did so when the na#e
invo)ved has no residence outside the country of origina) &ub)ication, or cou)d not be inde&endent)y
3
verified, or invo)ved acts that ha&&ened #ore than a few years ago. 2 do not think that individua)s
shou)d &ay for their #istakes L at )east, not for #istakes that theyCve tried to fix L over and over again.
2 &ersona))y re#oved the na#e of a for#er activist of the (rench 8xtre#e +ight fro# #y website, at
his reBuest, after he contacted #e to te)) #e how his )ife had changed. 4o 2 #ade the decision to
extend the sa#e courtesy to certain individua)s or institutions na#ed in this antho)ogy. 2 a)so
e)i#inated detai)s such as &hone nu#bers, because they can change, too, and the wrong &erson #ight
end u& with a cri#ina)Cs nu#ber.
"here is a )ong debate in both &ractitioner and scho)ar)y circ)es about whether investigative
6ourna)is# shou)d #ake use of artistic techniBues, or whether these sa#e techniBues chea&en the
work, #ake it into #ere entertain#ent. 2 decided a )ong ti#e ago that the artistic side of storyte))ing is
si#&)y too &owerfu) for serious 6ourna)ists to ignoreK instead they have to &erfect it. 4o in #y ca)) for
contributions 2 said that our standard for writing wou)d be "o# Wo)fe<s 'he (ew &ournalism, &robab)y
the best;written antho)ogy in the history of re&orting.
2 had other reasons for using Wo)fe as a bench#ark. 2<ve a)ways wondered why so )itt)e has been
said about the fact that the two #ost innovative writing genres of the 107>s and 10$>s were the Dew
,ourna)is# and investigative re&orting, which was reinvented in the Watergate years. "hey were
fraterna) twins, but 2 haven<t seen references to the fa#i)y rese#b)ance. *t the very )east they were not
divided by a %hinese Wa))K they were a)so ferocious co#&etitors, and )ike #ost s#art co#&etitors,
they borrowed free)y fro# each other. 2t is very c)ear, for exa#&)e, that the Dew ,ourna)is# had a
&owerfu) i#&act on investigative re&orters, inc)uding %ar) .ernstein of Watergate fa#e, who great)y
ad#ired the way that ,essica Mitford showed herse)f during interview scenes. IHe did the sa#e thing
in $ll the )residents Men.J 2t is a)so c)ear that investigative re&orters drove feature writers to dee&er
research on their sub6ects. 2t has been )arge)y forgotten that by the 10$>s, #ost successfu) feature
writers in the =4 were working in both genres. "hat was &art)y because there was a #arket for both,
and &art)y because re&utations were bui)t by doing both. "he effect of this trend was )asting. "hree
decades )ater, the inf)uence of the Dew ,ourna)is# &ersists in the work of investigators )ike /ec)an
Hi)), 4te&hen 1rey and Petra .artosiewic@, a)) re&resented in this antho)ogy.
.ut if 2 had )i#ited this antho)ogy to such work, 2 wou)d have ended u& exc)uding other work that
was written in a dai)y news for#at. I"he )east &owerfu) &iece in Wo)fe<s antho)ogy was written in 6ust
that way.J 2 #ight a)so have )eft aside, say, *ndrew ,ennings, whose work on s&orts is so idiosyncratic
that it a#ounts to a genre of its own. ,ennings is ferocious, and ferocious)y funny. .ut he disdains the
e)egance that one associates with g)ossy #aga@inesK in his wor)d e)egance is a #ask &asted over
corru&tion.
"hese exce&tions &oint to a s&ecificity of investigative 6ourna)is#, so#ething that sets it a&art fro#
feature writing in genera) and the Dew ,ourna)is# in &articu)ar. "he #ain differences have to do not
with esthetics, but with re&ortoria) #ethods and ob6ectives. "he core of the Dew ,ourna)is# is c)ose
observation. "he re&orter gets far enough inside his or her sub6ect<s wor)d, and s&ends enough ti#e
there, for so#ething revea)ing to ha&&en. "hat was a radica) #ethod in feature writing in the 107>s,
though not Buite as radica) as Wo)fe )et on. .ut it was cou&)ed with a second, tru)y start)ing innovation
L na#e)y, using the re&orter<s inter&retation of, or reaction to, the sub6ect as source #ateria). 5ou can
see this very c)ear)y in Hunter 4. "ho#&son<s work: 2nstead of trying to get so#eone e)se to say
so#ething interesting, as re&orters used to do, he wou)d say it hi#se)f, then Buote it. 2n that way even
the weirdest fantasies beco#e citations L artefacts that #ay be used as va)id source #ateria) even by
ob6ective re&orting standards.
"he danger is that the writer<s sensibi)ity beco#es #ore i#&ortant than the sub6ect. "his ha&&ens
#ore often than youCd think. 4o#eti#es itCs fro# ego, and so#eti#es itCs because the writer is so
overwhe)#ed by the story and the &ain it contains that he or she starts shouting, drowning out the
wee&ing in the rear of the fra#e. Whatever the reason, it abso)ute)y ki))s an investigative story. Most
investigations are about so#eone e)se<s suffering, and &utting your own sensibi)ity between the viewer
and the sufferer is one way of saying that his or her &ain doesn<t #atter... or that it #atters on)y as an
7
o&&ortunity for the writer to )ook c)ever or sensitive. 2n investigation, the writer #atters )ess than the
sub6ect, and serves the sub6ect, or the sub6ect is not worth doing.
Moreover, the core #ethod of investigation is not observation. 2t is #ore )ike invasion. "he
investigator assu#es that the sub6ect wi)) not revea) itse)f, no #atter how &atient)y and intent)y one
observes it. 2t #ust be revea)ed si#u)taneous)y fro# the outside, by occu&ying its territory and
effective)y &)undering it of facts and insights, and fro# the inside, by sa#&)ing its artefacts and
ana)ysing the#. "he b)oodstrea# of #ost organisations is a &a&er trai), and investigators seek to take
&ossession of it.
Maybe the sub6ect has )eft tracks as it b)undered through the wor)d, and the tracks )ead you to where
it )ives. Maybe so#eone connected to the sub6ect has grown sick of watching its behaviour, and is
waiting for a good )istener to show u& and hear the story and )ook at so#e &a&ers. I"his is the key
scene in the fi)# 8rin .rockovich, and it rings abso)ute)y true. 8very ex&erienced investigator has had
such an encounter. "here is nothing )ucky about the#. "hey ha&&en because you are )ooking for the
source as #uch as the source is )ooking for you.J Maybe the sub6ect is so arrogant, so dangerous to
anyone who )ooks at it, that it )eaves vita) evidence )ying in &)ain view. "here are infinite variations,
but they a)) de&end on one &rinci&)e: Most secrets are ca))ed such on)y because no one is )ooking for
the# very hard, or because no one rea))y wants to hear the#.
"he key danger Wo)fe saw for Dew ,ourna)ists was that they wou)d beco#e friends of their sub6ects.
"hat is not #uch of a danger for investigators. Looking for a way inside the business, the environ#ent
and the #ind of a target are not friend)y acts. 2nvestigators are #uch #ore )ike)y to beco#e afraid of
their sub6ects, or to #ake their sub6ects afraid. .oth sides #ay be riven by different ex&ressions of that
fear, fro# &ity and re#orse Itrue signs of a#ateuris# for a re&orterJ to outright hosti)ity. 2t #ay be
f)attering and a#using to have so#eone as bri))iant as "o# Wo)fe &ay attention to you, and to ask you,
GWhat<s ha&&ening9H 2t is not at a)) a#using to have so#eone wa)k u& to you, show you so#ething
that you thought no one but yourse)f knew about, and then say, G"his is what<s ha&&ening, right9H "hat
is what investigators do to &eo&)e.
"he difference in ob6ectives can be si#&)y stated. Wo)fe and his co))eagues wanted above a)) to see
the wor)d in a new wayK investigators want to &ush the wor)d to act in a new way.
"he unknown e)e#ent in both the Dew ,ourna)is# and investigative re&orting is ta)ent. 5ou #ay
have #ore or )ess of it. 5ou won<t know how #uch, or #ore i#&ortant, what kind you have, unti) you
&ut it to work. 2n twe)ve years of #asters;)eve) courses at the 2nstitut franFais de Presse, 2 noticed that
every year, one student was si#&)y and beautifu))y gifted, and a#ong the rest, one out of five were
very ta)ented, another three out of five cou)d do the work adeBuate)y if they tried, and one out of five
6ust did not get it. 4o#eti#es that was #y fau)t, but so#eti#es it was not. 4o#eti#es the student did
not want, need, or &ossess the ta)ent to be an investigator.
However #uch ta)ent you have, you won<t be good at this work un)ess, at so#e )eve), you )ove it. 2f
not, there are other ways to be a good 6ourna)ist, and other things you can do. *nd even if you do )ove
investigation, &)ease notice that every contributor to this vo)u#e has staked out a territory where he or
she fee)s &articu)ar)y confident and co#&etent. "his #eans, for exa#&)e, that if you find &oring over
docu#ents dreadfu))y boring, as o&&osed to #ere)y fastidious, you wi)) very )ike)y never #aster
archiva) research. 4o find so#eone who wi)), and &artner with the# whi)e you do what you<re best at.
3. The state of the movement
Most of #y career has been s&ent outside organisations, but 2 was sti)) sur&rised, in &utting together
this antho)ogy, that so #uch good work is sti)) being done by inde&endent re&orters. I2 &refer the ter#
Ginde&endentH to Gfree)anceH, because the )atter refers to #ercenary #edieva) so)diers, and the
investigators 2 know wi)) not work for so#eone on)y because the c)ient can &ay.J 2t has beco#e
increasing)y #ore difficu)t for re&orters to survive as inde&endent &ractitioners whi)e their u)ti#ate
$
c)ient, the news industry, s&ins ever further down. 5et the contributors here #anaged to do so. "hey L
and a nu#ber of out)ets such as Har&er<s and Le Monde /i&)o#atiBue L si#&)y never gave u&.
1enera))y, these re&orters take a &ortfo)io a&&roach to revenue, su&&orting their investigative work,
the stuff that<s #ost thri))ing and satisfying to do, through other activities, )ike teaching or regu)ar
news assign#ents that &ay so#e bi))s. (ew of the# do on)y investigative work. 4o9 /oing
investigations so#e of the ti#e is a )ot better than never doing an investigation Iwhich, by the way, is
the condition of #any sa)aried news industry e#&)oyeesJ.
2 a)so discovered that with so#e exce&tions Isuch as the Miami HeraldJ, )arge news organisations
have beco#e very difficu)t to work with, at )east for &ub)ic service &ro6ects such as this one. "here are
severa) reasons for this, but 2 think the #ost i#&ortant is that these organisations have not yet reso)ved
the conf)ict between exc)usivity, which unti) recent)y deter#ined the va)ue of a given &iece of news,
and ubiBuity, which is what creates va)ue in a networked wor)d. 2n other words, they want to ho)d on
to their #ateria) )ong after its #arket va)ue has gone c)ose to @ero, rather than redistribute it through
channe)s they do not contro). "hat<s not exact)y a conte#&orary growth;creating business #ode).
*nother #ode) has been taking sha&e since >>1, when the first #eeting of what )ater beca#e the
1)oba) 2nvestigative ,ourna)is# Detwork took &)ace in %o&enhagen. 2 cou)d not have done the
antho)ogy without the Detwork. "hat it )asted ti)) now, )et a)one grew a)ong the way, is si#&)y
a#a@ing.
"he #o#ent it began was hard)y &ro&itious for investigative re&orters. "he first indications of a
#assive wave of disinvest#ent in 6ourna)is# L firings of re&orters, shar& cuts in newsgathering
budgets L were a&&earing in the news industries of #ost of the 'P8% countries. %oncentration of
ownershi& of news #edia was #ore and #ore overt)y ref)ected in editoria) decisions Is&ecifica))y,
decisions to ki)) news that #ight i#&act an owner<s wide financia) or &o)itica) interestsJ. "he &ub)ic
had noticed: (ewer &eo&)e were buying or watching the news industry<s &roduct, and those who did
to)d &o))sters that the news #edia were not te))ing the# the truth. Dot )east, in the wake of 0M11
i##ense &ressure was &ut on re&orters working in the =.4. or its a))ies to )ead the cheers for the war
on terror, instead of asking whether it was the right war, being fought for the right reasons and in the
right way. .y >>3, when the 12,D he)d its third congress in *#sterda#, the de&ression a#ong
investigative re&orters was &a)&ab)e.
*nd then, at first s)ow)y, de&ression beca#e confidence across the network. 4o#e of that was
certain)y due to the start)ing energy, courage and &rofessiona)is# of young 6ourna)ists in 8astern
8uro&e, )ike 4tefan %andNa and Pau) %hristian +adu of the +o#anian %entre for 2nvestigative
,ourna)is#, or *)exenia /i#itrova of .u)garia. 4o#e of it ca#e fro# the work being done in data;
driven 6ourna)is# by Di)s Mu)vad and his associates in /en#ark, by Henk Ean 8ss and others in
Ho))and, and by the young tea# that was bui)t by 1avin Mc(adyen at the new)y;founded %entre for
2nvestigative ,ourna)is# in London. (unders who be)ieved in the va)ue of investigative re&orting
a&&eared, )ike the -night (oundation and the '&en 4ociety 2nstitute. 8verywhere one )ooked, new
organisations were being created L *rab +e&orters for 2nvestigative ,ourna)is#, founded in *##an,
and the 'rganised %ri#e and %orru&tion +e&orting Pro6ect, based in the .a)kans, are two of the #ost
significant. 4i#u)taneous)y, institutions )ike 4coo& in /en#ark and the %enter for Pub)ic 2ntegrity and
the %enter for 2nvestigative +e&orting, both in the =4, were re;exa#ining their #issions and
strategies, trying to renew their ob6ectives and their &ub)ics.
"he 12,D cata)ysed other changes, too. "he 12,D is one of the reasons that infor#ation techno)ogy,
which the news industry b)a#ed for the theft of its audience via 2nternet, )ed to the breakthroughs of
Wiki)eaks and to nu#erous s#a))er successes of inde&endent watchdog #edia. Dew a&&)ications of
2", deve)o&ed by network #e#bers, a)so he)&ed transnationa) investigations to beco#e a growing
g)oba) &ractice.
8Bua))y i#&ortant in the )ong run, the bases of a))iances between investigative 6ourna)ists and other
socia) forces, such as D1's, began to take sha&e in the &ast few years. "he )and#ark here was the
:
"rafigura affair, in which the activities of an oi) industry &)ayer were tracked and ex&osed by a
coa)ition of 6ourna)ists in Ho))and, Dorway and the =- with 1reen&eace. I"hat story, in its different
for#s and ra#ifications, is worth a textbook or a doctora) thesis on its ownK 2 considered it for this
one, but decided it reBuired #ore s&ace than we cou)d &rovide without cutting too #uch other
#ateria).J "he best theoretica) work ever written about investigative 6ourna)is#, 'he &ournalism of
*utrage IProtess et a). 1001J, #ade a crucia) &oint very c)ear)y indeed: *n iso)ated re&orter cannot
&revai) in the absence either of genera) &ub)ic anger or a su&&orting coa)ition. "hose coa)itions are
now being constructed before they are needed by investigators or their a))ies L an innovation that is
)ong overdue.
"he news industry is sti)) caught in its biggest crisis since the 4econd Wor)d War, but it can a)so be
said that investigative re&orting has not been #ore enter&rising since the Watergate era. Part of that
drive )ies in its growing reach, in both territory and techniBue. 2 ho&e we caught those e)e#ents in this
text.
"his book a)so revea)s so#e further foundation work that needs to be done. "he #ost i#&ortant is
trans)ation, and 2 serious)y under;esti#ated how urgent it is. I2 a# not a)one. +eferences to this issue
are beginning to a&&ear regu)ar)y, inc)uding in our contributorsC afterwords.J "here was work 2 cou)d
not access because 2 )ack know)edge of nu#erous )anguages, and 2 cou)d not afford to trans)ate it. 'n
a cou&)e of occasions, working with 8ng)ish;)anguage Gtrans)ationsH, 2 was ob)iged to do serious
rewriting. +eso)ving such issues wou)d reBuire a #uch )arger organisation than 2 cou)d asse#b)e on
this occasion. 4coo&, the /anish investigative 6ourna)is# su&&ort foundation, is one of the few
organisations that have direct)y addressed this issue, &roducing first;rate 8ng)ish trans)ations of their
network<s best work. 2t wou)d be s#art to incor&orate the insights of such organisations into any
future business #ode)s for investigative re&orting, because they wi)) enab)e g)oba) audiences for
s&ecific stories and #edia.
Looking at this #ateria), 2 rea)ised that investigative 6ourna)is# can have a #uch, #uch bigger
audience than is current)y the case. "he fact that the news industry, to a )arge extent, does not know
how to &rofit fro# this #ateria) does not #ean that it is inherent)y un&rofitab)e or uninteresting. 1reat
stories can indeed be &rofitab)e, &recise)y because they are interesting, once &eo&)e know where and
how to find the#. "he cha))enge for investigative 6ourna)is# is no )onger to co#e back fro# nowhere.
2nstead, we have to )earn how to bui)d new &ub)ics with the resources we created during the crisis of
news. I'ne of those &ub)ics wi)) sure)y co#e through D1's. 2 so)icited #ateria) fro# so#e D1's,
but it was not written in a way 2 cou)d use here. ,ourna)ists shou)d be writing #ore of those re&orts.J
2 want to thank so#e &eo&)e who have he)&ed #e not on)y with this &ro6ect, but in so#e cases with a
great dea) #ore. ,ohn ()int read and co&y;edited a cou&)e of stories at a #o#ent when 2 bad)y needed
his he)&. ,ohn used to be #y editor at the +eader,s -igest, where he taught #e two vita) things: 5ou
can figure out a story before you know a)) the facts, and you can te)) it in about ha)f the words you
think you need. *nton Harber to)d #e where to find so#e great *frican re&orting. Luuk 4engers
&icked out 8##anua) MayahCs G"ears of *frican MigrantsH for this antho)ogy, and continued our
ongoing research on investigative #ethods whi)e 2 was busy with it. %Nci)e ()Nchon, one of #y for#er
students at the Institut fran.ais de )resse, #ay have saved the &ro6ect by he)&ing #e organise, and by
bringing her astonishing 2" ski))s to the antho)ogy. Mark 4cha&iro at the %enter for investigative
+e&orting, Henrik -aufho)@ at 4coo&, +ana 4abbagh of *+2,, .rigitte *)fter of the 8uro&ean (und for
2nvestigative ,ourna)is#, /avid -a&)an Ithen at the 2nternationa) %onsortiu# of 2nvestigative
,ourna)istsJ, 1avin Mc(adyen, and Pau) +adu and /rew 4u))ivan worked hard to bring great stories to
#y attention and faci)itate contacts with authors. 4o&hie ,u)ien, who has acco#&anied #e in circ)es
bright and dark since before the 12,D existed, &ut u& with #e during the &ro6ect. My co))eagues at the
2D48*/ 4ocia) 2nnovation %entre, first a#ong the# Luk D. Ean Wassenhove, #ade it &)ain to #e
that they considered bui)ding ca&acity for investigative 6ourna)is# a good thing to doK Luk has been a
crucia) &artner in thinking out how #edia are changing, as we)) as in designing &rocesses for
investigative re&orting that can #ake it a #ore viab)e business. Most of a)), it can fair)y be said that
0
the &ro6ect wou)d not have existed without Oianhong Hu of the /ivision for (reedo# of 8x&ression,
/e#ocracy and Peace within the %o##unication and 2nfor#ation 4ector at =D84%', and a)so an
honest scho)ar of #edia. 2 ho&e the resu)t wi)) serve the a#bitions of her and her co))eagues for a #ore
trans&arent, truthfu) wor)d. 2 ho&e it he)&s you )ive fro# what you )ove, and he)&s you change
so#eoneCs )ife for the better.
Mark Lee Hunter
,u)y >11
1>
Chapter One. Filed but not forgotten
Using archives to make scoops: The art of investigating in, with and through librairies
A. Angry White Man: The bigoted ast of !on Pau"
By &ames /irchick
Introduction. Many reporters assume that because something is in a library it must be old
news. 0rong. &ames /irchiks account of 1S 2ongressman +on )auls newsletters procures a
sensation somewhat like turning o%er a polished piece of marble in a garden and disco%ering
the swarming life underneath it. 'hat mess of crawlies is already a scoop his competitors
missed. Mapping the allies of ones target as /irchik does can be misused to suggest guilt by
association. In this case howe%er its justified because those associates are indeed part of a
common mo%ement. In terms of style /irchiks long paragraphs reproduce the sensation of
reading e3tremist literature which resembles drowning in an unstoppable flood. 4%ery writer
who studies e3tremists can benefit from archi%al research before during and after encounters
with the folks who create this strange and frightening literature.
5rom "he Dew +e&ub)ic 61S7 &anuary 8 9::8
2f you are a critic of the .ush ad#inistration, chances are that, at so#e &oint over the &ast six
#onths, +on Pau) has said so#ething that a&&ea)ed to you. Pau) describes hi#se)f as a )ibertarian, but,
since his &residentia) ca#&aign took off ear)ier this year, the +e&ub)ican congress#an has attracted
donations and &)audits fro# across the ideo)ogica) s&ectru#. *ntiwar conservatives, disaffected
centrists, even young )ibera) activists have a)) f)ocked to Pau), hai)ing hi# as a throwback to an ear)ier
age, when &o)iticians were )ess #ea)y;#outhed and *#erican govern#ent was #ore #odest in its
a#bitions, both at ho#e and abroad. 2n "he Dew 5ork "i#es Maga@ine, conservative writer
%hristo&her %a)dwe)) gushed that Pau) is a Gfor#idab)e stander on constitutiona) &rinci&)e,H whi)e 'he
(ation wrote of Ghis fu));throated re6ection of the i#&eria) &ro6ect in 2raB.H (or#er "D+ editor
*ndrew 4u))ivan endorsed Pau) for the 1'P no#ination, and *.%<s ,ake "a&&er described the
candidate as Gthe one true straight;ta)ker in this race.H 8ven "he Wa)) 4treet ,ourna), the news&a&er of
the e)ite bankers who# Pau) detests, recent)y advised other +e&ub)ican &residentia) contenders not to
Gdis#iss the &assion he<s ta&&ed.H
Most voters had never heard of Pau) before he )aunched his Buixotic bid for the +e&ub)ican
no#ination. .ut the "exan has been active in &o)itics for decades. *nd, )ong before he was the dar)ing
of antiwar activists on the )eft and right, Pau) was in the news)etter business.
2n the age before b)ogs, news)etters occu&ied a &ro#inent &)ace in right;wing &o)itica) discourse.
With the &ages of #ainstrea# &o)itica) #aga@ines ty&ica))y off;)i#its to their viewsP,Q hard)ine
conservatives resorted to &utting out their own, )ess g)ossy &ub)ications. "hese were often &aranoid
and ra#b)ing, do#inated by ta)k of internationa) banking cons&iracies, the "ri)atera) %o##ission<s
&)ans for wor)d govern#ent, and warnings about co#ing *r#ageddon. .ut so#e of the# had wide
and devoted audiences. *nd a few of the #ost &ro#inent bore the na#e of +on Pau).
Pau)<s news)etters have carried different tit)es over the years L +on Pau)<s (reedo# +e&ort, +on Pau)
Po)itica) +e&ort, "he +on Pau) 4urviva) +e&ort L ;but they genera))y see# to have been &ub)ished on a
#onth)y basis since at )east 10$:. IPau), an '.;15D and for#er =.4. *ir (orce surgeon, was first
e)ected to %ongress in 10$7.J /uring so#e &eriods, the news)etters were &ub)ished by the (oundation
11
for +ationa) 8cono#ics and 8ducation, a non&rofit that Pau) created in 10$7K at other ti#es, they were
&ub)ished by +on Pau) R *ssociates, a now;defunct entity in which Pau) owned a #inority stake,
according to his ca#&aign s&okes#an. "he (reedo# +e&ort c)ai#ed to have over 1>>,>>> readers in
10:4. *t one &oint, +on Pau) R *ssociates a)so &ut out a #onth)y &ub)ication ca))ed "he +on Pau)
2nvest#ent Letter.
"he (reedo# +e&ort<s on)ine archives on)y go back to 1000, but 2 was curious to see o)der editions
of Pau)<s news)etters, in &art because of a controversy dating to 1007. %har)es GLeftyH Morris, a
/e#ocrat running against Pau) for a House seat, re)eased excer&ts stating that Go&inion &o))s
consistent)y show on)y about 3? of b)acks have sensib)e &o)itica) o&inions,H that Gif you have ever
been robbed by a b)ack teen;aged #a)e, you know how unbe)ievab)y f)eet;footed they can be,H and
that b)ack re&resentative .arbara ,ordan is Gthe archety&ica) ha)f;educated victi#o)ogistH whose Grace
and sex &rotect her fro# criticis#.H *t the ti#e, Pau)<s ca#&aign said that Morris had Buoted the
news)etter out of context. Later, in >>1, Pau) wou)d c)ai# that so#eone e)se had written the
controversia) &assages. I(ew of the news)etters contain actua) by)ines.J %a)dwe)), writing in the "i#es
Maga@ine )ast year, said he found Pau)<s ex&)anation be)ievab)e, Gsince the sty)e diverges wide)y fro#
his own.H
(inding the &re;1000 news)etters was no easy task, but 2 was ab)e to track #any of the# down at the
)ibraries of the =niversity of -ansas and the Wisconsin Historica) 4ociety. 'f course, with few
by)ines, it is difficu)t to know whether any &articu)ar artic)e was written by Pau) hi#se)f. 4o#e of the
ear)ier news)etters are signed by hi#, though the vast #a6ority of the editions 2 saw contain no by)ines
at a)). %o#&)icating #atters, #any of the unby)ined news)etters were written in the first &erson,
i#&)ying that Pau) was the author.
.ut whoever wrote the#, the news)etters 2 saw a)) had one thing in co##on: "hey were &ub)ished
under a banner containing Pau)<s na#e, and the artic)es Iexce&t for one s&ecia) edition of a news)etter
that contained the by)ine of another writerJ see# designed to create the i#&ression that they were
written by hi# and ref)ected his views.
What they revea) are decades< worth of obsession with cons&iracies, sy#&athy for the right;wing
#i)itia #ove#ent, and dee&)y he)d bigotry against b)acks, ,ews, and gays. 2n short, they suggest that
+on Pau) is not the &)ain;s&eaking antiwar activist his su&&orters be)ieve they are backing, but rather a
#e#ber in good standing of so#e of the o)dest and ug)iest traditions in *#erican &o)itics.
"o understand Pau)<s &hi)oso&hy, the best &)ace to start is &robab)y the Ludwig von Mises 2nstitute, a
)ibertarian think tank based in *uburn, *)aba#a. "he institute is na#ed for a )ibertarian *ustrian
econo#ist, but it was founded by a #an na#ed Lew +ockwe)), who a)so served as Pau)<s
congressiona) chief of staff fro# 10$: to 10:. Pau) has had a )ong and &ro#inent association with the
institute, teaching at its se#inars and serving as a Gdistinguished counse)or.H "he institute has a)so
&ub)ished his books.
"he &o)itics of the organi@ation are co#&)icated. 2ts &hi)oso&hy derives )arge)y fro# the work of the
)ate Murray +othbard, a .ronx;born son of ,ewish i##igrants fro# Po)and and a se)f;described
Ganarcho;ca&ita)istH who viewed the state as nothing #ore than Ga cri#ina) gangH. .ut one as&ect of
the institute<s wor)dview stands out as &articu)ar)y disturbing: its attach#ent to the %onfederacy Pthe
)osing, &ro;s)avery side in the *#erican %ivi) WarQ.
"ho#as 8. Woods ,r., a #e#ber of the institute<s senior facu)ty, is a founder of the League of the
4outh, a secessionist grou&, and the author of "he Po)itica))y 2ncorrect 1uide to *#erican History, a
&ro;%onfederate, revisionist tract &ub)ished in >>4. Pau) enthusiastica))y b)urbed Woods<s book,
saying that it Gheroica))y rescues rea) history fro# the &o)itica))y correct #e#ory ho)e.H "ho#as
/iLoren@o, another senior facu)ty #e#ber and author of "he +ea) Linco)n: * Dew Look at *braha#
Linco)n, His *genda, and an =nnecessary War, refers to the %ivi) War as the GWar for 4outhern
2nde&endenceH and attacks GLinco)n cu)tistsHK Pau) endorsed the book on M4D.% )ast #onth in a
debate over whether the %ivi) War was necessary IPau) thinks it was notJ. 2n *&ri) 1003, the institute
1
hosted a conference on secession at which Pau) s&okeK &reviewing the event, +ockwe)) wrote to
su&&orters, GWe<)) ex&)ore what causes PsecessionQ and how to &ro#ote it.H
Pau)<s news)etters have the#se)ves re&eated)y ex&ressed sy#&athy for the genera) conce&t of
secession. 2n 100, for instance, the 4urviva) +e&ort argued that Gthe right of secession shou)d be
ingrained in a free societyH and that Gthere is nothing wrong with )oose)y banding together s#a)) units
of govern#ent. With the disintegration of the 4oviet =nion, we too shou)d consider it.H
"he &eo&)e surrounding the von Mises 2nstitute, inc)uding Pau), #ay describe the#se)ves as
)ibertarians, PbutQ they re&resent a strain of right;wing )ibertarianis# that views the %ivi) War as a
catastro&hic turning &oint in *#erican history, the #o#ent when a tyrannica) federa) govern#ent
estab)ished its su&re#acy over the states. *s one &ro#inent Washington )ibertarian to)d #e, G"here
are too #any )ibertarians in this country ... who, because they are attracted to the great books of Mises,
... find their way to the Mises 2nstitute and then are to)d that a defense of the %onfederacy is &art of
)ibertarian thought.H
Pau)<s a))iance with neo;%onfederates he)&s ex&)ain the views his news)etters have )ong es&oused on
race. "ake a s&ecia) issue of the +on Pau) Po)itica) +e&ort, &ub)ished in ,une 100, dedicated to
ex&)aining the Los *nge)es riots of that year. G'rder was on)y restored in L.*. when it ca#e ti#e for
the b)acks to &ick u& their we)fare checks three days after rioting began,H read one ty&ica) &assage.
*ccording to the news)etter, the )ooting was a natura) by&roduct of govern#ent indu)ging the b)ack
co##unity with GScivi) rights,< Buotas, #andated hiring &references, set;asides for govern#ent
contracts, gerry#andered voting districts, b)ack bureaucracies, b)ack #ayors, b)ack curricu)a in
schoo)s, b)ack tv shows, b)ack tv anchors, hate cri#e )aws, and &ub)ic hu#i)iation for anyone who
dares Buestion the b)ack agenda.H 2t a)so denounced Gthe #ediaH for be)ieving that G*#erica<s nu#ber
one need is an un)i#ited white checking account for underc)ass b)acks.H
"o be fair, the news)etter did &raise *sian #erchants in Los *nge)es, but on)y because they had the
gu#&tion to resist &o)itica) correctness and fight back. -oreans were Gthe on)y &eo&)e to act )ike rea)
*#ericans,H it ex&)ained, G#ain)y because they have not yet been assi#i)ated into our rotten )ibera)
cu)ture, which ad#onishes whites faced by raging b)acks to )ie back and think of 8ng)and.H
1
"his G4&ecia) 2ssue on +acia) "erroris#H was hard)y the first ti#e one of Pau)<s &ub)ications raised
these to&ics. *s ear)y as /ece#ber 10:0, a section of his 2nvest#ent Letter, tit)ed GWhat "o 8x&ect for
the 100>s,H &redicted that G+acia) Eio)ence Wi)) (i)) 'ur %itiesH because G#ost)y b)ack we)fare
reci&ients wi)) fee) 6ustified in stea)ing fro# #ost)y white Shaves.<H "wo #onths )ater, a news)etter
warned of G"he %o#ing +ace War,H and, in Dove#ber 100>, an ite# advised readers, G2f you )ive in a
#a6or city, and can )eave, do so. 2f not, but you can have a rura) retreat, for invest#ent and refuge, buy
it.H 2n ,une 1001, an entry on racia) disturbances in Washington, /%<s *da#s Morgan neighborhood
was tit)ed, G*ni#a)s "ake 'ver the /.%. Too.H G"his is on)y the first skir#ish in the race war of the
100>s,H the news)etter &redicted. 2n an 'ctober 100 ite# about urban cri#e, the news)etter<s author,
&resu#ab)y Pau), wrote: G2<ve urged everyone in #y fa#i)y to know how to use a gun in se)f defense.
(or the ani#a)s are co#ing.H "hat sa#e year, a news)etter described the after#ath of a basketba))
ga#e in which Gb)acks &oured into the streets of %hicago in ce)ebration. How to ce)ebrate9 How e)se9
"hey broke the windows of stores to )oot.H "he news)etter inveighed against )ibera)s who Gwant to
kee& white *#erica fro# taking action against b)ack cri#e and we)fare,H adding, G,ury verdicts,
basketba)) ga#es, and even #usic are enough to set off b)ack rage, it see#s.H
4uch views on race a)so inf)ected the news)etters< co##entary on foreign affairs. 4outh *frica<s
transition to #u)tiracia) de#ocracy was &ortrayed as a Gdestruction of civi)i@ationH that was Gthe #ost
tragic PtoQ ever occur on that continent, at )east be)ow the 4aharaHK and, in March 1004, a #onth
before De)son Mande)a was e)ected &resident, one ite# warned of an i#&ending G4outh *frican
1. 8ditor<s note: "his is a reference to Uueen Eictoria, who a))eged)y said that when #arita) duties ob)iged her to co##ence the
engendering of offs&ring, she c)osed her eyes and thought of 8ng)and.
1!
Ho)ocaust.H
Martin Luther -ing ,r. earned s&ecia) ire fro# Pau)<s news)etters, which attacked the civi) rights
)eader freBuent)y, often to 6ustify o&&osition to the (edera) ho)iday na#ed after hi#. IGWhat an infa#y
+ona)d +eagan a&&roved itVH one news)etter co#&)ained in 100>. GWe can thank hi# for our annua)
Hate Whitey /ay.HJ 2n the ear)y 100>s, news)etters attacked the GO;+ated Martin Luther -ingH as a
Gwor)d;c)ass &hi)anderer who beat u& his &ara#ours,H Gseduced underage gir)s and boys,H and G#ade
a &ass atH fe))ow civi) rights )eader +a)&h *bernathy. 'ne news)etter ridicu)ed b)ack activists who
wanted to rena#e Dew 5ork %ity after -ing, suggesting that GWe)faria,H GToovi))e,H G+a&etown,H
G/irtburg,H and GLa@yo&o)isH were better a)ternatives. "he sa#e year, -ing was described as Ga
co#sy#&

, if not an actua) &arty #e#ber, and the #an who re&)aced the evi) of forced segregation
with the evi) of forced integration.H
Whi)e bashing -ing, the news)etters had kind words for the for#er 2#&eria) Wi@ard of the -u -)ux
-)an, /avid /uke. 2n a &assage tit)ed G"he /uke<s Eictory,H a news)etter ce)ebrated /uke<s 44 &ercent
showing in the 100> Louisiana 4enate &ri#ary. G/uke )ost the e)ection,H it said, Gbut he scared the
b)a@es out of the 8stab)ish#ent.H 2n 1001, a news)etter asked, G2s /avid /uke<s new &ro#inence,
des&ite his )osing the gubernatoria) e)ection, good for anti;big govern#ent forces9H "he conc)usion
was that Gour &riority shou)d be to take the anti;govern#ent, anti;tax, anti;cri#e, anti;we)fare )oafers,
anti;race &rivi)ege, anti;foreign #edd)ing #essage of /uke, and enc)ose it in a #ore consistent
&ackage of freedo#.H /uke is now returning the favor, te))ing #e that, whi)e he wi)) not for#a))y
endorse any candidate, he has #ade infor#ation about +on Pau) avai)ab)e on his website.
Like b)acks, gays earn &)enty of ani#us in Pau)<s news)etters. "he news)etters freBuent)y Buoted
Pau)<s Go)d co))eague,H +e&resentative Wi))ia# /anne#eyer ;; who advocated Buarantining &eo&)e
with *2/4 ;; &raising hi# for Gs&eakPingQ out fear)ess)y des&ite the organi@ed &ower of the gay
)obby.H 2n 100>, one news)etter #entioned a re&orter fro# a gay #aga@ine Gwho certain)y had an axe
to grind, and that<s not easy with a )i#& wrist.H 2n an ite# tit)ed, G"he Pink House9H the author of a
news)etter ;; again, &resu#ab)y Pau) ;; co#&)ained about President 1eorge H.W. .ush<s decision to
sign a hate cri#es bi)) and invite Gthe heads of ho#osexua) )obbying grou&s to the White House for
the cere#ony,H adding, G2 #iss the c)oset.H GHo#osexua)s,H it said, Gnot to s&eak of the rest of society,
were far better off when socia) &ressure forced the# to hide their activities.H When Marvin Lieb#an, a
founder of the conservative 5oung *#ericans for (reedo# and a )ongti#e &o)itica) activist,
announced that he was gay in the &ages of Dationa) +eview, a Pau) news)etter i#&)ored, G.ring .ack
the %)osetVH
4ur&rising)y, one ite# ex&ressed a#biva)ence about the contentious issue of gays in the #i)itary, but
u)ti#ate)y conc)uded, GHo#osexua)s, if ad#itted, shou)d be &ut in a s&ecia) category and not a))owed
in c)ose &hysica) contact with heterosexua)s.H
"he news)etters were &articu)ar)y obsessed with *2/4, Ga &o)itica))y &rotected disease thanks to
&ayo)a and the inf)uence of the ho#osexua) )obby,H and used it as a rhetorica) c)ub to beat gay &eo&)e
in genera). 2n 100>, one news)etter a&&roving)y Buoted Ga we));known Libertarian editorH as saying,
G"he *%";=P s)ogan, on stickers &)astered a)) over Manhattan, is S4i)ence W /eath.< .ut shou)dn<t it
be S4odo#y W /eath<9H +eaders were warned to avoid b)ood transfusions because gays were trying to
G&oison the b)ood su&&)y.H G*# 2 the on)y one sick of hearing about the Srights< of *2/4 carriers9H a
news)etter asked in 100>. "hat sa#e year, citing a %hristian;right fringe &ub)ication, an ite# suggested
that Gthe *2/4 &atientH shou)d not be a))owed to eat in restaurants and that G*2/4 can be trans#itted
by sa)iva,H which is fa)se. Pau)<s news)etters advertised a book, 4urviving the *2/4 P)ague ;; a)so
based u&on the fa)se casua);trans#ission thesis L and defended G&arents who worry about sending
their hea)thy kids to schoo) with *2/4 victi#s.H %o##enting on a rise in *2/4 infections, one
news)etter said that Ggays in 4an (rancisco do not obey the dictates of good sense,H adding: GP"Qhese
#en don<t rea))y see a reason to )ive &ast their fifties. "hey are not #arried, they have no chi)dren, and
. *#erican s)ang for co##unist sy#&athiser.
14
their )ives are centered on new sexua) &artners.H *)so, Gthey en6oy the attention and &ity that co#es
with being sick.H
"he rhetoric when it ca#e to ,ews was )itt)e better. "he news)etters dis&)ay an obsession with 2srae)K
Do other country is #entioned #ore often in the editions 2 saw, or with #ore vitrio). * 10:$ issue of
Pau)<s 2nvest#ent Letter ca))ed 2srae) Gan aggressive, nationa) socia)ist state,H and a 100> news)etter
discussed the Gtens of thousands of we));&)aced friends of 2srae) in a)) countries who are wi))ing to
wok PsicQ for the Mossad in their area of ex&ertise.H 'f the 100! Wor)d "rade %enter bo#bing, a
news)etter said, GWhether it was a setu& by the 2srae)i Mossad, as a ,ewish friend of #ine sus&ects, or
was tru)y a reta)iation by the 2s)a#ic funda#enta)ists, #atters )itt)e.H
Pau)<s news)etters didn<t 6ust contain bigotry. "hey a)so contained &aranoia Ls&ecifica))y, the brand
of anti;govern#ent &aranoia that festered a#ong right;wing #i)itia grou&s during the 10:>s and <0>s.
2ndeed, the news)etters see#ed to hint that ar#ed revo)ution against the (edera) govern#ent wou)d be
6ustified.
2n ,anuary 1003, three #onths before right;wing #i)itants bo#bed the Murrah (edera) .ui)ding in
'k)aho#a %ity, a news)etter )isted G"en Mi)itia %o##and#ents,H describing Gthe 1,3>> )oca) #i)itias
now training to defend )ibertyH as Gone of the #ost encouraging deve)o&#ents in *#erica.H 2t warned
#i)itia #e#bers that they were G&ossib)y under .*"( P.ureau of *)coho), "obacco and (irear#sQ or
other tota)itarian federa) survei))anceH. 2t &rinted bits of advice fro# the 4ons of Liberty, an anti;
govern#ent #i)itia based in *)aba#a ;;a#ong the#, G5ou can<t ki)) a Hydra by cutting off its head,H
G-ee& the grou& si@e down,H G-ee& Buiet and you<re harder to find,H GLeave no c)ues,H G*void the
&hone as #uch as &ossib)e,H and G/on<t fire un)ess fired u&on, but if they #ean to have a war, )et it
begin here.H
"he news)etters are chock;fu)) of sho&worn cons&iracies, ref)ecting Pau)<s obsession with the
Gindustria);banking;&o)itica) e)iteH and &ro#oting his distrust of a (edera))y regu)ated #onetary
syste# uti)i@ing &a&er bi))s. "hey contain freBuent and brist)ing references to the .i)derberg 1rou&,
the "ri)atera) %o##ission, and the %ounci) on (oreign +e)ations ;; organi@ations that cons&iracy
theorists have )ong accused of seeking wor)d do#ination. 2n 10$:, a news)etter b)a#ed /avid
+ockefe))er, the "ri)atera) %o##ission, and Gfascist;oriented, internationa) banking and business
interestsH for the Pana#a %ana) "reaty, which it ca))ed Gone of the saddest events in the history of the
=nited 4tates.H * 10:: news)etter cited a doctor who be)ieved that *2/4 was created in a Wor)d
Hea)th 'rgani@ation )aboratory in (ort /etrick, Mary)and. 2n addition, +on Pau) R *ssociates so)d a
video about Waco &roduced by a G&atriotic 2ndiana )awyer H who #aintained that Waco was a
cons&iracy to ki)) *"( agents who had &revious)y worked for President %)inton as bodyguards. *s
with #any of the #ore out)andish theories the news)etters cited over the years, the video received a
Bua)ified endorse#ent: G2 can<t vouch for every sing)e 6udg#ent by the narrator, but the fi)# does
show the de&ths of govern#ent &erfidy, and the nationa) &o)ice<s tricks and cri#es,H the news)etter
said, adding, G4end your check for X4.03 to our Houston office, or charge the ta&e to your credit card
at 1;:>>;+'D;P*=L.H
When 2 asked ,esse .enton, Pau)<s &residentia) ca#&aign s&okes#an, about the news)etters, he said
that, over the years, Pau) had granted Gvarious )eve)s of a&&rova)H to what a&&eared in his &ub)ications
;; ranging fro# Gno a&&rova)H to instances where he Gactua))y wrote it hi#se)f.H *fter 2 read .enton
so#e of the #ore offensive &assages, he said, G* )ot of Pthe news)ettersQ he did not see. Most of the
incendiary stuff, no.H He added that he was sur&rised to hear about the insu)ts hur)ed at Martin Luther
-ing, because G+on thinks Martin Luther -ing is a hero.H
2n other words, Pau)<s ca#&aign wants to de&ict its candidate as a naYve, absentee overseer, with
#ini#a) know)edge of what his under)ings were doing on his beha)f. "his &ortraya) #ight be #ore
be)ievab)e if extre#ist views had cro&&ed u& in the news)etters on)y s&oradica))y, or if the news)etters
had 6ust been &ub)ished for a short ti#e. .ut it is difficu)t to i#agine how Pau) cou)d a))ow #ateria)
consistent)y saturated in racis#, ho#o&hobia, anti;4e#itis#, and cons&iracy;#ongering to be &rinted
13
under his na#e for so )ong if he did not share these views. 2n that res&ect, whether or not Pau)
&ersona))y wrote the #ost offensive &assages is a)#ost beside the &oint. 2f he disagreed with what was
being written under his na#e, you wou)d think that at so#e &oint ;; over the course of decades ;;he
wou)d have done so#ething about it.
What<s #ore, Pau)<s connections to extre#is# go beyond the news)etters. He has given extensive
interviews to the #aga@ine of the ,ohn .irch 4ociety, and has freBuent)y been a guest of *)ex ,ones, a
radio host and &erha&s the #ost fa#ous cons&iracy theorist in *#erica. ,ones ;; whose recent
docu#entary, 8ndga#e: .)ue&rint for 1)oba) 8ns)ave#ent, detai)s the a))eged &)ans of 1eorge Pataki,
/avid +ockefe))er, and Uueen .eatrix of the Dether)ands, a#ong others, to exter#inate #ost of
hu#anity and deve)o& the#se)ves into Gsu&erhu#anH co#&uter hybrids ab)e to Gtrave) throughout the
cos#osH ;; esti#ates that Pau) has a&&eared on his radio &rogra# about 4> ti#es over the &ast twe)ve
years.
"hen there is 1ary Dorth, who has worked on Pau)<s congressiona) staff. Dorth is a centra) figure in
%hristian +econstructionis#, which advocates the i#&)e#entation of .ib)ica) )aw in #odern society.
%hristian +econstructionists share co##on ground with )ibertarians, since both grou&s dis)ike the
centra) govern#ent. Dorth has advocated the execution of wo#en who have abortions and &eo&)e who
curse their &arents. 2n a 10:7 book, Dorth argued for stoning as a for# of ca&ita) &unish#ent, because
Gthe i#&)e#ents of execution are avai)ab)e to everyone at virtua))y no cost.H Dorth is &erha&s best
known for 1ary Dorth<s +e#nant +eview, a G%hristian and &ro free;#arketH news)etter. 2n a 10:!
)etter Pau) wrote on beha)f of an organi@ation ca))ed the %o##ittee to 4to& the .ai);'ut of
Mu)tinationa) .anks Iknown by the acrony# %4.'M.J, he bragged, GPerha&s you a)ready read in
1ary Dorth<s +e#nant +eview about #y ex&oses of govern#ent abuse.H
+on Pau) is not going to be &resident. .ut, as his ca#&aign has gathered stea#, he has found hi#se)f
increasing)y &er#itted inside the boundaries of res&ectab)e debate. He sat for an extensive interview
with "i# +ussert recent)y. He has raised a)#ost X> #i))ion in 6ust three #onths, #uch of it on)ine.
*nd he received near)y three ti#es as #any votes as erstwhi)e front;runner +udy 1iu)iani in )ast
week<s 2owa caucus. *)) the whi)e he has genera))y been &ortrayed by the #edia as &rinci&)ed and
serious, whi)e garnering &raise for being a Gstraight;ta)ker.
(ro# his news)etters, however, a different &icture of Pau) e#erges;;that of so#eone who is either
hi#se)f dee&)y e#bittered or, for a )ong ti#e, a))owed others to write bitter)y on his beha)f. His
adversaries are often described in harsh ter#s: .arbara ,ordan is ca))ed G.arbara Morondon,H 8)eanor
Ho)#es Dorton is a Gb)ack &inko,H /onna 4ha)a)a is a Gshort )esbian,H +on .rown is a Gracia)
victi#o)ogist,H and +oberta *chtenberg, the first o&en)y gay &ub)ic officia) confir#ed by the =nited
4tates 4enate, is a Gfar;)eft, nor#a);hating )esbian activist.H Maybe such outbursts #ean +on Pau)
rea))y is a straight;ta)ker. 'r #aybe they 6ust #ean he is a #an fi))ed with hate.
17
$fterword by &ames /irchik
I had long been suspicious of +on )aul. I ha%e a personal interest in cults and the $merican
political fringe and I noticed many subtle similarities in )aul,s rhetoric and writings and those
of the e3treme right. I knew that he had some associations with genuine e3tremists but writing
an article about them could easily be characterised as guilt!by!association.
I knew that he had published a newsletter for some time. But only one or two issues had e%er
been written about so I figured that getting my hands on others would make a good story. I
called people who follow the e3treme right and 2hip Berlet of the 2ambridge Massachusetts!
based )olitical +esearch $ssociates suggested that I check the libraries at the 1ni%ersity of
/ansas and the 0isconsin Historical Society. Both house e3tensi%e collections of $merican
e3treme right literature. 1sing 0orld2at an online global database of research libraries I
confirmed that the newsletters !! which had eluded many other reporters ; were in those two
libraries.
I had to choose which library to %isit on a limited budget. I called both librarians ; ne%er hang
up the phone there are always people who know something and are willing to talk ; and spoke
to them e3tensi%ely about the collections. 'hey were not able to gi%e me anything more than
basic details. /ansas had earlier editions 0isconsin had later editions. I figured that the
earlier editions would ha%e juicier material so I went to /ansas. 0hat I found was pretty
offensi%e. I was %ery lucky howe%er that the 0isconsin Historical Society apparently spurred
on by my re"uest 6which must ha%e been the first they had e%er recei%ed about these
newsletters7 decided se%eral weeks later to con%ert their collection to microfiche. I asked them
to mail the cartridges to me. -ated <=88!<==> they were the real jackpot. 0ithout them the
most damning material would not ha%e made it into my article.
I organised the documents by theme 6anti!Semitism racism homophobia pro!militia etc.7. 'hat
was time!consuming but once I had this organised the piece itself was not so difficult to write.
'he editor was not particularly adamant that I ha%e the piece by a certain time but I,m someone
who works better if I ha%e a deadline. $s the (ew Hampshire +epublican primary approached
in early &anuary 9::8 we figured that it would be a good idea ; from a news!making
perspecti%e ; to publish the story on our website the day of the primary. )aul was e3pected to
do well there. I was lucky to ha%e a %ery competent editor who could cut the article 6which was
originally something like <9::: words7 down to a far more manageable ?:::. I emailed the
story to all of my contacts especially those working in media outlets. I was also helped by my
colleagues at 'he (ew +epublic who pushed the story in their own work.
'he initial response was %ery positi%e. 'he piece was mentioned on most cable news outlets and
)aul had to respond to the charges in an inter%iew with 0olf Blit@er later that day on 2((. He
came in fifth in the primary not third as some e3pected. (either )aul nor his staff challenged
the factual basis of the article. +eason maga@ine did an important follow!up piece obtaining
the ta3 files which showed how much money )aul and his family had personally made from the
newsletters.
*n the other hand I recei%ed many hundreds of hateful emails from )aul supporters some
threatening death. I,m used to hate mail being a political journalist but the %iolent tone of these
messages was something new. $nd gi%en what I knew about )aul and his supporters I think I
had serious reason to fear for my safety.
I ha%e also been somewhat disappointed in the media,s subse"uent co%erage of )aul. He
recently announced the formation of a 9:<9 presidential e3ploratory committee and %ery little
of the media co%erage mentions the newsletters. $ profile of )aul in 4s"uire did not mention the
1$
newsletters at all. I wish that the piece had done more long!term to affect )aul,s reputationA it
saddens me that the mainstream media continue to grant him credence that I don,t belie%e he
deser%es.
1:
#. $rom #u"garia with %ove
If you think that SM!S" was Ian #leming$s fiction, think twice
By $le3enia -imitro%a
Introduction. 'he author of this piece has gained an international reputation by labouring in a
%ery dark mine ; the archi%es of the Bulgarian secret ser%ices during the 2old 0ar. Her
methods are old!fashioned because no other methods will work here. (otice in her afterword
how she has honed her sensiti%ity to the source material to its codes and culture. Her
introduction touches on a fundamental attraction of in%estigati%e work# 'he job leads to
disco%eries that surpass fiction. 'he successi%e shocks in the story come not only from the
details of shadow work but from the insight she pro%ides into the minds of these operati%es.
Most important perhaps $le3enia ne%er forgets the %ictims and the effect on their li%es of
being a target. 'he closing line of this story a decepti%ely simple statement sends us back into
the darkness of things that can ne%er be known.
5rom 4 Hours /ai)y 6Bulgaria7 <9 &uly 9:<:
/o you re#e#ber 2an ()e#ing<s ,a#es .ond nove), (ro# +ussia with Love9 2t introduced
4M8+4H, a 4oviet counterinte))igence agency whose acrony# was co#&osed fro# two +ussian
words: s#yert sh&iona#, #eaning Zdeath to s&iesZ. ()e#ingCs version of 4M8+4H was #ode)ed after
a rea) 4oviet organi@ation, which sent its o&eratives abroad to work against the West with the
additiona) goa) of ki))ing Western agents.
Previous)y unknown docu#ents and other irrefutab)e evidence now &rove that such a su&er;secret
unit existed in .u)garia, too. Dear)y 3,>>> &ages of the new)y;disc)osed secret fi)es of the %o##unist;
era .u)garian inte))igence organi@ation revea) that this s&ecia) bureau was res&onsib)e for kidna&&ing,
assassination or discrediting of .u)garian e#igrants and Gene#ies of the .u)garian stateH around the
wor)d.
"his 4M8+4H;sty)e c)andestine structure was ca))ed G4ervice $H. 2t began o&erations in 107!, and
by 10$ was engaged in 1> o&erations against .u)garians who had esca&ed to nine countries: .ritain,
/en#ark, 8thio&ia, 2ta)y, 4weden, 4wit@er)and, "urkey, (rance, and West 1er#any. "he targets of
these o&erations were given code na#es: G.etrayerZ, G.)ind #anH, Z"he .)ackZ, ZHa#)etH, GLackeyH,
G'xH Z"raitorZ, ZWidower Z, and ZOZ.
+u#ours that such a unit existed during the %o)d War circu)ated in .u)garia for years, and for #ore
than two decades, starting i##ediate)y after the fa)) of the %o##unist regi#e, 2 tried to verify the#
by digging into the .u)garian secret archives. 2t was on)y three years ago, thanks to a new )aw
&er#itting )i#ited access to the docu#ents of the for#er 4tate 4ecurity /e&art#ent, that 6ourna)ists
fina))y had a chance to read so#e of the .u)garian 2nte))igence fi)es fro# the %o)d War &eriod.
Most of these fi)es are sti)) not o&en to the &ub)ic. 8ven those now disc)osed were genera))y thought
to be un)ike)y to contain start)ing reve)ations, because it was we)) known that #any docu#ents fro#
that ti#e had been destroyed. .ut obvious)y those in charge of deciding what to destroy had thought
on)y about the recent &ast, and not about ear)ier years L so so#e crucia) docu#ents survived.
Poring over the inventories, 2 noticed words )ike ostri #ero&riatia Iwhich in .u)garian #eans Gshar&
#easuresHJ, Gs&ecia) actionsH and Gactive #easuresH. When 2 o&ened those fi)es, #arked G"o& 4ecret,H
2 found for the first ti#e rea) &roof of the existence and the activities of a s&ecia) unit res&onsib)e for
what its officers ca))ed Gshar& #easuresH L kidna&&ing, &oisoning, discrediting, neutra)i@ing and
)iBuidating .u)garian N#igrNs.
10
2n recent years 4tate 4ecurity officers have strenuous)y denied that the de&art#ent was ever invo)ved
with #urders, )et a)one that it had created a s&ecia) unit to &)an and conduct such activities. 2n an
interview in 1000, 1enera) E)ado "odorov, ex;director of the .u)garian Dationa) 2nte))igence before
10:0, dec)ared that Z)iBuidation was not a &art of our work.Z
"he fi)es show otherwise. 4&eaking about a .u)garian e#igrant on ,u)y 1, 10$>, then 2nterior
Minister *nge) 4o)akov had said, ZWe need to execute the death sentence. *t first g)ance it see#s that
it is a b)ack and dirty 6ob, but for us it is nob)e.H
He had added: Z2 do not know whether we wi)) not be asked to )iBuidate, for instance, Pa&andreou.
Dow we get s#a))er tasks, but we shou)d gain so#e ex&erience.Z I2t is unc)ear whether the #inister
was referring to *ndreas Pa&andreou, the father of the current 1reek &ri#e #inister, who was )iving
in Paris at that ti#e, or to his fatherJ.
"he docu#ents show that the work of the secret unit was guided by ru)es written on March 1>, 1074,
and a&&roved by then;2nterior Minister 1en. /iko /iko. "he victi#s of the unit were to be intoxicated
and &oisoned, or G&ut to s)ee&H. *ccording to a docu#ent fro# 107$, the targets of these actions were
Gtraitors to the #other)and, who caused #a6or da#age... and engaged in active ene#y activity.Z
*t the ti#e of its creation, 4ervice $ had on)y four officers. 2n a re&ort dated 'ctober $, 1074, its
chief, %o). Petko -ovachev, ca))ed it Zour )itt)e subdivisionH. 2n the sa#e docu#ent he reBuested #ore
resources because there were G#any cases to work on.H
His drea# ca#e true. .y 107$ the unit had grown to !0 agents. 2n a #e#orandu# to the %hief of
the 4tate 4ecurity /e&art#ent dated 4e&te#ber !>, 107$, -ovachev ca))ed for the work of 4ervice $
to be discussed at the highest )eve), and asked to have its weak &oints strengthened with the he)& of
G4oviet co#radesH.
'ne of the things 4ervice $ wanted fro# its 4oviet counter&arts was to obtain a s)ow;acting,
taste)ess, co)our)ess and odour)ess &oison. 4i#i)ar Bueries about #odern wea&ons and &oisons were
sent to Gfraterna) s&ecia) servicesH in 8ast 1er#any and %@echos)ovakia. 2n addition, to& .u)garian
research institutions, inc)uding the 2nterior Ministry<s s&ecia) hos&ita), a to& drug #anufacturer, the
university<s &har#aceutica) facu)ty and the 4tate %o##ittee for 4cience and "echnica) Progress were
invo)ved in deve)o&ing such s&ecia) substances.
4ervice $ recruited its #e#bers fro# a#ong &eo&)e )oya) to the %o##unist &o)itica) and &arty )ine.
*fter 6oining the unit, they were sub6ect to &articu)ar training, c)asses and instructions. 'ne of the fi)es
describing these agents refers to an individua) who is code;na#ed GPiccadi))yHK this is &robab)y the
#urderer of the .u)garian writer 1eorge Markov, who was assassinated in London in 10$:. "he
wea&on was a &oisoned u#bre))a ti&. "he fu)) fi)es of the notorious G.u)garian u#bre))aH o&eration
have &robab)y been destroyed.
"he Piccadi))y fi)e #entions that he was a)so invo)ved in an o&eration in 2ta)y against another
.u)garian N#igrN."he first o&eration &re&ared by 4ervice $ was against the .u)garian N#igrN .)ago
4)avenov, who had esca&ed to 2ta)y in the )ate 104><s. He beca#e a target because he was a )eading
#e#ber of a &ro#inent .u)garian anti;co##unist N#igrN organi@ation, the .u)garian Dationa)
%o##ittee, and head of its 2ta)ian branch.
*ccording to the fi)es, the o&eration, code;na#ed Libretto, was &re&ared with the he)& of the 2nterior
Ministry<s hos&ita) in 4ofia. 4)avenov was to be kidna&&ed and returned to .u)garia fro# a shi&
docked in "rieste. "he tea# for this o&eration inc)uded two officers and three other #e#bers of the
.u)garian inte))igence agency.
4)avenov<s daughter, 8)@a, )ater to)d #e how her father had esca&ed this &)ot. *n 2ta)ian friend had
asked hi# to be a trans)ator in order to he)& the crew of a .u)garian shi& docked in "rieste fix a
#echanica) &rob)e# with the vesse). 4)avenov, a)ways cautious, right)y sus&ected that this story was a
>
tra&, and refused to board the shi&.
*)though the o&eration fai)ed, the fo))owing year the officers described it in a re&ort as a first and
very usefu) ex&erience. "hey continued working on Libretto for the next few years. "heir ideas
inc)uded using a fe#a)e inte))igence agent to )ure 4)avenov to Eienna, where he wou)d be kidna&&ed.
"hat atte#&t a)so fai)ed.
4)avenov died in 1007. 8)@a, who sti)) )ives in 2ta)y, confir#ed that her father knew about the &)ots
against hi#. "o avoid the agents who fo))owed hi#, he constant)y varied his routes and the ti#es he
)eft fro# and returned ho#e. He a)so freBuent)y changed the )ocks on his doors.
*nother target of 4ervice $ was "rayco .e)o&o&sky, a for#er .u)garian inte))igence officer who was
sent to .ritain in the )ate 103><s under the cover identity of an 'xford student. 4evera) years )ater he
decided not to return. He was sentenced to death in absentia by .u)garia in 1074. *t the ti#e, the ex;
director of the .u)garian inte))igence agency, 1en. E)ado "odorov, #entioned in an interview that
.e)o&o&sky was one of three known traitors a#ong the %o##unist inte))igence officers.
.e)o&o&sky cou)d be found a)ive in Dew 5ork in >>7, )ong before the discoveries that he had been
a target of 4ervice $. He sti)) refused to ta)k &ub)ic)y, ex&)aining that he feared for the safety of his
chi)dren around the wor)d. .ut in our &rivate corres&ondence he #entioned that a 4M8+4H;)ike unit
had existed in .u)garian inte))igence and that he was one of its targets. *s an exa#&)e, he reca))ed that
in the first years after his defection, his father had visited hi# in London and brought hi# a &iece of
.u)garian sa)a#i ca))ed )ukanka. -nowing the #ethods of .u)garian inte))igence, .e)o&o&sky was
sus&icious. He tossed the sa)a#i to a street dog, and the ani#a) died in agony #inutes )ater.
When asked about the case, a for#er high;ranking officer of .u)garian inte))igence and
.e)o&o&sky<s ex;boss in London, %o). /i#o 4tankov, denied that the agency had &)anned a Gshar&
#easureH against .e)o&o&sky. He even denied knowing that the defector had been sentenced to death.
GWe wanted and tried to get hi# back, sending his father to &ersuade hi# to return, but when that
fai)ed, we gave u&,H he said.
"he new)y;o&ened fi)es of the secret unit fu))y refute these c)ai#s. "hey confir# that .e)o&o&sky
was one of the &)anned victi#s of 4ervice $, under two different code na#es: G"he .)ackH and
GMavrovH. He was ab)e to survive by #oving fro# .ritain to the =nited 4tates, where he re#arried.
His first wife and daughter, who were )eft in .u)garia after his e#igration, never saw hi# again.
.e)o&o&sky did not )ive to see the docu#ents that su&&orted his sus&icions that he had been one of the
targets of a secret unit. He died in ear)y >>:, two years before 2 found evidence of the existence of
4ervice $.
"he fi)es contain eight #ore cases of N#igrNs who beca#e targets of 4ervice $ between 107! and
10$4, but there are no docu#ents showing what ha&&ened to 4ervice $ after that. Many &eo&)e
&resu#e that it continued o&erating, but those docu#ents were &robab)y destroyed, a)ong with so#e
!,>>> &ages recording its activities and targets u& to 10$4.
However, the disc)osed fi)es constitute irrefutab)e &roof that .u)garian inte))igence had such a
s&ecia) unit. "hey a)so corroborate so#e *#erican docu#ents about .u)garia during the %o)d War
that 2 obtained through the =4 (reedo# of 2nfor#ation *ct.
"hese docu#ents state that four .u)garians were #e#bers of a G4oviet;s&onsored kidna&&ing ringH.
"hey were )isted a#ong a tota) of 70: .u)garians and their re)atives who were )iving in *ustria, and
who were sus&ected of invo)ve#ent with either +ussian or .u)garian secret services or front
organi@ations.
Du#ber 3:7 on the )ist was described as a G.u)garian inte))igence service agent, res&onsib)e for
disa&&earance of severa) .u)garians be)ieved to have been kidna&&ed.H Du#ber 743, a .u)garian
working at the %o##ercia) %ounci) in *ustria, was accused of Gthe kidna&&ing of severa) .u)garians
1
in Eienna in *&ri) 1040.H. Du#ber 7$7 was the director of .u)garian counterinte))igence in the
*ustrian ca&ita). "here were a))egations that he was Gres&onsib)e for the kidna&&ing of nu#erous
.u)garians in EiennaH.
"he *#erican fi)es contained no further infor#ation on the kidna&&ing ring.

%fterword: "ow I wrote &The Murder 'ureau( by %le)enia *imitrova

G"he Murder .ureauH is archiva) investigation L arguab)y a )ess &o&u)ar, but i#&ortant branch
of investigative 6ourna)is#. Like #y book of the sa#e na#e, &ub)ished in ,u)y >1>, it is based
on near)y 3>>> &ages of &revious)y unknown 4tate 4ecurity docu#ents. "hey were dec)assified
at #y reBuest under a .u)garian )aw &assed in /ece#ber >>7, which a))ows access to &a&ers of
the for#er 4tate security agency dated before ,u)y 1001.
(or #any years a ru#our had circu)ated in .u)garia that a s&ecia) secret unit, res&onsib)e for the
&oisoning, kidna&&ing, eradication, discrediting, or de#ora)isation of .u)garians abroad, existed
)ong before the notorious assassination of writer 1eorgi Markov at London in 10$:. 2 heard
the# for the first ti#e in 100!. *fter 100: 2 re&eated)y tried to deter#ine whether such a unit
existed and to obtain docu#ents re)ated to its work fro# the .u)garian Ministry of the 2nterior
and the Dationa) 2nte))igence 4ervice. .ut the answer was a)ways negative.
"he >>7 )aw gave researchers their first rea) chance to read so#e of the inventories of these
secret archives. When the initia), tiny &ortion of inventories beca#e avai)ab)e 2 started digging
into the#.
+eading inventories is a boring thing, but after #any days 2 ca#e across words that attracted #y
attention : ostri #ero&riatia Iwhich in .u)garian #ean acute actions or shar& #easuresJ, Gs&ecia)
actionsH, Gactive actionsH and Gdisinfor#ation actionsH.
2 then reBuested about 4> fi)es containing #ore than 3>>> &ages. When 2 got the# 2 was
shocked to find un#istakab)e &roofs of the existence and the activities of a s&ecia) unit
res&onsib)e for those Gshar& #easuresH.
2 absorbed the# in the reading roo# of the 4ecret fi)es %o##ission in 4ofia, and #ade detai)ed
notes. 2 ke&t different fi)es on different sub6ects in #y co#&uter L one about the organisation of
the secret unit, one about the &re&aration of the o&erations and the victi#s, one about the
wea&ons, one about -1. assistance, one for docu#ents that have been destroyed, and about 1>
se&arate fi)es for each of the 1> .u)garians targeted by the 4ecret unit at that ti#e. "hus 2
organised the 3>>> &ages.
2 then ordered co&ies of the #ost i#&ortant &ages. 2 needed the# for reasons: first, to i))ustrate
#y artic)es, and then, in case so#eone decided to deny the facts. 2n that event 2 wou)d need
&roof. 2n fact the &ub)ished facsi#i)es of the secret docu#ents beca#e one of #y strongest
wea&ons.
2 a)so continued #aking detai)ed notes, in case so#eone GforgotH to give so#e of the co&ies to
#e, and because so#eti#es there were substantia) de)ays before 2 got the#. Whi)e 2 waited for
the co&ies 2 used #y notes to write #y artic)es and #y book.
4o#e fi)es were never given to #e. When 2 insisted, 2 was to)d that they were destroyed. "hen 2
de#anded &roof of their destruction, in the for# of &rotoco)s or inventories. Later these
&rotoco)s beca#e an interesting cha&ter in #y book.
2 have a)ways tried to enrich #y archiva) investigations with hu#an sources. "hey #ay verify or
re6ect so#e of the docu#ents. "heir co##ents a)so give good additiona) detai)s and ideas for
future docu#entary investigations. 2n genera), hu#an sources #ake archiva) 6ourna)istic
investigation entire)y different fro# acade#ic work, which ty&ica))y is based on)y on
docu#ents.
!
2f 2 was to advise so#eone about funda#enta) research techniBues for archiva) investigation,
they wou)d be:
1. +ead inventories yourse)f Ido not count on other researchersJK
. +ead a)) fi)es that see# c)ose to your sub6ect, even if so#e of the# do not a&&ear to have a
direct re)ationK
!. *)ways try to identify hu#an sources who# you wi)) a&&roachK
4. Dever set )i#its to what you wi)) do with the docu#ents. My initia) intention was to write a
series of news&a&er artic)es, but it changed to a)so writing a docu#entary book.
"he writing &rocess for such a Gdocu#entary investigationH is a bit s&ecific. 5ou #ust extract
the essentia) fro# hundreds and thousands of &ages and Gtrans)ateH their boring )anguage into
so#ething understandab)e and interesting. 4hort sentences are your best wea&on. However, you
#ust &resent the #ost i#&ortant &ieces as Buotations, to under)ine their authenticity.
"he hardest thing 2 had to dea) with for the news&a&er story and the book was to #aintain the
exc)usivity of #y #ateria). "he archives 2 investigated are &ub)ic, and at any #o#ent anybody
cou)d co#e across the#. 2f this had ha&&ened 2 had to s&eed u& #y work, which eventua))y
cou)d da#age its Bua)ity L that is, doub)e checking the #ost i#&ortant facts and searching for
hu#an sources.
Practica))y s&eaking, 2 co#&eted with the c)ock. 2 worked on other &ro6ects too, because 2 a# a
fu)) ti#e re&orter at a dai)y news&a&er. 4o 2 worked on the book #ost)y evenings and weekends.
2 had the fu)) su&&ort of #y 8ditor and /e&uty 8ditor in chief L in fact, the news&a&er beca#e
#y book &ub)isher, and excer&ted cha&ters of the book on the eve of its &ub)ication. "hat
&rovoked #any radios and "Es to invite #e for interviews. .ecause the o&erations of the secret
unit were carried out in 0 countries, 2 a)so attracted the attention of so#e foreign #edia, and a
ha)f do@en artic)es by their corres&ondents or #e were &ub)ished in 8ng)ish. 2 trave))ed
intensive)y in .u)garia to &resent #y book.
G"he Murder .ureauH &rovoked huge interest in .u)garia. (or the first ti#e the ru#ours were
substantiated with facts. 2 got one threatening, anony#ous &hone ca)) fro# a &erson who
sounded )ike a for#er inte))igence officer. Do one cha))enged the accuracy of #y work, because
2 &ub)ished #ore than 1>> facsi#i)es of docu#ents to &rove #y story.
"he audience often asked #e when #y next, fifth docu#entary book wi)) be &ub)ished. My
answer is that a 6ourna)ist dea)ing with archiva) investigations can never forecast future &)ans,
because she never knows what she wi)) find in the archives. "hat was Iand isJ the worst thing
about this 6ob. "he best thing is that after 1$ years, 2 was ab)e to turn dreadfu) ru#ours into
verified, &ub)ic facts.
4
Chapter Two. The Ground Beneath Our Feet:
Investigating social phenomena
A. The &'hoo" of Hard (no'ks
!ecord numbers of women are enrolling in for+profit career colleges, hoping for
better lives and high+paying ,obs. Instead, too many are ending up with useless
diplomas and staggering debt.
By Barry Beoman
Introduction. $s I was preparing this anthology I was tra%eling and e%erywhere I went I saw
large numbers of new pri%ate schools. 'here were schools for language 6usually 4nglish7
schools for tech jobs 6usually computers7 schools for teachers and businesspeople and
journalists 6only one!third of whose graduates find a job in the industry at this writing7 and so
on and on. 0e wondered# $re any of these schools selling a mere imitation of knowledge to their
students effecti%ely handicapping their dreams of a better lifeC Barry Beoman answers that
"uestion in heartbreaking detail. His working method for this piece used a stunning array of
information technology but in the end the technology ser%ed mainly to help him find people
who had e3perienced personal tragedies. He still had to persuade them that he was worth
talking to. *ne of those people furnished the lead of his story a powerful e3ample of how to put
a face on a wider social phenomenon. 'he body of the story maps the industry the regulators
and the markets ; all elements that will pop up in different forms in other locales. (ote how
Beoman gi%es e%eryone in the story a chance to tell their side of it before concluding that
something has gone %ery wrong. $ story like this can change li%es and it can also be done
e%erywhere in the world regardless of the technology at hand. 6In fact I wanted to include a
similar story from (igeria but got no replies to my emails.7 (ot incidentally Beoman,s detailed
$fterword is practically a manual of best practice in itself.
*riginally published in 1ood Housekee&ing &une 9:<:
*("8+ H8+ /2E'+%8 (2E8 58*+4 *1', 5as#ine 2ssa rea)i@ed she cou)d no )onger afford to
be a stay;at;ho#e #o#. 4heCd taken two years of co))ege c)asses before getting #arried, but had never
trained for a &rofessiona) 6ob. Z2 wanted to do so#ething &ro#ising for #yse)f,Z says the :;year;o)d
fro# 5onkers, D.5. Ho&ing to beco#e an u)trasound technician, she found the Web site for 4anford;
.rown 2nstitute, a chain of for;&rofit career co))eges s&ecia)i@ing in the hea)th &rofessions. Z2f youCre
)ooking for an exciting and rewarding career in todayCs ex&anding fie)ds,Z the Web site said, Zwe can
he)& you get there.Z
*t 4anford;.rownCs White P)ains, D.5., ca#&us, in a renovated brick office co#&)ex, she #et with a
recruiter for the schoo), owned by the %areer 8ducation %or&. "he co#&any earns X1.$ bi))ion a year
fro# so#e 0> career co))eges nationwide. "he recruiter to)d 2ssa that an acce)erated &rogra# wou)d
he)& her earn an u)trasound certificate in 6ust 1: #onths, and &ro#ised that 4anford;.rownCs
&)ace#ent service wou)d steer her toward work that &aid we)). ZWe wonCt sto& unti) you find a 6ob,Z
she reca))s hi# saying. He a)so to)d her that the schoo) was accredited by the govern#ent;a&&roved
*ccrediting %ounci) for 2nde&endent %o))eges and 4choo)sK that was reassuring, she says. .ut she fe)t
a bit unco#fortab)e about the way the recruiter &ressured her. 4heCd better hurry, he warnedK the
3
registration dead)ine was 6ust days away. Z2 did, of course, fee) rushed,Z she says. Z*nd 2 signed u& for
it.Z "he course cost X$,>>>. 2ssa took out X13,>>> in federa) student )oans and &aid another X1,>>>
fro# her twin daughtersC chi)d su&&ort.
4he a&&reciated the hands;on training 4anford;.rown gave her, 2ssa says, a)though she Buestioned
the va)ue of so#e of the c)assroo# instruction. ZWe on)y #e#ori@ed for the exa#s,Z she says. ZWe
didnCt rea))y absorb the infor#ation.Z 4ti)), she took her education serious)y, envisioning a ti#e when
she cou)d co#fortab)y su&&ort her gir)s, now $. 2n ,une >>:, after a year and a ha)f of study, she
received her certificate in /iagnostic Medica) =)trasound.
"hen ca#e the shocker: When 2ssa tried to get her &rofessiona) credentia)s, the *#erican +egistry
for /iagnostic Medica) 4onogra&hy, a non&rofit certifying body, infor#ed her that she was ine)igib)e
to take its registration exa#. 2ssa was astonished to )earn that a)though 4anford;.rown was accredited,
its u)trasound curricu)u# was not L a detai) she says the recruiter neg)ected to #ention. I"he schoo)
says the infor#ation was in a written disc)osure given to 2ssa during registration.J 1raduates of
unaccredited &rogra#s canCt take the exa# without 1 #onths of work ex&erience L but no e#&)oyer
wou)d hire 2ssa un)ess sheCd taken the exa#.
2ssa a&&)ied for about >> 6obs, visiting hos&ita)s and doctorsC offices throughout Dew 5ork, Dew
,ersey, and %onnecticut, and was turned away every ti#e. "he schoo)Cs &)ace#ent service was no he)&.
Z"he )ady 6ust said, C'h, 2 sent your rNsu#N out. "here arenCt #any 6obs around. 2C)) kee& you &osted,C Z
2ssa reca))s. Z4he never did.Z
Dow une#&)oyed L she kee&s )ooking for u)trasound 6obs because thatCs the on)y ski)) on her rNsu#N
L and watching the interest #ount on her un&aid student )oans, 2ssa fee)s stuck. 4heCd )ike to study
nursing at a traditiona) co))ege, but her coursework fro# 4anford;.rown wonCt transfer Isee ZHow to
Protect 5ourse)f,Z be)owJ. *nd because sheCs )iving on chi)d su&&ort, she canCt afford to take on
additiona) debt. Z2tCs so stressfu) to know that 2 have a fa#i)y to take care of, rent and car bi))s to &ay,
and this huge )oan,Z she says. Z2 wish 2 cou)d go back to schoo) and do so#ething e)se. .ut 2 donCt
have the #oney.Z
H2" H*+/ .5 * "+'=.L8/ 8%'D'M5, #ore and #ore *#ericans are turning to for;&rofit
career co))eges s&ecia)i@ing in fie)ds )ike #edica) assisting, co#&uter gra&hics, and cri#ina) 6ustice.
"hey drea# of getting a better 6ob and a better )ife. .ut what too #any of the# are getting instead is a
use)ess di&)o#a and shattered drea#s.
1overn#ent investigations and whist)e;b)ower )awsuits have cited #yriad &rob)e#s with for;&rofit
schoo)s, inc)uding unBua)ified teachers, externshi&s that donCt #ateria)i@e, fa)se &ro#ises that credits
wi)) transfer to traditiona) co))eges, and overb)own 6ob;&)ace#ent figures. Perha&s worst of a)), say
critics L inc)uding the &)aintiffs in various )awsuits L graduates often find the#se)ves not on)y
woefu))y uneBui&&ed for new careers, but sadd)ed with staggering debt.
Dear)y three #i))ion *#ericans L 74 &ercent of the# wo#en L attended accredited &rivate for;&rofit
career co))eges in >>$;>>:, according to the Washington, /.%.;based %areer %o))ege *ssociation.
5ouCve &robab)y seen the te)evision co##ercia)s and subway and bus ads &ro#ising new ski))s and
6obs that &ay we)). /esigned to a&&ea) to busy adu)ts, the co))eges Ia)so ca))ed &ro&rietary schoo)sJ
e#&hasi@e their f)exib)e schedu)es, on)ine c)asses, and facu)ty with rea);wor)d ex&erience. "hey grant
&rofessiona) certificates a)ong with associateCs, bache)orCs, and even graduate degrees. "uition tends to
be ex&ensive at these schoo)s, #any of which are owned by )arge cor&orations. .ut students are
encouraged to borrow the #oney through govern#ent and Ito a )esser degreeJ &rivate )oan &rogra#s.
(ue)ed by X1$.3 bi))ion annua))y in federa) student )oans and grants L so#e schoo)s get a)#ost 0>
&ercent of their revenues fro# govern#ent &rogra#s L the for;&rofit career;co))ege industry has
averaged #ore than 1> &ercent annua) growth since 10$7. "he recent econo#ic downturn has &ushed
that growth rate c)oser to 3 &ercent, says Harris Mi))er, &resident and %8' of the %areer %o))ege
*ssociation. ZWhen the recession started, our business went into hy&erdrive,Z he notes.
7
Mi))er thinks that for;&rofit schoo)s fi)) a ga& in the #arket&)ace L &articu)ar)y during these hard ti#es,
as the fresh)y une#&)oyed try to i#&rove their 6ob &ros&ects by acBuiring new ski))s. "raditiona)
universities, he says, are geared toward what he ca))s the Zsocia))y e)ite,Z whi)e co##unity co))eges
are suffering fro# budget cuts. Z%areer co))eges arenCt for everybody L weCre not going to su&&)ant
Harvard or 4tanford L but we are abso)ute)y critica),Z Mi))er says. ZWe focus on students who werenCt
)istening to Mo@art in utero and &re&aring for their 4*"s in third grade.Z
"he schoo)s offer u& success stories L graduates )ike /iana +ivera, a 0;year;o)d for#er retai)
#anager who &ar)ayed a cri#ina);6ustice degree fro# Westwood %o))egeCs downtown %hicago ca#&us
into a X!$,>>>;a;year 6ob su&ervising outreach workers at a vio)ence;&revention &rogra#. +ivera, a
sing)e #other, earned her bache)orCs degree in three years, using &rivate )oans and federa) )oans and
grants to &ay #ost of her X7>,:>> tuition. ZDow when 2 stay )ate or work overti#e,Z she says, Z2C#
he)&ing a &erson or a fa#i)y. 2tCs #ore #eaningfu) knowing that youCve saved so#eoneCs )ife.Z
.ut in *&ri) >>0, *)ta %o))eges, the owner of the nationa) Westwood %o))ege chain, &aid the
govern#ent X$ #i))ion to reso)ve a whist)e;b)ower )awsuit fi)ed by nine for#er e#&)oyees of
WestwoodCs "exas ca#&uses. "he suit charged in &art that the schoo)s to)d students the 6ob;&)ace#ent
rate was 0$ to 00 &ercent, when the overa)) rate was actua))y )ess than 33 &ercent. Westwood ad#itted
no wrongdoing.
2n >>3, ,ohn P. Higgins ,r., 2ns&ector 1enera) of the =.4. /e&art#ent of 8ducation, to)d %ongress
that $4 &ercent of his officeCs institutiona);fraud cases over the &revious six years invo)ved for;&rofit
schoo)s. *nd the education de&art#ent I8/J re&orts )ow graduation rates for &ro&rietary;schoo)
bache)orCs &rogra#s L !.7 &ercent co#&)etion within six years, co#&ared to 34.: &ercent for &ub)ic
schoo)s, and 74.3 &ercent for &rivate non&rofit schoo)s.
ZWhi)e there are, in fact, so#e Bua)ity &ro&rietary institutions, the sector is overwhe)#ing)y biased
in the direction of the Buick buck,Z says .ar#ak Dassirian, associate executive director of the
non&rofit *#erican *ssociation of %o))egiate +egistrars and *d#issions 'fficers, which inc)udes for;
&rofit schoo)s a#ong its #e#bers. 4tudents trying to i#&rove their )ives end u& worse off than when
they started, he says. Z"hey get &ackaged with enor#ous a#ounts of crushing debt. "hey receive,
frank)y, worth)ess credentia)s. *nd theyCre basica))y on a s#ooth g)ide &ath to defau)ting on their
)oans, which they do in dis&ro&ortionate nu#bers.Z
*ccording to &re)i#inary data re)eased )ast /ece#ber by the 8/, near)y a Buarter of a)) career
co))eges that &artici&ate in the federa) student;)oan &rogra# have three;year defau)t rates of !> &ercent
or higher L a rate virtua))y unheard;of a#ong traditiona) schoo)s. 'f the !17 co))eges Iboth non&rofit
and for;&rofitJ with that exorbitant rate, $: &ercent co#e fro# the for;&rofit sector, and of the#
be)ong to the 8verest %o))ege chain, which offers &rogra#s )ike #edica) assisting, &har#acy
technicianshi&, and #assage thera&y. 8verestCs X1.!;bi))ion;a;year &arent co#&any, %orinthian
%o))eges, attributes the )arge nu#ber of defau)ts to its Zecono#ica))y disadvantagedZ student body and
says it is working to )ower the rate.
/efau)ters can have their wages garnished by the 8/, their inco#e tax refunds sei@ed by the
/e&art#ent of the "reasury, and their credit scores har#ed. "he govern#ent can sue for the #oney or
refer the )oan to a &rivate co))ection agency. Z"hey can co#e after you forever,Z says /eanne Loonin,
an attorney with the Dationa) %onsu#er Law %enter in .oston. Z(or a )ot of students, the way to get
out of this tra& wou)d be to go back to schoo), get a )egiti#ate education, and get a better;&aying 6ob.
.ut this debt is &reventing the# fro# doing that.Z Moreover, when students defau)t on federa) )oans,
tax&ayers &ick u& the tab because the )oans are guaranteed by Iand in so#e cases originate fro#J the
govern#ent.
Pub)ic)y traded career;co))ege co#&anies are ob)igated to #axi#i@e &rofit for their owners and
shareho)ders, but industry officia)s insist thatCs not a &rob)e#. ZLetCs assu#e we are a bunch of #oney;
grubbing 4'.s,Z says Mi))er of the %areer %o))ege *ssociation. Z'ne of the secrets of business is to
$
have ha&&y custo#ers. 2f you were constant)y offering a &oor;Bua)ity education, you #ight #ake
so#e very nice short;ter# &rofits, but your )ong;ter# financia) out)ook is )ousy.Z
4o#e critics, inc)uding for#er e#&)oyees, suggest other reasons for the &heno#ena) growth L the
co#&aniesC ubiBuitous co##ercia)s on dayti#e te)evision, which get &ros&ective students in the door,
and high;&ressure sa)es o&erations that target vu)nerab)e &eo&)e who &robab)y donCt have ex&erience
sho&&ing for higher education.
%)arence Har#on served as &resident of 4anford;.rown %o))egeCs Ha@e)wood, Mo., ca#&us for nine
#onths in >>4;>>3. .efore that, he was the #ayor and &o)ice chief of 4t. Louis, Mo. Z'ur &rogra#s
were very ex&ensive, and they were taught a )ot of ti#es by unBua)ified &eo&)e who didnCt &ossess the
acade#ic or ex&erientia) background,Z he says. 5et students ke&t enro))ing, he says L )ured by dayti#e
te)evision ads &ro#ising a Buick &ath to a )ucrative )ive)ihood. Har#on attended severa) #eetings of
&arent co#&any %areer 8ducation %or&. Z2 donCt re#e#ber a sing)e discussion about the acade#ic
side,Z he says. Z2t was a)) about #oney. "rying to #ake so#e refor# was )ike #arching u& a snowy,
stee& hi)) in a crosswind.Z
%areer 8ducation %or&., which a)so owns the 4anford;.rown 2nstitute ca#&us where 5as#ine 2ssa
studied sonogra&hy, has been fighting to sa)vage its re&utation after a series of &ub)ic;re)ations b)ows.
"he co#&any has faced nu#erous )awsuits accusing it of #is)eading students about 6ob &)ace#ent,
starting sa)aries, the Bua)ity of its teaching staff and training eBui&#ent, and the transferabi)ity of its
credits. 2tCs a)so been the target of investigations by the 8/, and by the 4ecurities and 8xchange
%o##ission and /e&art#ent of ,ustice, neither of which took action, as we)) as ex&osNs by %.4Cs 7>
Minutes and the %hronic)e of Higher 8ducation, a week)y news&a&er covering acade#ia. 2n >>3, the
8/ te#&orari)y barred the co#&any fro# o&ening new ca#&uses, citing Za history of nonco#&)ianceZ
with govern#ent financia) standards and #isre&resentations about the e#&)oyabi)ity of its graduates.
'ne of its chains, *#erican 2nter%ontinenta) =niversity, was &)aced on &robation for its ad#issions
and #arketing &ractices fro# /ece#ber >>3 to /ece#ber >>$ by the 4outhern *ssociation of
%o))eges and 4choo)s, which was its accrediting agency at the ti#e.
,eff Leshay, a senior vice &resident at %areer 8ducation %or&., insists that students at its
a&&roxi#ate)y 0> ca#&uses are getting high;Bua)ity training. ZWe wou)dnCt be growing the way we are
if students and e#&)oyers didnCt see the va)ue of the education weCre offering,Z he says, adding that
Zhundreds and hundredsZ of 4anford;.rown graduates have found u)trasound 6obs. *nd he dis#isses
%)arence Har#on as Za disgrunt)ed for#er e#&)oyee.Z Leshay says his co#&any has a)ways
scrutini@ed the Bua)ity of its schoo)s. Z'ur focus has shifted #ore and #ore heavi)y toward student
success,Z he says. "he editor of Higher 8d Watch, a &ub)ic;&o)icy b)og &ub)ished by the Dew *#erica
(oundation, a non&artisan think tank, says the rea)ity is #ore co#&)ex. Z"he cor&orationCs new
#anage#ent has taken so#e &ositive ste&s,Z says 4te&hen .urd, Z&articu)ar)y c)osing down so#e of
the #ost troub)ed schoo)s. .ut there re#ain serious concerns about the educationa) Bua)ity of the
&rogra#s it offers.Z
4H'//5 %*+88+ %'LL8184 *+8 D'"H2D1 D8W. "wenty years or so ago, the ty&ica)
offenders were s#a)) storefront o&erations designed &ri#ari)y to sBuee@e student;)oan #oney fro# the
federa) govern#ent L Ztruck;driving schoo)s that wou)d take your #oney and then not have a truck,Z
says /avid W. .rene#an, Ph./., a &rofessor of econo#ics in education at the =niversity of Eirginia.
* congressiona) crackdown in 100 #eant that #any of these #o#;and;&o& schoo)s )ost their
accreditation, a)ong with their federa) funding.
2t didnCt so)ve the &rob)e#, though. 4o#e of those hard;hitting federa) ru)es have been re)axed since
then, and state oversight re#ains an uneven &atchwork. 4ays +e&resentative Maxine Waters I/;%*J,
%ongressCs #ost outs&oken refor# advocate, Z"he abuses are the sa#e: fa)se advertising, Buestionab)e
recruiting tactics, offering &hony c)asses that donCt )ead to 6obs, and sadd)ing these young &eo&)e with
)oans theyC)) never be ab)e to &ay off.Z
+ecent shady o&erators have inc)uded so#e #o#;and;&o&s. *t %a)iber "raining 2nstitute L a 33>;
:
student schoo) in Dew 5ork %ity that &ro#ised to train #edica) assistants, insurance bi))ers, and trave)
agents L undercover investigators found unBua)ified teachers, overcrowded c)assroo#s, and c)asses
that were not taught as a&&roved. Z2t was #ore of a &arty at#os&here,Z says %aro)e 5ates, director of
Dew 5ork 4tateCs .ureau of Pro&rietary 4choo) 4u&ervision, which conducted the three;year
investigation. Z4tudents wou)d get an * if they brought a dish to share.Z *t the 2nstitute for Eocationa)
"raining and /eve)o&#ent I2E"/J in .ronx, D.5., an instructor with &hony nursing credentia)s taught
the hea)th care c)asses, 5ates says. Dew 5ork 4tateCs education de&art#ent ordered both schoo)s
c)osed, 2E"/ in >>$ and %a)iber in >>:.
"he new breed of cor&orate;owned career co))eges doesnCt &er&etuate outright sca#s )ike the
trucking schoo)s without trucks. Z.ut theyCre sti)) #oney #achines,Z says .rene#an. Z"hey get under
&ressure because Wa)) 4treet views the# as growth co#&anies. "hatCs when they break the ru)es.Z
"his &ressure to grow often )eads career co))eges to s&end )avish)y on #arketing: *ccording to the
%hronic)e of Higher 8ducation, the schoo)s s&end #ore than X1 bi))ion a year in advertising a)one.
=nfortunate)y, not every schoo) is as generous when it co#es to hiring to&;notch teachers and buying
eBui&#ent.
"hatCs what Wendy Wo)cott discovered. Wo)cott, !!, first visited the Merri))vi))e, 2D, ca#&us of
.rown Mackie %o))ege in >>$, ho&ing to )eave her dead;end 6ob as a #idd)e schoo) Z)unch )adyZ and
beco#e a #edica) assistant. "he recruiters &ro#ised her s#a)) c)asses, an acce)erated schedu)e, and an
externshi& working with &atients near her ho#e. "hey encouraged her to enro)) i##ediate)y, she says,
because c)asses had started the day before. ZWithout rea))y thinking about it, 2 said, C4ure, 2C)) 6u#& in,C
Z says the #other of two. Z2t was ti#e to find so#ething better for #yse)f and for #y fa#i)y.Z
2t didnCt take )ong, Wo)cott says, for her to rea)i@e the rea)ity didnCt #atch the &ro#ises. -ey c)asses
were overcrowded. 4o#e instructors ZtaughtZ by reading out of textbooks. Z* )ot of the eBui&#ent
was outdated, broken, or we didnCt have enough of a su&&)y,Z Wo)cott says. 4tudents had to share
e)ectroence&ha)ogra# sensor &ads, which were designed for individua) use. Z"he #edica);#anneBuin
ar#s had been in6ected so #any ti#es that you rea))y cou)dnCt find the veins,Z she says. Z*nd when we
&racticed in6ections on one another, we were to)d to do no #ore than two shots because we didnCt have
enough of the sa)ine to go around.Z
Wo)cott had a few teachers she considered exce))ent. "hey, too, fe)t frustrated. Z2n #y own )ab, 2 had
a broken autoc)ave Pa device for steri)i@ing instru#entsQ that they refused to get fixed,Z says /avid
4cho)), who chaired the a))ied;hea)th de&art#ent fro# >>: to >>0. Z5et the students were su&&osed
to be certified on how to use it.Z 'ne of the two b)ood centrifuges was broken. Z"here was the
&otentia) for so#eone to get serious)y in6ured. Ha)f the su&&)ies were ex&ired. 8very ti#e 2 brought it
u&,Z 4cho)) says, Z2 was to)d either, C5ou donCt need itC or C2tCs too ex&ensive.C Z
Part of 4cho))Cs 6ob was to )ine u& externshi&s at #edica) offices. .ut when he contacted &ros&ective
sites, he says, Za )ot of the# wou)dnCt acce&t .rown Mackie students because they said they were
&oor)y trained or not trained at a)).Z 8ducation Manage#ent %or&., .rown MackieCs X;bi))ion;a;year
&arent co#&any, dec)ined to be interviewed for this artic)e, but four students and another for#er
instructor to)d si#i)ar stories.
Wo)cott said she had to fight for an externshi& near her ho#e in %rete, 2)). 4he was fina))y assigned
to a day;care center for disab)ed adu)ts, where she had )itt)e contact with c)ients and s&ent #ost of the
day behind a co#&uter. Dow, awaiting graduation, she canCt find a 6ob. Z2 wish so#eone wou)d have
taken #e under their wing and said, CWatch it,C Z she says.
('+ P+'(2";4%H''L4 18D8+*LL5 4P8D/ M=%H M'+8 on recruit#ent than do traditiona)
co))eges and universities. *nd they often reward those recruiters Ior Zenro))#ent counse)orsZJ who
sign u& the #ost students. 2tCs i))ega) for schoo)s to co#&ensate e#&)oyees based exc)usive)y on the
nu#ber of students they enro)). .ut they can circu#vent that ru)e by adding other factors I)ike
co##unications ski))s and working re)ationshi&sJ, no #atter how #inor or sub6ective, to their &ay
0
for#u)as.
"he troub)e with this syste# is that recruiters are on)y hu#an. 2f #ore enro))#ents )ead to higher
&ay, so#e sa)es&eo&)e wi)) be te#&ted to boast that graduates routine)y )and high; five;figure 6obs or
that the schoo)Cs credits wi)) transfer to traditiona) universities when they donCt and wonCt. "heyC))
inf)ate the co#&)etion and 6ob;&)ace#ent rates, or encourage gu))ib)e students to sign u& without
reading the fine &rint.
4o#e of the countryCs )argest career;co))ege chains have been accused of dece&tive recruiting tactics.
2n >>!, the 8/ investigated =niversity of Phoenix, which has #ore than >> )ocations in the =.4.
and %anada. * stinging re&ort described a bruta) environ#ent in which recruiters were rewarded or
&unished based so)e)y on how #any students they enro))ed. Z4eventy;two &ercent of the recruiters
interviewed stated that it was a)ways about the nu#bers.Cbutts in seatsC or Casses in c)asses,C Z the re&ort
said. "o& se))ers won hefty raises a)ong with ski tickets and s&a &ackages, whi)e )ess successfu)
recruiters were threatened with firing.
=niversity of PhoenixCs #anage#ent encouraged these hard;se)) tactics, according to for#er
e#&)oyees and co#&any docu#ents. Z'ne of the trainers wou)d te)) us, C(ind the studentCs &ain, ri& the
scab off, stick your finger in the wound, and kee& &ushing unti) the student cries,C Z says +ebecca
Mackover, !:, who worked at the 4an ,ose, %a)if., ca#&us fro# >>! to >>3. Z/oes that &erson fee)
)ike sheC)) be a bad #other if sheCs not a good ro)e #ode) for her chi)d9 "hen thatCs what you wou)d use
against her if she tried to back out.Z "hough sheCs no )onger a recruiter, Mackover sti)) attends c)asses
at =niversity of Phoenix, and she says the Bua)ity of instruction is co#&arab)e with that of state
schoo)s.
Last /ece#ber, =niversity of PhoenixCs X4;bi))ion;a;year cor&orate &arent, *&o))o 1rou&, agreed to
&ay X7$.3 #i))ion to the federa) govern#ent, &)us X11 #i))ion in attorney fees, to sett)e a whist)e;
b)ower )awsuit a))eging an i))ega) sche#e to co#&ensate recruiters based on the nu#ber of students
they enro))ed. %o#&any officia)s denied wrongdoing and said they sett)ed to avoid a &rotracted )ega)
batt)e. 4&okeswo#an 4ara ,ones says recruiters are co#&ensated based &art)y on enro))#ent figures,
but even #ore on such things as custo#er service, co##unication ski))s, 6udg#ent, and student
retention. 4he adds that recruiters undergo co#&)iance training so that they know how best to advise
and su&&ort students. Z=niversity of Phoenix is in the #idd)e of a turnaround to ensure everything we
do is designed to enab)e student success,Z ,ones says.
'ther fir#s have faced si#i)ar co#&)aints. "he )awsuit that *)ta sett)ed )ast year a)so charged that
the co#&any encouraged recruiters at its Westwood %o))eges to he)& unBua)ified students cheat on
certain entrance exa#s, and steered students into an interior design &rogra# that wou)d not Bua)ify
the# to take the state )icensing test. ZWe be)ieve that weCve a)ways acted )awfu))y and ethica))y,Z says
Westwood s&okes&erson -ristina 5arrington, who says the co#&any sett)ed the case to avoid )engthy
and cost)y )itigation. 4he says recruiters are ex&ected to be Ztrans&arentZ with &ros&ective students and
ad#it on)y those who stand a good chance of succeeding. Z"he 6ob of our ad#issions re&resentatives
is to enro)) graduates,Z she says.
"hat co#es as a sur&rise to Tahra %row)ey, who recruited for #any of WestwoodCs ca#&uses in
>>$. I4he now works at the &ub)ic =niversity of %o)orado.J %row)ey re#e#bers being instructed to
&ush &ros&ective custo#ers to enro)) Buick)y L even when WestwoodCs offerings didnCt #atch their
career goa)s. Z2f so#eone wants to be a doctor, te)) the# to sign u& for the #edica);assisting &rogra#,Z
she reca))s her director saying, though WestwoodCs credits rare)y transfer to traditiona) schoo)s. Z2f a
student says, C2 want to think about it,C thatCs when youCre su&&osed to say, CWhatCs there to think about9
/o you want to a#ount to nothing9 5ou said you didnCt want to work at Mc/ona)dCs.C Z
4'M8 P=.L2% '((2%2*L4 H*E8 .88D W'+-2D1 to #ake career co))eges #ore res&onsib)e.
2n >>$, %a)ifornia *ttorney 1enera) ,erry .rown announced a X7.3 #i))ion sett)e#ent with
%orinthian %o))eges, which o&erated 14 ca#&uses across the state. .rown accused the co#&any of
!>
inf)ating the &ercentage of a)u#ni who found work in their fie)ds, a)ong with graduatesC starting
sa)aries. He a)so a))eged that %orinthian fa)sified graduation and e#&)oy#ent data it gave the
govern#ent. %orinthian &rovided X3.: #i))ion in refunds and debt cance))ation for for#er students and
&aid the state a X$>>,>>> civi) &ena)ty L a#ounts, so#e critics say, that were too )ow to have a
deterrent effect. "hree weeks )ater, the co#&any sett)ed a si#i)ar #atter with ()oridaCs attorney
genera). %orinthian denied wrongdoing in both states.
"he 'ba#a *d#inistration intends to tighten the ban on co#&ensating recruiters based on how
#any students they enro)). "he 8/ has f)oated &ro&osed ru)es e)i#inating 1 .ush;era )oo&ho)es
current)y in the federa) regu)ations L inc)uding one a))owing schoo)s to raise and )ower recruiter
sa)aries twice a year as )ong as ad#issions nu#bers are not the so)e factor. 2t has a)so suggested
tougher ru)es against dece&tive #arketing.
Many students havenCt waited for the govern#ent to take actionK theyCve consu)ted attorneys. *fter
four for#er Westwood %o))ege students fi)ed an arbitration case )ast year L accusing the schoo) of
#isre&resenting graduatesC 6ob &ros&ects and whether credits wou)d transfer, and of charging i))ega))y
high interest on the schoo)Cs &rivate student )oans L hundreds of additiona) students and a)u#ni shared
si#i)ar stories with the &)aintiffsC "a#&a )aw fir#. Z4tudents have to)d us that instead of getting 6ob
offers, theyCre getting )aughed at,Z says )ead attorney ,i))ian 8stes. ZWhen they &resent the#se)ves with
a degree fro# Westwood, e#&)oyers say, CDice try, but why donCt you go to co))ege and then give #e a
ca))9CZ WestwoodCs 5arrington accuses 8stes of Zon)ine a#bu)ance chasing,Z and &oints out that
between ,u)y >>: and ,une >>0, $7 &ercent of graduates found work in their fie)ds, according to the
schoo)Cs accrediting agency.
4o#e for#er students are s&eaking out to )aw#akers. Miche))e (ree#an, !, )eft an unsatisfying
&roduction 6ob in the te)evision industry to study interior design at *#erican 2nter%ontinenta)
=niversity, owned by %areer 8ducation %or&., in Los *nge)es. 4he ho&ed the two;year &rogra# wou)d
he)& her )and #ore creative work designing studio sets for "E &rogra#s.
4he first visited the ca#&us in >>!. Z2 was to)d how everyone gets 6obs in the u&&er;five;figure,
)ower;six;figure range,Z she says. Z"hey to)d #e, C5ou need an internshi&9 WeCve got )ists of &)aces.
5ou need a 6ob9 WeCve got a)u#ni who wi)) be #ore than ha&&y to hire you. .ecause this is such a
&restigious schoo), youCre going to be turning down 6obs because everyoneCs going to want you.C Z
.ut the &ro#ised internshi& never #ateria)i@ed, (ree#an says. "hen the schoo) said it cou)dnCt he)&
her find work after she graduated. /uring regu)ar tri&s to the &)ace#ent office, she reca))s, ca#&us
e#&)oyees said, Z2C# sorry. We donCt have anything avai)ab)e right now.Z *fter those visits, (ree#an
often fe)t sick to her sto#ach L and defeated. (our years )ater, her une#&)oy#ent benefits have run
out, and she owes #ore than X7!,>>> for her education. %areer 8ducation %or&. is in the &rocess of
shutting down the schoo), not Leshay says because of ZBua)ity issues,Z but because of Z#arket needs.Z
Z'n a week)y basis 2 )ook around #y a&art#ent, saying, CWhat can 2 se))9C Z (ree#an says. Z2 see
ho#e)ess &eo&)e on street corners ho)ding u& signs: CP)ease he)&.C *nd 2 kee& wondering: How #uch
)onger unti) thatCs #e9Z .ut (ree#an has taken action. 2n >>$ she a&&eared before a %a)ifornia
)egis)ative co##ittee, asking its #e#bers to toughen the stateCs oversight of &ro&rietary schoo)s. ZWe
were a)) under the i#&ression that we wou)d graduate with businesses fighting for us to work for
the#,Z she testified. ZDow we are terrified, 6ob)ess, and in a scary a#ount of debt.Z 4he and a fe))ow
for#er student are starting an interior design fir#.
(ree#an says she s&oke u& because Zso#ebody needed to be a voice L for the &eo&)e who are too
afraid to stand u& for the#se)ves, and for the &eo&)e who donCt know how. "housands of &eo&)e are
being taken advantage of. *nd it needs to sto&.Z
!1
*fterword by .arry 5eo#an
2 had written about career co))eges twice in the 100>s: once for 4outhern 8x&osure L as &art of a
&ackage about industries designed to ex&)oit the &oor L and again for 1ood Housekee&ing.
More than a decade )ater, editors at 1ood Housekee&ing a&&roached #e again, wondering if career
co))eges sti)) &resented a &rob)e#. "hey a)so wondered whether the 2nternet era had created new for#s
of ex&)oitation. My re&orting showed that the &rob)e# &ersisted, but with a #odern twist: Whereas the
schoo)s in the 100>s were )arge)y #o#;and;&o& o&erations, the current &)ayers were owned by #u)ti;
bi))ion;do))ar cor&orations. 4o#e of the #ost outrageous abuses were gone, but the &rob)e# was
#agnified by the sca)e of the new co#&anies.
1enera))y, when 2 start on a &ro6ect, 2 begin with a broad docu#ent swee&. 2n this case, the first
docu#ents inc)uded news artic)es fro# the Lexis;Dexis database, which &rovided na#es of &otentia)
sources and &otentia) cases. 2 a)so searched Lexis;Dexis and the web for artic)es in the s&ecia)i@ed
&ress Ifor exa#&)e, the %hronic)e for Higher 8ducationJ and one we));res&ected, &rofessiona))y written
b)og IDew *#erica (oundation<s Higher 8d WatchJ. 2n addition, 2 did an extensive web search for
re)evant studies Ifor exa#&)e, re&orts by the Dationa) %onsu#er Law %enterJ and govern#ent
investigations.
2 used the 4ecurities and 8xchange %o##ission web site Iwww.sec.govJ to obtain annua) and
Buarter)y re&orts fro# the for;&rofit education co#&anies. "hose co#&anies that are traded &ub)ic)y
are reBuired to fi)e detai)ed re&orts that chronic)e regu)atory actions and )awsuits. =nder G(i)ings and
(or#s,H 2 c)icked on G4earch for %o#&any (i)ings.H
2 down)oaded &re)i#inary student;)oan defau)t rate data, in 8xce) for#at, fro# the /e&art#ent of
8ducation web site. I2 found the )ink at Higher 8d WatchJ. "he nu#bers had been crunched once by
Higher 8d Watch, but 2 re;crunched the# #yse)f.
2 obtained )awsuits in four ways:
1. 2n so#e cases, &)aintiff<s attorneys sent #e a)) re)evant docu#ents fi)ed by both sides.
. 4o#e &)eadings were &osted on)ine.
!. "he =.4. *ttorney<s office sent #e the &)eadings fro# a federa) cri#ina) case.
4. 2n severa) cases L inc)uding a )arge whist)eb)ower )awsuit against the =niversity of Phoenix L 2
used a govern#ent e)ectronic service ca))ed P*%8+, or Pub)ic *ccess to %ourt 8)ectronic
+ecords Iwww.&acer.govJ. "here was a no#ina) &er;&age fee for down)oading docu#ents in
P/( for#at.
(or state investigations of certain schoo)s, 2 wrote to the re)evant state agencies for additiona)
infor#ation. 2 wrote to the ()orida *ttorney 1enera)<s office to reBuest e)ectronic records about
()orida Metro&o)itan =niversity. 2 wrote to the Dew 5ork 4tate 8ducation /e&art#ent to reBuest &a&er
records about %a)iber "raining 2nstitute and "he 2nstitute for Eocationa) "raining and /eve)o&#ent. 2n
both states, 2 first initiated a &hone ca)) or e#ai) exchange with a &ub)ic infor#ation officer, who
he)&ed #e &hrase #y reBuest.
"here is a (reedo# of 2nfor#ation *ct in the =nited 4tates, but 2 did not have to use it. 2 did have to
fi)e a reBuest under the Dew 5ork 4tate (reedo# of 2nfor#ation Law I('2LJ to get docu#ents fro#
the state 8ducation /e&art#ent<s investigations of the %a)iber "raining 2nstitute and "he 2nstitute for
!
Eocationa) "raining and /eve)o&#ent. 2 eventua))y received a)) of the docu#ents, redacted &er state
)aw. "he state agency did invoke its &rerogative to extend its own dead)ine, so it took about one #onth
)onger than ex&ected. 2 a)so had to narrow #y reBuest L which initia))y inc)uded student co#&)aints as
we)) as docu#ents fro# the state investigation L because the co#&)aints were so vo)u#inous that they
wou)d have de)ayed the entire docu#ent de)ivery we)) beyond #y dead)ine.
*s 2 read these docu#ents, 2 ke&t a running )ist of a)) sources in a sing)e Microsoft Word docu#ent.
"hey were )isted by category: first a G1enera)H )isting, then )istings by individua) schoo) chains.
My )ist of sources starts, but doesn<t end, with the &eo&)e 2 find in the docu#ents. "hey inc)ude:
1. authors of re&ortsK
. &)aintiff<s attorneys, students, ex;e#&)oyees, ex&erts, and schoo) officia)s na#ed in news
c)i&&ings and other artic)esK
!. for#er e#&)oyees and students na#ed in )ega) &)eadingsK
4. for#er students na#ed in state investigationsK
3. for#er e#&)oyees and students who &osted to co#&)aint web sites )ike ri&offre&ort.co# Isee
be)owJK and
7. for#er students, for#er e#&)oyees, and industry ex&erts introduced to #e by other sources.
2 organi@e re)igious)y and continua))y. 2 have an e)ectronic fi)e structure that exact)y #irrors #y
&a&er fi)e structure. *)) docu#ents are ke&t in both e)ectronic and &a&er for#at un)ess no e)ectronic
for#at is avai)ab)e. "here were to&ica) fo)ders IG*ccreditation,H G(edera) *id,H G4tate +egu)ation L
%a)ifornia,H G4tate +egu)ation L Dew 5ork,H etc.J and case fo)ders IG%ases L %a)iber "raining
2nstitute,H G%ases L =niversity of Phoenix,H G%ases L =niversity of Phoenix L Hendow )awsuit,H etc.J
2t<s wise to identify broad ex&erts who can te)) you a)) the federa) and state regu)atory agencies that
govern your sub6ect. "hen, once you have a )ist of s&ecific co#&anies that you &)an to investigate,
a&&roach each of those agencies and )earn what ty&e of docu#ents they have avai)ab)e. 2 #ight have
otherwise over)ooked the 4ecurities and 8xchange %o##ission, which was a go)d #ine of data.
2 s&ent significant ti#e reading consu#er co#&)aint sites, which ty&ica))y a))ow anony#ous
&ostings. 'ne of the#, ri&offre&ort.co#, a))ows registered #e#bers to contact one another
Ianony#ous)y at firstJ.
Perusing these sites was s)ow going. 4o#e co#&)aints were vague or unconvincingK others sounded
on;target, but the &oster didn<t write #e back. * few &eo&)e did res&ond to #y Bueries. "wo of the#
were 5as#ine 2ssa and /avid 4cho)).
5as#ine 2ssa was both co#&e))ing and extre#e)y credib)e. 2 interviewed her #u)ti&)e ti#es, and her
story re#ained consistent. When she to)d #e that e#&)oyers reBuire certification L and 4anford .rown
2nstitute<s &arent co#&any denied this L 2 did an extensive search of he)&;wanted ads for sonogra&hers
and found that 2ssa was abso)ute)y correct. * staff #e#ber at the *#erican +egistry for /iagnostic
Medica) 4onogra&hy confir#ed 2ssa<s assess#ent of the 6ob #arket.
/avid 4cho)) to)d #e his story of teaching at .rown Mackie %o))ege and &rovided docu#ents to
bo)ster his c)ai#s. He introduced #e to a for#er co))eague, who verified his story and in turn
introduced #e to five current and for#er students Iinc)uding Wendy Wo)cottJ, who a)so had consistent
stories. Wo)cott introduced #e to two #ore students. 2n #any ways, these two hu#an sources, a)ong
with the &eo&)e 2 #et through 4cho)), &rovided the e#otiona) heart of the re&orting.
!!
2 a)so had to dea) with industry re&resentatives who either #ade e#otiona) a&&ea)s or acted s)ight)y
inti#idating. (or exa#&)e, when 2 interviewed an officia) of the %areer %o))ege *ssociation, he
see#ed to be trying to &ut #e on the defensive. "en seconds into the interview, he asked, G2 have a
Buestion: /o you have a cousin or a brother with the sa#e na#e who wrote a hatchet 6ob about our
sector 1! years ago9H *s an ex&erienced 6ourna)ist, 2 a# accusto#ed to rhetoric )ike this, so it did not
&resent a great obstac)e.
When 2 write, 2 a))ow #yse)f &)enty of ti#e L about 3>> words a day, &)us severa) days at the end for
fine;tuning. "his genera))y #eans a))owing two weeks for a feature;)ength #aga@ine artic)e.
2 out)ine #y story in advance, dividing it into 3>>;word sections. 2 )ook for the anecdota) )ead, )ook
for severa) #ore anecdotes that wi)) advance the story in the #idd)e and end, and grou& the
substantive #ateria) into b)ocks that can be introduced in between the anecdotes.
2n this case, 2 chose 5as#ine 2ssa because she had a c)ean and verifiab)e story about a schoo) whose
cor&orate &arent has faced #yriad )awsuits and investigations. 4he was e)oBuent and sy#&athetic, and
her narrative contained #any of the e)e#ents that 2 wou)d discuss )ater. "hen 2 out)ined it as such:
1. Lead: 5as#ine 2ssa and 4anford .rown 2nstitute.
. Dut section: Lay out the issue in detai), with short exa#&)es.
!a. .ackground section: Pu)) the ca#era;)ens back and give the reader historica) context. Here 2 used
%a)iber "raining 2nstitute as an exa#&)e of an o)d;)ine #o#;and;&o& schoo) &er&etuating a #ore
historic abuse.
!b. %ontrast #odern abuses to historic abuses with the anecdote of Wendy Wo)cott and /avid 4cho))
at .rown Mackie %o))ege.
4. 1o dee&er and ex&)ain the root of the &rob)e#: aggressive #arketing that takes advantage of a
.ush;era )ega) )oo&ho)e. =se the anecdote of the =niversity of Phoenix.
3. %o#&)ete the narrative with an e#&owering but rea)istic ending about students fighting back.
=se the anecdote of Miche))e (ree#an and *#erican 2nter%ontinenta) =niversity.
2 had the fu)) backing of #y editors at Dood Housekeeping. 2n addition, an in;house fact;checker
doub)e;checked every fact in the story and ta)ked with #e about both fact and nuance.
*fter the artic)e a&&eared, 2 received a &hone ca)) fro# the staff of =.4. 4enator "o# Harkin I/;
2owaJ, chair#an of the 4enate Hea)th, 8ducation, Labor and Pensions %o##ittee. 4enator Harkin was
about to schedu)e a series of hearings about for;&rofit career co))eges. *s a resu)t of those &hone
conversations, one of HarkinCs star witnesses was 5as#ine 2ssa, #y )ead character. 2ssa detai)ed her
ex&erience at 4anford .rown 2nstituteK you can watch her testi#ony fro# the 4enate Hearing at
htt&:MMis.gdMk7eEa. I2ssa starts at :0:>>K Harkin cites the artic)e right before she testifies and a)so at
!:!3.J *fter 2ssa testified, one of the other &ane)ists &aid off 2ssa<s entire student )oan debtK see
htt&:MMchronic)e.co#Martic)eM2nvestor;Who;%ritici@esM77>:!M.
2ndustry observers say Z4choo) of Hard -nocksZ &)ayed a critica) ro)e during the hearings. %ertain)y
the artic)e ca#e at a critica) ti#e. 4ince its re)ease, the 'ba#a *d#inistrationCs /e&art#ent of
8ducation has enacted a nu#ber of key refor#s, inc)uding the c)osing of .ush;era )oo&ho)es that for;
&rofit career co))eges used to recruit students in ways critics ca)) unethica). *nd the =.4. 1overn#ent
*ccountabi)ity 'ffice re)eased a s&ecia) audit showing that for;&rofit career co))eges routine)y give
#is)eading infor#ation to &ros&ective students and so#eti#es encourage the# to co##it outright
fraud.
2 received #any thanks, as we)) as severa) new )eads for future stories. 2 a)so received a co##ission
to write an artic)e on the sa#e to&ic for *cade#e #aga@ine. Do one has cha))enged the accuracy of
!4
the re&orting, and there has been no )ega) action. "he %areer %o))ege *ssociation, an industry trade
grou& Inow ca))ed the *ssociation of Private 4ector %o))eges and =niversitiesJ, &ub)ished a caustic
b)og &ost about the story, as it does about every critica) story. 2t has since de)eted the &ost. 2n >11, the
*#erican 4ociety of ,ourna)ists and *uthors awarded the story its annua) *r)ene 8isenberg *ward for
Writing that Makes a /ifference.
!3
#. )ivor'ed women in *ordan suffer from "engthy "ega" ro'edures:
+hi"dren fa'e the tough di"emma of 'hoosing between their
arents
By Majdoleen $llan
Introduction. 'he first in%estigation a reporter undertakes can be critical for his or her future in
the jobA what matters is not whether the reporter ends a corrupt )resident,s career but whether
or not the reporter succeeds in finding and telling a story that matters to someone. 'his was
Majdoleen $llans first in%estigation and it plunges us into a deep ri%er of sorrow ; the fate of
thousands of women and children whose husbands walk away from support obligations after
their di%orce. 'he most astonishing thing about this project is the authors sheer refusal to gi%e
upA its as though her ine3perience protects her from realising what an impossible job shes
taken on. 'here arent official statistics on the e3periences of di%orced womenC 5ine ; she
sur%eys <?: of them using her own "uestionnaire. 'here is no proof that court officials take
bribesC She sur%eys half the officers in the capitals religious courts and asks among other
things if they take bribes and half of the people she asks admit it. $t e%ery step she in%ents a
way forward asking for information as if she has a perfect right to it. $nd in the end the
impossible job gets done and something changes. 'his report was supported by $rab +eporters
for In%estigati%e &ournalism 6$+I&7 both financially and through coaching by Saad Hattar.
*riginally published in *)gahad = $ugust 9::8
*fter #ore than two years of fighting in the re)igious courts, =## 4a#ira, !!, gave u&. More
exact)y, in ,une >>0 the *##an wo#an gave u& the custody of her four chi)dren and agreed to #arry
the first #an who &ro&osed. "hus ended her 6udicia) strugg)e to obtain a #eas)y su&&ort &ay#ent of
,/ >3 Iabout X=4 !1>J &er #onth fro# her ex;husband.
4hadia Moha##ad, :, recounts a si#i)ar ordea). *t the beginning of >>0, a co##ittee of ex&erts
assigned to her case by the &residing #agistrate of the re)igious court of the Midd)e *##an @one
decided that she is to receive ,/ $ as #onth)y chi)d su&&ort for each of her three chi)dren, and ,/ 13
as #aterna) custody co#&ensation. "he su# is &a)try, but the fa#i)y on)y receives it inter#ittent)y. 2n
fact, 4hadia, who divorced a year ago, says that she was forced to have her ex;husband served notice
six ti#es in six #onths for non;&ay#ent. He was a&&rehended on)y once, and forced to &ay a sing)e
ti#e, before being set free again and reverting to his &revious habit of non;&ay#ent.
*ccording to ,ordan<s 10$7 Persona) 4tatus and (a#i)y Law, wo#en, whether #arried or divorced,
#ay co#&)ain to the re)igious 6udiciary if a #an refuses to su&&ort his fa#i)y financia))y. "here are
two stages for &rocessing a successfu) co#&)aint: (irst, a ru)ing is issued that reBuires the husband to
&ay su&&ort. "he second stage is the enforce#ent of the ru)ing, through serving the defendant with
notice via the re)igious court<s notification de&art#ent.
.ut wo#en face #any obstac)es and de)ays in the second &hase, due to deficiencies in the
#echanis#s invo)ved in co))ecting su&&ort &ay#ents. "he difficu)ties and suffering endured by =#
4a#ira, 4hadia and their chi)dren are si#i)ar to those endured by thousands of wo#en and chi)dren,
)iving after divorce on the &eri&hery of ,ordanian society. *ccording to statistics re&ort re)eased by the
-ingdo#<s 4u&re#e ,udge /e&art#ent, there were 4>4 chi)d su&&ort cases brought before the
,ordanian re)igious courts in >>$, as we)) as 403$ cases invo)ving wo#en whose husbands refused to
su&&ort their fa#i)ies financia))y.
"hese &rocedures are on)y one wave in a tide of cases. *ccording to the best avai)ab)e records fro#
the de&art#ent of the 4u&re#e ,udge, the re)igious courts &rocessed 3>,>>> cases in the year >>$,
des&ite e#&)oying on)y 7 6udges. "hat year a re&ort fro# the Dationa) %entre for Hu#an +ights
!7
ID%H+J found that every 6udge in the re)igious courts #ay see 4> cases every day whi)e having on)y
one court c)erk at his dis&osa). (or#er 6udge and 4haria )awyer +ateb *);/haher stresses that a
#agistrate is unab)e to effective)y hear #ore than 13 cases a day, to ensure that he is ab)e to render a
6ust and eBuitab)e 6udg#ent. *ny increase in that )oad #ay )ead to accidenta) errors in 6udg#ent. *t
the to& of the syste#, 4u&re#e ,udge /r. He)aye) ad#its that there is a discre&ancy between the
nu#ber of avai)ab)e 6udges and their case )oads, but says that there are &)ans to in6ect the 6udicia)
syste# with a)) necessary resources and staff.
"he &hysica) state of the courts ref)ects this disarray. .uthaina (reihat, the )awyer in charge of
divorce and chi)d su&&ort and custody cases at the D%H+, indicates that G#ost re)igious courts )ack
basic faci)ities des&ite the fact that #ost of their visitors tend to be wo#en, chi)dren and the e)der)yH.
We saw for ourse)ves that the re)igious court of 8ast *##an @one )acks toi)et faci)ities. "he toi)ets in
both 4ahab suburb and the Midd)e @one in *##an were fi)thy, and neither court has waiting roo#s.
'ur visits to ten re)igious courts Iout of the thirteen in *##anJ found that eight of those courts have
neither se&arate waiting roo#s nor e)evators. 'n)y three out of the ten court bui)dings are s#oke;free,
des&ite a s#oking ban in a)) &ub)ic bui)dings.
4uch faci)ities add to the ordea) of &)aintiffs. =## (ade), 3$, has great difficu)ty in c)i#bing the
stairs of Midd)e *##an Tone +e)igious %ourt, when she goes to co))ect her #onth)y ,/4> su&&ort
a#ount. 4he suffers fro# chronic arthritis, and is at a )oss as to where to rest during the severa) hours
she waits in front of the accounting counter. 4he is forced to sit on the bare f)oors.
"he high nu#ber of cases has )ong since overwhe)#ed the syste#, according to a >>7 re&ort by the
Dationa) %entre for Hu#an +ights, which denounces Gs)ow &rocedures... as we)) as the )ow
&erfor#ance )eve)s in the courtsH, es&ecia))y in the ca&ita). "he D%H+ evokes the co##on use of the
ex&ression Ggraveyard for casesH a#ong )awyers to describe the enforce#ent of court ru)ings.
Meanwhi)e, a divorced wo#an who de#ands su&&ort for her fa#i)y is forced to G&ay additiona)
a#ounts for bringing a fresh case to the courts every ti#e the ex;husband esca&es his co##it#ents,H
notes *s#a -hodr, the 4ecretary;1enera) of the ,ordanian Dationa) %o##ission for Wo#en<s *ffairs.
/ivorced #en are we)) aware of the situation. 'ne of the#, aged !>, to)d us he is urging his )awyer
to Guse any )ega) )oo&;ho)e to #ini#i@e or avoid the &ayab)e chi)d su&&ort a#ount.H /es&ite being
we));off financia))y, he said he is betting on his )awyer<s ski)) Gand on the &ossibi)ity of #is)eading the
courts by any #eans, whether )ega) or i))ega).H
"he resu)tant &ain is shared by wo#en and chi)dren, and #ore than #oney is invo)ved. 4a#ira, 1!
years o)d at the ti#e, )ost consciousness in *&ri) >>0 during a hearing at *##an<s *);*bda)i
4hari<ah %ourt. *fter she had refused to re6ect her #other<s custody and 6oin her father instead, to
&unish her, he refused to &ay chi)d su&&ort and fi)ed a )awsuit against her. "he gir) Gsuffered intense)yH
fro# her father<s behaviour, according to her #other: G4a#ira<s &erfor#ance in schoo) has dro&&ed
significant)y, and she has beco#e introverted and insu)ar.H
&uort ayments do not 'over "iving e,enses
=## *h#ad, a #other of four, brought a case against her ex;husband at *##an +e)igious %ourt in
>>$, and won a ru)ing giving her a #onth)y su&&ort &ay#ent of ,/ >>. 'f that su#, ,/11> &ays the
rent, and ,/4> in s&ent on uti)ities. "he re#aining ,/3> are su&&osed to cover a)) other )iving
ex&enses for her and her four sons, inc)uding food, education, #edica) services, c)othing and a dai)y
a))owance. =## *h#ad bitter)y evokes the &urchase of a brand new car by her ex;husband, one week
before her su&&ort &ay#ent hearing. 4he says that his co#fortab)e financia) situation a))owed hi# to
#arry another wo#an and to s&end a honey#oon in 8gy&t.
+asha *de), the #other of a first grader, receives ,/3> as #onth)y chi)d su&&ort, a)though the father
of the chi)d receives a sa)ary of ,/1>>>, in addition to the extra inco#e he earns fro# his own
business.
!$
*ccording to the Persona) 4tatus and (a#i)y Law, su&&ort &ay#ents are set according to the
financia) abi)ity of the ex;husband, and #ay be increased or decreased de&ending on his financia)
status. 2n any case, the su&&ort a#ount is not su&&osed to go be)ow the #ini#u# a#ount reBuired to
&rovide a basic standard of )iving for the ex;wife and the chi)dren.
.ut it does. 'ur fie)d study of 1:> wo#en in su&&ort cases found that 0!? of the# fee) that the
a#ounts they receive are insufficient. "he /e&art#ent of the 4u&re#e ,udge re&orted in >>$ that the
average su&&ort &ay#ent is between ,/4> and ,/3> for the ex;wife, and ,/!> L!3 for each chi)d.
"hese figures are indeed Gbe)ow the #ini#u# )iving standardH, according to econo#ic ana)yst Husni
*yesh: G"he beneficiaries of these su&&ort &ay#ent a#ounts wou)d be be)ow the &overty )ine if they
had no other sources of inco#e.H
The &e'tre of +orrution and Abuse
*n advocate for wo#en<s and chi)dren<s rights Iwho asked not to be identifiedJ te))s us how court
c)erks, faced with a wo#an seeking to fo))ow u& on a ru)ing in her favour, often force her to wait for
severa) hours to receive her su&&ort &ay#ent. 4o#eti#es the &ay#ent is #ade in cash through the
court. .ut so#eti#es it is in the for# of an endorsed cheBue, which she is unab)e to cash, because she
has no account of her own. 2n other words, court officers decide when, if and how a wo#an wi))
receive her &ay#ents.
"he court officers are very few, considering the thousands of cases they dea) with annua))y: !! of
the# cover 1! re)igious courts in the ca&ita) *##an. Without their intervention, the syste# they serve
does not de)iver a resu)t. Moreover, #any of the wo#en who turn to the courts cannot understand their
&rocedures.
"he situation is ri&e with corru&tion and the abuse of &ower. *#ong 1:> wo#en we interviewed
who had turned to the re)igious courts for he)&, no )ess than 1:? confir#ed that they had been
Gex&)oited by ad#inistrative e#&)oyees in the )ega) enforce#ent de&art#ents, because of their
financia) need and )ack of know)edge regarding )ega) issuesH "he D%H+ &ointed to the wides&read
occurrence of bribery a#ong court officers.
(u)) one ha)f of the wo#en we interviewed a)so confir#ed that a court officer had de#anded #oney
in return for de)ivering notices Isuch as 6udg#entsJ to the defendant. "his re&orter a)so interviewed >
court officers in *##an. (ive of the# ad#itted that they Gask for #oneyH fro# the &)aintiffs in a case
in order to serve notice on the defendant. %onverse)y, six ad#itted that they G#ay res&ond to
induce#ents offered by the defendant in a case, such as gifts or services, in order not to serve notice
on the defendant.H
*sking for #oney fro# a c)ai#ant is Gevi) and a sinH, according to the Mufti of the -ingdo#, /r.
Doah *);-udat. He considers that the )oss of c)ai#ants< rights is due to deviations fro# the 2s)a#ic
4hari<ah )aw.
We a)so asked the de&art#ent of the 4u&re#e ,udge about its stance regarding Gthe s&read of
briberyH a#ong court officers. "he de&art#ent re&)ied that it wou)d Gnot hesitate to take the harshest
#easures against any e#&)oyee who does not fu)fi)) his duties correct)y or who abuses his officia)
&osition.H
'ne of the wo#en we interviewed, Mrs. +uba Hasan, said she had to &ay Ga #ini#u#H of ,/ 3
every ti#e she needed to have notice served on her ex;husband to force hi# to &ay the reBuired chi)d
su&&ort. 4he a)so said that so#e staff acted toward her with Gi##ora) intentionsH: 4he was often
asked for Gher &ersona) &hone nu#berH, in an atte#&t to take advantage of her situation by ex&)oiting
her need to co#&)ete the necessary &a&erwork. 2n turn, court officvers are often harassed or regarded
with sus&icion when serving &a&ers.
!:
+ourt offi'ers: -#ribes ay for our transort.
* court officer who we wi)) ca)) *.-. ad#itted that Gcorru&tionH is wide;s&read a#ong his
co))eagues, but he 6ustified it by saying: G%)erks have no #eans of trans&ortation at their dis&osa) to
enab)e the# to &erfor# their 6obs we)).H *n enforce#ent officer and other court officers in *) .a)Ba
1overnorate court Itheir na#es are withhe)d to &rotect their 6ob securityJ agreed that the &erfor#ance
of enforce#ent agents in &articu)ar suffers fro# Gdifficu)ties in trans&ortation.H
"heir trans&ortation a))owance is ,/ > a #onth, which is insufficient to cover even one work week,
during which the agent serves an average of : notices &er day, according to enforce#ent agents.
"rans&ortation a))owances are increased annua))y by on)y one ,/. =n&recedented increases in
trans&ortation costs, reaching >;!>? according to officia) statistics, have on)y served to dee&en the
&rob)e#.
*.-. said that he had asked the de&art#ent of the 4u&re#e ,udge to register a scooter, which he
wou)d buy with his own &rivate funds, in the de&art#ent<s na#e. "he scooter, he ex&)ained, wou)d
enab)e hi# to &erfor# his duties in a ti#e)y fashion. His reBuest was denied.
He and his co))eagues a)) said that the )ack of vehic)es s&ecifica))y assigned for the &ur&ose of
serving notices is a #a6or hindrance in their 6obs. 'ur survey of > officers found eight who, when
assigned to serving notices, Gso#eti#esH forego de)ivering notices fro# a co#bination of factors that
inc)udes having to use their own cars or &ub)ic trans&ortation.
2n one such case, 4a#ia *) Harasees notified the enforce#ent officer of *##an +e)igious %ourtto
send a court officer to serve notice on her ex;husband to &ay her su&&ort. "he court enforce#ent
officer re&)ied that she shou)d de)iver the notifie herse)f, which is i))ega).
Moha##ad Dai<#, a 4haria )awyer who s&ecia)ises in divorce and chi)d su&&ort and custody cases,
agrees that court officers #ay not serve notice due to G)ow trans&ortation a))owances re)ative to the
vo)u#e of notices to be de)ivered.H He co#&ares the condition of ,ordanian court officers to their 1u)f
counter&arts, who are &rovided with officia) vehic)es to &erfor# their duties. IDor do the ,ordanians
have unifor#s, or even an 2/ card indicating that they re&resent an officia) organi@ation.J Dai<#
suggested that the de&art#ent of the 4u&re#e ,udge cou)d use a G&rivate &osta) co#&anyH to serve
notices, against a fixed fee, as does the Ministry of ,ustice.
2n a written re&)y, the 4u&re#e ,udge, /r. *h#ad He)aye), said that the Gde)ay in &rocessing, if it in
fact exists, is due #ain)y to the inco#&)ete &a&erwork necessary for the successfu) co#&)etion of the
a&&)ication, or to causes outside the court<s &ower. (or exa#&)e, the de)ay in serving the notice is
often due to the defendant &roviding the wrong address.H He stressed that the re)igious courts take a))
necessary #easures to ensure Gaccuracy and orderH in their work, and in &articu)ar that court officers
undergo regu)ar training sessions.H However, an enforce#ent officer at one of the re)igious courts
denies that either he or any of his co))eagues have ever attended any training courses or worksho&s
during his entire 13 year career.
The "aw dis'riminates against gir"s
Disreen, a teenage gir) of 13 years, hides underneath the seat in her #other<s car whenever she s&ots
her father in a nearby car. 2n the court, her father had reBuested the discontinuance of her chi)d su&&ort
&ay#ents in revenge for the fact that she &referred to stay with her #other.
What Disreen<s father did was neither crooked nor i))ega), because artic)e Do. 173 of the (a#i)y
Law states that: G2f a fe#a)e chi)d who is reBuired to fo))ow her )ega) guardian, rebe)s and refuses to
6oin the said guardian without 6ustification, she forfeits her right to financia) su&&ort by the said
guardian.H "he father is the )ega) guardian of fe#a)e chi)dren.
"hat is why =## 4a#ira was forced to give u& custody of her chi)dren and return the# a)) to their
!0
father, after her daughter refused to )eave her #other. When the #other<s su&&ort &ay#ent of ,/>>
was thereu&on reduced to ,/17>, she cou)d no )onger afford to kee& her chi)dren. "his re&orter
atte#&ted to s&eak with the daughter after the court hearing, but she on)y re&eated: GWhy did #y
father do this9 *# 2 not his daughter9H
"hus the )aw G&unishes the fe#a)e chi)d in the case where she chooses the #other<s custody over the
father<s,H said the 4ecretary;1enera) of the Dationa) %ounci) for (a#i)y *ffairs, /r. Haifa *bu
1ha@a))ah. He argues that the )aw contradicts artic)e $ of the =nited Dations %onvention on the
+ights of the %hi)d I=D%+%J, which ,ordan ratified in 100>. 4ignatories recognise Gthe right of every
chi)d to a standard of )iving adeBuate for the chi)d<s &hysica), #enta), s&iritua), #ora) and socia)
deve)o&#ent,H and that &arents Ghave the &ri#ary res&onsibi)ity to secure..., within their abi)ities and
financia) ca&acities, the conditions of )iving necessary for the chi)d<s deve)o&#ent.H
4a<adi =shta, a 4hari<ah )awyer, be)ieves that the )egis)ators did not adhere to fairness in #aking this
)aw."he 4u&re#e ,udge, /r. *h#ad He)aye), does not agree. He considers the )aw Ga #eans of
safeguarding both the gir)<s and the father<s rights at the sa#e ti#eH, because the father Ghas the right
to the custody of his daughter who has reached &uberty.H 2f the gir) refuses to res&ect that right
Gwithout )ega) cause, it beco#es necessary to take )ega) action against such refusa) in order that )ega)
decisions are &rotected fro# disorderH.
However, he be)ieves that the ter# Grebe))ion,H which in the )aw characterises refusa) to 6oin an ex;
husband by his gir) chi)d, is Gundesirab)eH and shou)d be changed.
A sta""ed so"ution
* divorced wo#an na#ed -haw)a *) *)i asked a &ertinent Buestion, without rea)i@ing that hu#an
rights organi@ations and )awyers have been asking it and &ro&osing a so)ution for years: GWhy don<t
they set u& a s&ecia) banking institution, where we are ab)e to receive our su&&ort &ay#ents without
having to go back to the courts, thus saving us #uch ti#e and effort9H
"he ,ordanian Dationa) %o##ission for Wo#en has indeed drawn u& a draft )aw for a 4u&&ort
Pay#ents Loan (und. 2t wou)d enab)e wo#en to take out a )oan in cases where there is difficu)ty in
carrying out a su&&ort 6udg#ent, due to the disa&&earance of the ex;husband, or the difficu)ty of
)ocating his exact address, or his )ack of funds, or si#&)y his avoidance of &ay#ent.
"he financia) resources for such a fund wou)d be #ade avai)ab)e fro# the govern#ent<s budget.
"hey wou)d be considered as Gfisca) fundsH, #eaning that the govern#ent wou)d be res&onsib)e for
co))ecting the reBuisite su&&ort a#ounts fro# the defendants Iex;husbandsJ. "hey wi)) be considered
as owing the govern#ent direct)y.
However, the issue of a))ocating funds fro# the 4tate<s budget resu)ted in the &ro6ect being set aside.
"he draft )aw underwent end)ess discussions for severa) years, andre#ains in )i#bo.
/r. He)aye), the 4u&re#e ,udge, be)ieves that there is a &)an for the estab)ish#ent of the fund in
coo&eration with officia) &arties. .ut he did not indicate a ti#e fra#e, nor did he discuss any concrete
ste&s being taken to #ake this fund a rea)ity.
4>
*fterword by Ma6do)een *))an
"he idea for this investigation ca#e u& #ore than 1> years before 2 6oined the wor)d of 6ourna)is#. 2
was a student in #edia studies, and #y divorced sister to)d #e about the unfair conditions and
treat#ent for wo#en at the 4haria courts, which oversee #arriage cases in ,ordan.
2 thought then of investigating the #atter, but 2 had no #eans to undertake it. "hen 2 #et +ana
4abbagh of *rab +e&orters for 2nvestigative ,ourna)is# and obtained their su&&ort. "he outco#es of
the investigation were beyond #y ex&ectations, as the suffering of the victi#s was dee& and &ainfu).
"his re&ort was #y first investigative story. "herefore, 2 had no actua) #ethod to organise #y work.
2 tried, however, to organise #yse)f as fo))ows:
1. 2 bui)t a &ri#ary database to deter#ine the &rob)e#, by interviewing different sources
inc)uding wo#en and chi)dren who are victi#s, as we)) as ex&erts and )ega) activists.
. *fter deter#ining the core of the &rob)e#, 2 started searching for &ast docu#ents tack)ing the
sa#e issue. 2 found the D%H+ re&orts for the years >>7 and >>$, which #entioned
)oo&ho)es in the a&&)ication of the )aw.
!. *fter that 2 had to deter#ine who was res&onsib)e for the &rob)e#.
2 de&ended on the &ersona) status )aw and re&orts of the *##an;based, se#i;govern#enta) Dationa)
%entre for Hu#an +ights ID%H+J, which has o&en)y criticised the channe)s by which the financia)
su&&ort is obtained fro# ex;husbands at 4haria courts. *)) of these are o&en sources. 2 a)so consu)ted
re&orts at the de&art#ent that is in charge of 4haria courts in ,ordan to get infor#ation and statistics,
and the average of su&&ort &ay#ents for wo#en and chi)dren.
.ut there were no statistics on wo#en who face difficu)ties obtaining their a))ocations. "hat
&ro#&ted #e to for#u)ate a Buestionnaire and distribute it to 1!> divorced wo#en who have cases
before the 4haria courts.
,ordan is the on)y *rab country to have enacted a freedo# of infor#ation I('2J )aw, a)ong with
other )egis)ation that grants 6ourna)ists access to infor#ation, such as the Press and Pub)ications Law.
/es&ite the fact that both )aws are nor#a))y ineffective, 2 #anaged to use the ('2 )aw to ask the chief
2s)a#ic 6udge so#e Buestions, and the 6udge re&)ied.
"he hardest thing was to &rove that court e#&)oyees actua))y received bribes. 2 #anaged to
docu#ent one case where the e#&)oyee asked for #oney fro# a divorced wo#an. 2 a)so distributed a
Buestionnaire to > key court officers, 1> of who# ad#itted having received bribes.
When writing, 2 )ike to te)) the story either in a chrono)ogica) way or by )inking the events to &)aces
where they ha&&ened. 2 try to te)) the facts with as few words as &ossib)e. (or #e, it is i#&ortant to
)ink each idea with the &receding one, to co#e u& with a coherent text that f)ows we)), which #akes it
easier for readers to understand the huge a#ount of infor#ation.
2 had fears of &ossib)e &rosecution as the re&ort critici@es the working #echanis#s of a 6udicia)
syste#, and in ,ordan, we have a )aw that a))ows authorities to sue any 6ourna)ist who critici@es the
6udiciary."he )ega) screening offered by *+2, got #e out of this difficu)ty.
We discussed the investigation in different #edia out)ets, in addition to a se#inar at the ,ordanian
4ocia) (oru#, where the issue was tack)ed in detai)s. "hat discussion was aired on a )oca) web "E.
Winning the first &ri@e at the *+2, investigative 6ourna)is# conference in *##an in >>0 has a)so )ed
to &ositive reactions towards the issue.
"here were no direct, &ub)ic officia) reactions on the story. However, two days after it was
41
&ub)ished, the de&art#ent of the chief 6udge contacted #e, asking that 2 unvei) #y sources and te))
the# which e#&)oyees ad#itted receiving bribes. 2 refused, according to the )aw that a))ows
6ourna)ists to &rotect their sources. 8ght days after it was &ub)ished, the chief 6udge visited one of the
)argest 4haria courts in ,ordan, #et with a)) the e#&)oyees there and discussed the &rob)e#s unvei)ed
by the investigation. * new 4haria &ersona) status )aw was &assed, inc)uding a#end#ents to &oints
tack)ed by the investigation. "he new )aw a)so &ro&osed the estab)ish#ent of a s&ecia) fund to ensure
that divorced wo#en and their chi)dren receive their a))ocations without having to go through )ong
ad#inistrative court #easures, a so)ution that was &ro&osed in the investigation.
.ut 2 a# not tota))y satisfied. "he &rob)e# is not yet so)ved.
4
+. /uroe by desert: Tears of Afri'an migrants
#or -. days, investigative reporter mmanuel Mayah travelled a total of /,-01
kilometres across seven countries and the Sahara desert in the company of illegal
%frican migrants on their way to urope. #rom 2igeria to 'enin !epublic, Togo,
'urkina #aso, Mali, 2iger and finally 3ibya, he survived to tell the story of human
traffickers, se) slavery in transit camps, starvation, desert bandits, arduous toil in a
salt mine, cruel thirst and deaths in the hot desert.
By 4mmanuel Mayah
Introduction. In prewar 4urope this kind of work would ha%e been called Egrand reportageF a
journey into places that few go and fewer return from. 'he style flowered in the <=9:s and was
a precursor of the (ew &ournalism a fusion of literature and reportage. It has lost popularity in
recent years mainly because %iewers and readers now go to e3otic 6and e%en dangerous7 places
on their own and also because few of its contemporary practitioners ; with e3ceptions like &on
/rakauer whose reconstructions of how outdoors recreation turns to disaster effecti%ely created
a new genre in the <==:s ; are more interested in the facts than in their own reactions to the
facts. In other words they get in the way of the %ictims of the story. Mayahs story is the first we
know of that captures an archetypal contemporary e3perience ; the odyssey of the illegal
migrant ; from start to finish and from the %iewpoint of the migrants. $ warning to students#
'he biggest problem posed by such a story as 4mmanuel Mayah is going to show you is not
how to get to such places it is how one will get back.
*riginally published in "he 4un 6(igeria7 -ec. 9::=
2t is a )ong;distance suicide, yet #ost trave))ers rea)i@e it on)y when it is too )ate. ,ust as they say in
eastern Digeria, the road to he)) is hard)y narrow. 2t was difficu)t to say how #any ti#es a day this
&roverb rang in the head of the o)d wo#an as she e#erged with uncertain ste&s out of her house. (or a
#inute she hesitatedK not 6ust to #easure the visitor but sBuint at the #idday sun as though i#&)oring
it not to be too harsh on her.
Looking grief;stricken, though with a gait that betrayed gentee) e)egance, she #uttered a few
a&o)ogies to no one in &articu)ar and said so#ething about #a)aria. .ut everyone knew the &rob)e#
was #uch #ore. 2ndeed, )ife had never been the sa#e since news reached Mada# 8#eagwu that her
daughter was on death row in Libya.
4ince ,u)y >>0, Digerians were sti)) ree)ing fro# the aftershock of the news that twenty Digerians,
inc)uding one ,u)iet 'koro, were awaiting the hang#an in Libyan &risons. "hree wo#en, inc)uding
1)ory Pau);*#an@e and ,u)iet 'koro were a#ong the twenty Digerians sentenced to death in the
Dorth *frica country for offences ranging fro# #urder, drug, ar#ed robbery and i##igration
vio)ations. 8very year, thousands of sub;4aharan #igrants, #ost)y Digerians, set out on an often
&eri)ous 6ourney across the desert to Libya fro# where they ho&e to s)i& into 8uro&e for greener
&asture.
.ut if Digerians were not unfa#i)iar with re&orts of #igrants drowning in #akeshift boats in the
Mediterranean or of ug)y footages of hu#an cargoes de&osited at air&orts in yet another #ass
de&ortation, ta)es of execution in transit countries were a tota))y new di#ension to the horrifying
#igrant story. ,u)iet 'koro was re&orted to have been convicted of #urder.
G"e)) #e, who did #y daughter ki))9 What is the na#e of the #an9H Mada# 8#eagwu asked, again
to no one in &articu)ar. 4he took a seat under a guava tree outside her house. 4o#eone had gone in to
4!
announce the &resence of the visitor. *t first the wo#an had re)ayed her dis&osition not to see any
guest. "o)d that the visitor had co#e a)) the way fro# Lagos to the vi))age, 2sieke in *na#bra 4tate,
she had no doubt what had brought hi#. *)#ost i##ediate)y, she wanted to know if the visitor was a
govern#ent officia) and if there was anything he cou)d do to he)& her daughter.
2t was heartbreaking having no words to co#fort her. (or years she had be)ieved her daughter was in
8uro&e, &ossib)y in *#erica. 4he had never heard of a country ca))ed Libya. Her teenage ne&hew, who
by now had abandoned the cassava chi&s he was &re&aring for )unch, had ex&)ained she had been in
bed sick ever since the fa#i)y received the bad news. "he )ast ti#e anyone heard fro# ,u)iet was in
>>>.
%hoosing his words carefu))y, this re&orter announced that he was a 6ourna)ist trave))ing to the
country where ,u)iet was being he)d in &rison. "he 6ourna)ist a)so to)d Mada# 8#egwu that the
Libyan govern#ent had sus&ended the executions of #ore Digerians on death row &ending the fina)
deter#ination of a case against Libya by a Don;1overn#enta) 'rganisation, 4ocia) 8cono#ic +ights
and *ccountabi)ity Pro6ect I48+*PJ, before the *frican %o##ission on Hu#an and Peo&)e<s +ights
in .an6u), "he 1a#bia.
"he wo#an a&&eared to digest this &iece of infor#ation. Her eyes b)urred, yet tears fai)ed her. G"hey
said there was no #urder[H Her voice trai)ed off. "he encounter was co#ing to an e#otiona) end,
unex&ected)y infecting the re&orter<s co#&anion and inter&reter. .y this ti#e, two other wo#en had
6oined the gathering. "hey co#e a)#ost every evening to 6oin Mada# 8#egwu in &rayers. * Digerian
de&ortee fro# Libya, *ngus 8#enike, who s&ent e)even #onths in ,awa@at detention centre in "ri&o)i
in >>$, had to)d this re&orter about ,u)iet 'koro and where he cou)d find her fa#i)y. (ina))y &u))ing
herse)f together, the o)d wo#an &)eaded to write a )etter to a daughter she had not seen in ten years
and whose 2bo na#e was 'bianu6u. "he inter&reter did the writing, a fa#i)y &hotogra&h was attached
and the enve)o&e handed over to the re&orter.
+omuter fraud a'ademy
'n Dove#ber 17, about 1>.!> *.M, an '&e) sa)on car eased out of the Mi)e; Motor&ark on its way
to the 4e#e border. (ro# this dusty #otor &ark infested with touts and #oney doub)ers, thousands of
Digerians had co##enced their )ong and uncertain 6ourney to 8uro&e with a )ucky few returning
ho#e to show off their success. *#ong the &assengers were this re&orter and two other #a)e trave))ers
on the first stretch of their 6ourney to Libya. =goh 2 had a)ready #etK the other 2 wou)d find out was
4;year;o)d 2rabor Monday.
(ive #onths ago, =goh and 2 had been introduced to each other at a #eeting with a hu#an trafficker
who &araded hi#se)f as a trave) agent. (or so#e reasons everyone ca))ed hi# +a6ah Pfu)) na#e
withhe)dQ. "he first #eeting between re&orter and trafficker was inside the Mr. .iggs fast;food out)et
on *go Pa)ace Way, in 'kota, Lagos. 4ubseBuent #eetings were at Matenby Hote) c)ose to *k&ata
Me#oria) 4econdary 4choo)K however the session with =goh was he)d inside the &re#ises of 4t.
Mary<s %atho)ic %hurch, in 2so)o, Lagos. 2nside the fast food, +a6ah had assured this &ros&ective
#igrant that he cou)d &rocure a visa to any &art of 8uro&e, *#erica, *sia, %anada and 4outh *frica.
Wasting )itt)e ti#e in #arketing the re&utation of his a#or&hous agency, the #an in his ear)y forties
insisted that as a ru)e he wou)d not acce&t any #oney unti) every trave) &a&ers had been de)ivered. He
wou)d &rovide the running cost.
(or the c)ient to assure hi# of &ro#&t and fu)) &ay#ent, he said the way out was to o&en a 6oint
account, using the agreed visa fee at a bank of the re&orter<s choice, with the two &arties as
signatories. 'nce the e#bassy had issued the visa, the transaction is ended in the banking ha)) with the
two signatories &u))ing the #oney out of the account. 4hou)d the &rocure#ent suffer a hitch, the
transaction wou)d sti)) end in the banking ha)) with the c)ient going ho#e with his #oney. Most often
however, such transactions were known to have ended in hide and seek. 2t was either a wrong and
chea& visa was &rocured to such &)aces as =kraine and 4yria or that the #oney disa&&eared with the
44
second consenting signature forged. (or further effect, +a6ah threw in that for difficu)t visas, to the =4
and =-, he cou)d eBui& a deter#ined trave))er with .otswana &ass&ort or resort to what is known in
the industry &ar)ance as trans&)ant.
"he re&orter &)eaded une#&)oy#ent and inabi)ity to &ay D43>,>>> visa fee, to say nothing yet of air
ticket. 2t #et with a frown. (or the next ten #inutes or so, +a6ah &oked here and there, but having
fina))y exhausted a)) ho&es of getting a fat fee out of this re&orter, he had &roceeded to se)) another
trave) &ackage. 2t was the chea&est his agency cou)d contriveK it was ca))ed the desert o&tion. Dot for
once did he #ention the risk factor.
Having sett)ed on this &)an, the trafficker sub6ected the re&orter to what was a routine interrogation:
GHave you ever trave))ed out of the country9 Were you ever de&orted9 /o you have any brother in
8uro&e9 *ny friends9 %an you use your hands9 What work can you do9 %an you work as a barber9
8)ectrician9 /o you know anything about we)ding9 %ar&entry9 .ut you need such ski))s to survive
and #ake it fast in Libya so you can Buick)y cross into 8uro&e. What is your )eve) of education9H
(or the second ti#e, the re&orter dec)ared he was an une#&)oyed graduate. "he trafficker &aused a
few seconds, and then s&oke in utter re&roach. GWith your education, 2 ex&ect your )eve) of thinking to
be high. How do you ho&e to #ake it big in 8uro&e when you are not a wo#an9 .rother, you have to
use your brains[H
"he trafficker revea)ed with &ride that so#e of the #igrants he had he)&ed in the &ast were now Gbig
boysH in 4&ain, 1er#any, Ho))and and other &)aces. "hen he revea)ed so#ething e)se: he runs a c)ass
where registered &ros&ective #igrants are coached on credit card fraud, internet fraud, *"M fraud,
+ed Mecury 4ca#, 2dentity "heft, 4hare %ertificate fraud and the notorious *dvance (ee (raud, better
known as 410.
*t first it a&&eared )ike a &etty crook strugg)ing to #ake an i#&ression but after this re&orter had
#et in +a6ah<s hote) roo#, a 1er#any returnee who had successfu))y switched fro# stea)ing and
ex&orting exotic cars to Digeria to stea)ing and ex&orting generators, it did not take further goading to
sign u& for the co#&uter c)ass, &aying D$>,>>> for three #onths. "he training was #ost)y at night, at
an innocuous;)ooking cybercafN inside an unco#&)eted three;storey bui)ding direct)y o&&osite the
2so)o Pub)ic Library a)ong Ho)y 4aviour %o))ege +oad. "he first two f)oors are coated in green whi)e
the to& re#ains un&ainted and without windows. =goh was a)so a student of the co#&uter fraud
acade#y. Looking at hi# in faded 6ean trouser and a cotton shirt, it was difficu)t to i#agine 8uro&e
was his destination.
We arrived at the 4e#e border. .order for#a)ities were ex&ected)y easy and )asted as )ong as it took
a co##ercia) #otorbike to #eander through one of the i))ega) bush &aths between Digeria and .enin
+e&ub)ic. *ny truncheon;wie)ding 2##igration officia) encountered a)ong the way received D1>> for
the troub)e. "hat was for non;&ass&ort;carrying trave))ers going into .enin to buy anything fro#
to#ato &uree to second;hand texti)es, fro@en chicken to fair)y;used auto#obi)es. .ecause our
&ass&orts needed to be sta#&ed, there was no esca&ing one of the #ost bra@en dis&)ay of red ta&e
a)ong the West %oast. 'n the Digerian side, officia)s at the first 2##igration desk de#anded and
received D1>>> for 5e))ow (ever 2##uni@ation certificate.
*t the next desk, another D1>>> was de#anded because the re&orter was carrying a GvirginH
&ass&ort. "rave))ers who had crossed that border at )east once were sur&rising)y asked to &ay ha)f of
the i))ega) fee. *t the third and fina) desk, D3>> was &aid to sBuint at the sta#&ed &age. "he story was
#ore or )ess the sa#e on the .enin sideK 6ust that instead of three desks, there were two.
2, =goh and Monday converged at -rake, the .enin side of the border. Here we changed our Daira
to %(*, hagg)ing for a good rate with the &redo#inant)y wo#en b)ack #arket dea)ers.
We boarded a Peugeot 4tation Wagon fro# an ad6acent #otor &ark and in a )itt)e )ess than an hour
we were in %otonou, &recise)y at the /an "ok&a #arket. =goh &ut a ca)) through and after about
43
twenty;five #inutes +a6ah #et us under a &edestrian bridge near the #arket. 2 had not seen hi# since
three weeks ago when he handed #e #y &ass&ort. .ecause #y origina) &ass&ort showed that 2 was a
6ourna)ist and had trave))ed to 2ta)y, (rance, 4outh *frica and a few other overseas countries, it had
beco#e necessary to &rocure another &ass&ort not to b)ow #y cover.
We were taken to a bui)ding in the ,onBuet area of %otonou. 4even of us, inc)uding four young
wo#en that had arrived before us, were ke&t in a back roo#, ad6acent to another cra##ed with e#&ty
crates of a)coho)ic beverages. +a6ah )eft and returned hours )ater with three #ore trave))ers, a))
fe#a)es. "wo #ore young wo#en, odd)y cha&eroned by a scrawny;)ooking #a)e character, were
ushered in at dusk, swe))ing the ranks to thirteen.
*bout $.> &.#, a )arge wo#an wadd)ed inK behind her +a6ah. 4o#e of the trave))ers a&&eared to
have #et her. 4he ca))ed the# by na#es, greeted everyone war#)y and reBuested to know what we
wou)d )ike for dinner. Her eyes swe&t the roo# as she conducted &ossib)y a #enta) headcount. +a6ah
said he was sti)) ex&ecting one #ore &erson. 2n the interest of a)) newco#ers, the )arge wo#an
&roceeded to give a &e& ta)k. 4he re#inded everyone they were in a foreign )and where the &eo&)e
s&oke no 8ng)ish and warned that the .eninese gendar#es were un&redictab)e.
4he e#&hasi@ed that if she were any of us, she wou)d rather not wander around. *ny reBuest shou)d
be channe))ed to her or +a6ah or indeed the scrawny character whose na#e was given as 8san. (ro#
conversations a#ong the gir)s and fro# noises, &articu)ar)y )ouds&eakers b)aring ragga #usic, it
fina))y registered we were in so#e back roo#s in a red )ight neighbourhood. "he )itt)e bui)ding itse)f
was without a nu#ber but this re&orter noted it was the fourth house fro# Hote) 1o)d R .ase, )ocated
at %\113;117 ,onBuet. 4o#e hundred #etres o&&osite this bui)ding was a 4onaco& (i))ing 4tation and
in;between the# was a #ini #otor &ark with an o&en;air s)ee&ing f)oor.
"hat )ast &erson +a6ah had been ex&ecting did not arrive unti) #uch after #idday the fo))owing day.
.y this ti#e there was a)ready a &rob)e# in the house. 'ne of the first four gir)s we had #et in the
roo# had been sobbing. Do one see#ed to understand what the &rob)e# was or rather everyone was
too carefu) to be inBuisitive. .ut if the re&orter was &u@@)ed by the tears of the young wo#an whose
age was about 1$, he wou)d be co#&)ete)y bewi)dered when it was revea)ed that the guest who had
6ust arrived was a s&iritua)ist i#&orted fro# 8do 4tate in Digeria. His identity did not 6ust tu#b)e out.
"he )arge wo#an, with a sus&icious identity herse)f, though addressed as *unty Uueen, had
introduced the guest as a &ro&het. "rue, the #an &erfect)y &)ayed the ro)e of a &ro&het, )eading us in
#arathon &rayer sessions, designed to co##it the trave))ers and the )ong 6ourney ahead into the hands
of the *)#ighty. However, the ritua)s that fo))owed afterwards were nothing e)se but voodoo.
'ne after the other, save for the wee&ing gir), a)) the trave))ers were taken inside the crate;stacked
roo# for a fetish oath. When this re&orter was ca))ed in, the s&iritua)ist, under the watchfu) eyes of
+a6ah and *unty Uueen ex&)ained, a)#ost a&o)ogetic, that the exercise was a s&iritua) he)& to foresta))
&ossib)e arrest and re&atriation fro# 8uro&e and to ad#inister an oath of secrecy and )oya)ty.
(or a #o#ent, the s&ectac)e was disar#ing. 'n the f)oor was a #agica) circ)e out)ined with native
cha)k. 2nside it were &atches of ani#a) skin, a s#a)) three;&ronged s&ear, a gourd and other fetish
artic)es. "he s&iritua)ist had shed his we));e#broidered white -aftan. 'ver his trouser brocade and
across his waist, he had tied a red;co)oured skirt with a set of beads stitched to it in the sha&e of the
hu#an eye. .asica))y, the witchdoctor recited so#e incantations in .ini )anguage, and then reBuested
the trave))er to re&eat so#e )ines after hi#. Dext, the trave))er was #ade to &ick a gourd, hit it three
ti#es on his forehead and another three ti#es on his chest saying that he is a beneficiary of the
traffickers< kindness and that with his own #outh and sou) he hereby invites the deity 'sunene to visit
hi# with its #ost &otent veno#, sickness, #isfortune and death shou)d he under any circu#stances
divu)ge secret infor#ation or snitch on the traffickers before the &o)ice, 2##igration or so#e other
authorities.
*)so, that the trave))er invites 'sunene to visit hi# with its wrath shou)d he fai)s to re#it to the )ast
47
do))ar, the a#ount s&ecified in the contract &a&er as soon as he begins to earn #oney a)ong the way
and or at the fina) destination. .efore +a6ah, this re&orter had been introduced to another trafficker by
Pna#e withhe)dQ fond)y ca))ed "hank1od. *t the first and on)y #eeting in Lagos this handso#e, )ight;
co#&)exioned #an wasted no ti#e in saying he on)y took wo#en to Libya and 8uro&e. Do a#ount of
#oney offered by this re&orter to take hi# a)ong #ade any sense to "hank1od. He &ointed out that
before he took the# a)ong, each of his gir)s were #ade to take an oath in agree#ent to &ay hi#
X3,>>> for taking the# to a )and of o&&ortunities before they can be free to start working for
the#se)ves. He e#&hasi@ed that no #an wou)d be ab)e to &ay hi# such an a#ount whatever the
a#bition of doing two or three 6obs. "his trafficker<s internationa) te)e&hone nu#ber was obtained by
this re&orter.
4o#ething ha&&ened that the re&orter never bargained for. Picking a ra@or b)ade, the s&iritua)ist
ordered the re&orter to stretch out his hands. "he re&orter retreated, c)inging on the excuse that a used
b)ade cannot be &er#itted on account of H2EM*2/4. (ro# so#e 6unks in a corner, +a6ah &roduced a
new b)ade. "he witchdoctor &roceeded to #ake three incisions on each of the re&orter<s knuck)es. He
wi&ed the b)ood with his own fingers and di&&ed sa#e into the gourd with a )iBuid content. With the
sa#e b)ade, he scra&&ed so#e strands off the na&e of the re&orter<s neck, throwing the hairs into the
gourd. He shook the content and ordered the re&orter to drink fro# it. "he nature of the ritua)
concoction was hard to sayK however, encouraged by the un#istakab)e whiff of )oca) gin, this re&orter
did as he was to)d.
(or the rest of the evening everyone was #oodyK the 1$;year;o)d was hysterica). 4he was the on)y
one that refused to take the oath. (ro# snatches of conversations, it was gathered that the gir)s had
been sub6ected to #ore abusive ritua)s. 2n addition to the incisions, the witchdoctor had, at *unty
Uueen<s insistence, co))ected cuttings of their fingernai)s, &ubic hairs and &antiesK the very ones worn
to the ritua).
.eginning to get &aranoid, one of the gir)s co#&)ained she cou)dn<t sto& fee)ing a &art of her sou)
had )eft her. *n o)der gir), =hreva, dis#issed the fee)ing with a )augh. *bout 4;years;o)d, =hreva
said it was her second b)ood oath. With the assistance of a hu#an trafficker, known in the business as
s&onsor, she had #ade it to 2ta)y in >>3 on)y to be de&orted 1: #onths )ater. 8ver since, she had fe)t
)ike a fish out of water. 2nsisting that she )eft "orino without a &in, =hreva cata)ogued so#e of the
&ossessions and nice #a)e friends she )eft behind. (or her, it #ade sense to find a way back even
though her first tri& had been by air and far #ore dignifying. With her stay in "orino not )ong enough
to &ay off her s&onsor, she sti)) had so#e debt hanging over her head. 5et, she was o&ti#istic she
cou)d use the second chance she was getting to &ay off both her first and second Mada#e and sti))
have enough to bui)d a house in her vi))age, own cars, a fat bank account, a boutiBue or beauty sa)on.
Like cows, we were herded by scrawny 8san to a nearby canteen where we cou)d eat Digerian
foods. "he 1$;year;o)d '#osan refused to go anywhere. 2t was not c)ear if she had eaten anything a))
day. .y the ti#e we a)) returned, *unty Uueen had ex&)oded, &ouring ex&)etives on '#osan: G2<ve
had enough of your rubbish. 2 treat you )ike #y own daughter but you want to use your Gogban6eH to
#ess with #y business. 5our &arents begged #e to take you a)ong. "here were other gir)s to &ick
fro#. *)) the gir)s you ca#e here with have since #oved on and you are here acting )ike a chi)d.H
+a6ah barged in. He too was s&itting fire. He he)d out a ce)) &hone towards '#osan: G5our father
wants to s&eak with you. "ake the &hone[H
'#osan was not crying, but she was not saying anything either. +a6ah barked again and &u))ed out a
designer be)t fro# his 6ean trouser. He ste&&ed forward, threatening to hit '#osan with it. G"ake the
&hone. 2 say take it, because your father has said we shou)d #ake you do what every other gir) is
doing[H
4$
Herded to Togo
Like a fu)) #oon that started out a crescent, +a6ah<s )aw)ess #ind was getting #ore robust by the
day. Like cows again, we were herded to a &ark to begin our 6ourney to "ogo. 8ight new gir)s had
a&&eared fro# nowhere with their bags in the #orning. "here was no &ri@e for guessing where they
had co#e fro# after eight gir)s in the roo# were #oved out to start a new )ife in ,onBuet brothe)s.
"hese traffickers, besides freighting hu#an cargoes to Libya and 8uro&e, a)so feed the trans;4aharan
sex #arket, guaranteeing a steady su&&)y of fresh young wo#en to brothe)s.
=hreva was )eft to stay in our grou&. '#osan to)d =hreva that she wou)d )ove to go to 8uro&e but
added that she wou)d die first before sub#itting to a b)ood oath. 4he gave no indication that she
understood the nature of the 6obs )ined u& for gir)s in 8uro&e. +e&orts had it that in 8uro&e, so#e of
the trafficked wo#en are sub6ected by #a)e c)ients to sexua) abuses, forced into &ornogra&hy and
&erversions )ike s)ee&ing with dogs.
+a6ah was yet to decide what to do with '#osan when *unty Uueen herded 1! of us, nine gir)s and
four #en, to "ogo. /isguised as a devout Mus)i#, she was dressed in an orange boubou, her head and
shou)ders covered with a f)owing headscarf. We 6ourney through Uuidah, /ohi, *gatogbo, 1ado#e,
%o#e, 1rand Po&o and fina))y Lo#e.
*t the .enin;"ogo border &o&u)ar)y ca))ed Hi))a %ond6i was a re&)ay of what was witnessed at
4e#e. *gain, the extortion by border officia)s was a #ockery of the s&irit and )etters of the 8%'W*4
I8cono#ic %o##unity of West *frican 4tatesJ Protoco) which &roc)ai#s free #ove#ent of &eo&)e
and goods across #e#ber states. *t this border, this re&orter encountered a .eninoise by na#e /ossou
1i))es;%ar)os 5aovi. 4on of a =D di&)o#at whose father is current)y serving in Haiti, he was on his
way to 1hana. /ossou, whose father once worked in 2##igration, said that #ost of the officia)s he
knew had bui)t big houses 6ust a few years serving at Hi))a %ond6i.
*t Lo#e, we were Buartered in a co#&ound of two s#a)) houses and a courtyard in a dusty street off
an even #ore dusty .ou)evard du Haho. "his co#&ound was c)ear)y a fa#i)y ho#e occu&ied by &oor
and courteous "ogo)ese whose young chi)dren ha&&i)y dedicated the#se)ves to the service of *unty
Uueen L a trafficker who it turned out cou)d s&eak f)uent 8ng)ish, (rench, .ini, 5oruba and a
s#attering of *rabic.
"he chi)dren, three gir)s and a boy of about nine, ran errands fetching water and going to the stores
throughout the three days their &arents hosted the visitors. 2t was difficu)t to say how Uueen had #ade
the acBuaintance of this &oor fa#i)y in the first &)ace. Most of the houses in this &oor neighbourhood
were without nu#bersK however so#e of the unforgettab)e )and#arks inc)uded the *frica .ar and the
8ng)ise Deo;*&osto)iBue church.
"he fo))owing #orning Uueen took the eight gir)s away and returned )ate afternoon with another set
of gir)s. 8veryone was to de&art "ogo the next day but that &)an was thwarted after Uueen bitter)y
discovered there wou)d be no trans&ort to our next sto&, .urkina (aso unti) two days )ater. 'ut of
boredo# or &erha&s genuine)y seeking the face of 1od, Uueen suggested we attend a church service.
Dot one &erson saw it as a bad idea. We a)) wa)ked to a &entecoasta) church headed by a Digerian
&astor. Written on the wa)) were GHouse of 8xce))ence %hurchH and the sa#e na#e in (rench: 8g)ise
Maison /<8xce))ence. "his church, with service conducted in 8ng)ish, is one of about a do@en that
cater to the s&iritua) needs of Digerians )iving in Lo#e. Ha)fway through the service, thinking for the
u#&teenth ti#e about '#osan and what #ay have ha&&ened to her, this re&orter )eft the church, found
a te)e&hone service and &ut a ca)) to 1odefroy Dacaire %habi, a .eninoise 6ourna)ist based in %otonou.
"rans&ort to .urkina (aso fro# Lo#e was &retty irregu)ar and de&ended )arge)y on traders fro#
)and)ocked .urkina returning ho#e fro# Lo#e #arkets. We 6ourneyed fro# Lo#e to 4ogode to -ara
to the "ogo)ese border town .itou and on to .urkina<s frontier town 4ekan@e to -ou&e))a to
'ugadougou and to .obo;/iou)asso. *gainst a)) ex&ectations, the 6ourney took three days. 4evera)
4:
ti#es the bus broke down on the way, trave))ing day and nightK and at one &oint in the #idd)e of
nowhere, hungry &assengers resorted to buying fruits, boi)ed &otatoes and sundry far# &roduce off a
)ong )ine of &easants trekking to a distant #arket. *t a town ca))ed -ou&e))a, the bus co#&)ete)y broke
down. We ca#&ed outside a tea se))er ti)) the fo))owing #orning. "his re&orter was directed to a
faci)ity within a #osBue co#&)ex where for %(*1>>, he brushed his teeth, had a bath and washed his
shirt, a)) inside a cubic)e housing a &it )atrine.
.y the ti#e we arrived 'uagadougou, +a6ah was waiting. Uueen got out with the gir)s. "he #en
were to)d to continue to .obo;/iou)asso. 'n arriva), without any arrange#ents for a s)ee&ing &)ace,
everyone )oitered at the #otor &ark and waited. "here were an a&&reciab)e nu#ber of #igrants in
.urkina (asoK so#e having arrived fro# 1hana, Digeria and %ote d<2voire and a)) waiting to connect
to Diger +e&ub)ic, s&ecifica))y Dia#ey. Here, this re&orter #et a Digerian by na#e -enneth
*kwekwe. He said he was on his way to .angkok but he #ust first get to 4enega) where his trave)
docu#ents awaited hi#. We s)e&t at the #otor &ark, s#udged with red earth. *)#ost a)) night, a
)ouds&eaker b)ared the #usic of *)&ha .)ondie, ,erusa)e#.
When Uueen turned u& the fo))owing day, she had e)even gir)s behind her. 2t was gathered that #ost
of the N#igrNs in .urkina (aso were Digerians, &redo#inant)y of the 5oruba and 2bo tribes. * .urkina
youth, trying to se)) satchet water to this re&orter insisted that the 8ng)ish word for water was n#iri.
(ro# =rheva, it was gathered that the new gir)s had been fetched fro# a &art of the ca&ita) ca))ed
'uaga /ue Mi), better known as 'uaga >>>. "his &)ace is said to be one of the transit ca#&s for
fe#a)e victi#s of hu#an trafficking. 'uaga is said to be the ,onBuet of %otonou with its fair share of
brothe)s. 2t is esti#ated that about 3> young wo#en, #ost)y Digerians and 1hanaians, are invo)ved
in 'uaga<s sex industry.
%onde#ned to the sa#e trans&ort co#&any, (asowcar, we de&arted for Ma)i. 4o#ething ha&&ened
that a)#ost b)ew this re&orter<s cover. 2t ha&&ened at the .urkina;Ma)i border. "he re&orter<s &ass&ort
had been sta#&ed and %(*!>>> de#anded when one of the officia)s s&otted a ca#era in the inner
&ocket of the re&orter<s 6acket. * search of his bag revea)ed the re&orter<s notebook. Uuestions after
Buestions about identity, destination and #ission. "he re&orter was dragged before one =rbain
1nou#ou, a Po)ice Dationa)e who had a &isto) in his waist and a &ortrait of President .)aise %a#&ore
g)owering over his desk. 2n a #ixture of 8ng)ish and (rench, this re&orter ex&)ained he was a
schoo)teacher on his way to Ma)i to visit a sick Digerian. 1nou#ou said that any 6ourna)ist visiting or
&assing through his country #ust have first obtained a written &er#ission stating his #ission. "he
re&orter tried his best to stick to his story which nobody see#ed to be buying. (ina))y, 1nou#ou
decided to transfer the &u@@)e to officia)s at the Ma)ian side of the border. (ortunate)y, at Heda#akonu,
the Ma)ians did not even bat an eye)id. (ro# Heda#akonu, we 6ourneyed to 4ika@ou, .oogoni and
fina))y .a#ako.
)reams die first
We arrived .a#ako about 4*.M. "he s&ectac)e at 4ediankoro #otor&ark s&oke vo)u#es of the fate
of *frican #igrants a)ong that route. "here were over forty ho#e)ess young #en s)ee&ing in awkward
&ositions inside the &ark. 2t was gathered that every one of the# was a #igrant that has co#e to a dead
end in Ma)i. *gain, the #a6ority was Digerians. 'ut of cash and unab)e to #ove on, they had resorted
to touting, whi)e waiting for new arriva)s to f)eece. Later, this re&orter found #ore of the# at
1ekoroni, Tebenikoro and /abanani Merche. Meanwhi)e, their fe#a)e counter&arts cou)d be found as
sex workers at 5a#akoro, Hote) -okoti, *#adina, /o#ino, -aye and Mani .arK a)) with a high
concentration of young Digerian gir)s. 2t is esti#ated that about 14>> Digerian gir)s )ive in Ma)i.
8veryone of the# had )eft ho#e with 8uro&e as drea# destination. * 1uinean with +astafarian
hairsty)e took this re&orter around town.
2t was gathered that it is often in Ma)i that the sca)e begins to fa)) off the eyes of #any #igrants. *
$;year o)d Digerian, *@ee@ *bio)a , to)d this re&orter that when he )eft ho#e in >>$, the hu#an
40
trafficker had to)d hi# they wou)d board a &)ane to 4&ain once they arrive .a#ako. He had &aid
D7>>,>>> for the 6ourney on)y for the trafficker to do a disa&&earing act as soon as they had arrived
Ma)i, abandoning hi# and four others to their fate. *@ee@ said #ost of the gir)s found in Ma)i were fed
the sa#e story before they set out. * furniture #aker by &rofession, *@ee@ regretted throwing away a
stab)e )ife in 2fo, 'gun 4tate, on)y to co#e to .a#ako to )ive as a #otor&ark tout. His dai)y bread
de&ended on the nu#ber of &assengers he was ab)e to attract to a trans&ort co#&any.
Like *@ee@, this re&orter a&&eared abandoned. He s&ent three days at the #otor &ark together with
=goh and 2rabor Monday. *unty Uueen was again gone with the gir)s. *fter the incident with the
.urkina border &o)ice she had beco#e wary. Dot once did she ask any Buestions. 4ince 'uagadougou,
no one had seen +a6ah to who# this re&orter had &aid D>>,>>> to cover ex&enses.
8ach new day brought new arriva)s to 4ediankoro. 'ne of the# was /iawara .oh fro# 1uinea who
was once ca&tured and conscri&ted by rebe)s to fight in the Liberian war, 2n the &ast ten years, this 0;
year;o)d had so6ourned a)) over West *frica in search of a better )ife. He had been to %ote d<2voire,
1hana and 4ierre Leone. 2n Digeria he worked as a truck driver, hau)ing giant generators for a
Lebanese co#&any ca))ed Mikano. Hard as he worked, he cou)d bare)y feed hi#se)f on a #onth)y
sa)ary of D,>>> after s&ending ha)f of the #oney on trans&ortation.
Darrating his )ife ex&erience, /iawara to)d this re&orter: G2 have been going u& and down and have
not seen #y &arents in 1> years. 2 worked as a s)ave for the Lebanese. 2f you cough you get a
surchargeK if you are sick and cannot work, they wi)) not &ay you and if you sustain any in6ury the
hos&ita) bi)) is fro# your sa)ary. Life in Digeria was bad, but not as bad as Liberia where they gave #e
a gun. "he rebe) ca&tured #e. When they saw 2 cou)d s&eak their )anguage, they said co#e and 6oin
us. 2 a# fro# 1egedou in 1uinea and we share border with Liberia and 4ierre Leone. 2 carried gun for
two #onths but one day 2 esca&ed, fo))owing a river that )eads to 1uinea.H
*#ong the hordes of young *fricans this re&orter #et on the way were the duo of Petros Massage)oi
and 4esay -oni. .oth were 4ierre Leoneans, refugees trying to &ick u& the &ieces of their )ife after so
#any years at the 'ru %a#& in Digeria.
/uring the war, Pone of the#Q had witnessed the ki))ing of wo#en and the a#&utating of chi)dren.
He wou)d never forget how ro&es were &ut round the necks of Digerians on)y for the other end to be
tied to a #oving carK yet he risked his own )ife to save a Digerian #arried to his sister. *fter so#e
rebe)s )aunched a +ocket Pro&e))ed 1renade at his aunt, he esca&ed to Digeria where he was ab)e to
finish schoo). .ut the certificate has not been of #uch use to hi#. =nab)e to get a 6ob he had resorted
to se))ing dye. "he )ast straw was when the #uch;awaited =DH%+ resett)e#ent &ackage ca#e and
officia)s in Lagos handed refugees D$>,>>> to start a new )ife instead of the antici&ated D!3>,>>>.
'ur next destination was *gade@ in northern Diger. When Uueen fina))y showed u&, she announced
we wou)d de&art the fo))owing day. "hen she added the grou& wou)d s&)it in two for easier
coordination. 4ticking to the ritua) of going to a church before going on the road, we fo))owed her to
the %ha&e))e des EainBueurs 2nternationa) even without taking our bath. 'n our )ast night at the #otor
&ark, this re&orter found out about the activities of a docu#ent syndicate who for a fee &rovide forged
trave) &a&ers to #igrants. Patterned after the infa#ous ')uwo)e in Lagos, the forgery networks
&rovide services to #igrants and hu#an traffickers a)ike, se))ing anything fro# fake &ass&ort to fake
i##unisation certificate.
"here was no way of knowing how #any new gir)s Uueen &icked u& in .a#ako. "hey were
trave))ing on a different bus. 8san #ade our trave) arrange#ents for four #en and two gir)s. "his
re&orter &aid %(*:>,>>> as fare to *gade@. We were to go first to 1ao fro# where we wou)d be
transferred onto another vehic)e. 2t sounded si#&)e enough, besides so#eone wou)d be waiting in 1ao
to faci)itate the transfer. His na#e was on the back of the ticket. ,ust as we)), the agent in .a#ako
ca))ed hi# to s&eak with us. *bout 1> *.M we were conveyed on #otorbikes fro# the &ark to the bus
ter#ina) of 4onef "rans&ort Eoyageurs. "he agent had &aid for the 4onef ticket which turned out to be
3>
on)y %(*13,>>> to 1ao. However, the agent whose na#e was *oai)y with te)e&hone >>!;$311!7>0
encouraged the trave))er to &ay additiona) %(*1>,>>> to the 4onef bus conductor to s#oothen
&assages at check&oints. We 6ourneyed fro# .a#ako to (ana to 4egou to .)a to Mo&ti to 4evare to
/ouan@a to 1ossi and fina))y 1ao. 2t took two days and by the ti#e we arrived, every &assenger was
covered in dust.
"he #an on the te)e&hone had been waiting for the bus to arrive. His #en and #otorbikes were a)so
waiting to convey usK six Digerians, a 1uinean and a 4ierre LeoneanK to their &ark to board the vehic)e
to *gade@. 8xcited at the rea)ity of ste&&ing foot on 1ao, the historic city of *skia "he 1reat, this
re&orter was unwary as the #otorbike snaked through the ancient city. .y the ti#e he rea)i@ed itK it
was too )ate. "here was no #otor &ark, instead a hideout in a sandy neighbourhood with #ud brick
houses, a)) )ooking identica). He was surrounded by rogue e)e#ents headed by an *)gerian who gave
his na#e as Moha##ed. Without any &ro#&ting, the re&orter went on his knees. "he *)gerian took
one )ook and said: G5ou Digerian9 5ou 2bo9H
He announced regrettab)y that the re&orter had fa))en into wrong hands but added that he wou)d he)&
because he #ade his fortunes trans&orting Digerians across the desert and that #any 2bos were his
friends. *fter about ten #inutes of de)iberations with his #en, he advised the re&orter to &ay off his
ca&tors. His #en wou)d not acce&t %(*4>,>>>K not even %(*$>,>>>. "he #an fro# the #otor &ark
gave the re&orter a s)a&K then &unched hi# on the face and sto#ach. He wanted do))ars and 8uros as
we)). *n argu#ent ensued between Moha##ed and the #an who had ensnared the re&orter fro# the
4onef Park. (earing #ore vio)ence, the re&orter surrendered a)) the %(*s and do))ars on hi#. "he on)y
thing )eft was the Digerian Daira fro# which they se)ected about nine D1>>> notes &erha&s to kee& as
#e#entos. *s the argu#ent continued, Moha##ed #oved the re&orter to an inner roo# where two
nubi)e young wo#en were )ying on a b)anket s&read on the f)oor. "here was )itt)e &oint trying to #ake
sense of anything any#ore. "he wo#en a&&eared unaware of the co##otion going on outside or
&erha&s they were used to it. Meanwhi)e, there was no sign of the re&orter<s trave))ing co#&anions
who a&&arent)y had been se&arated and taken to so#e other bui)dings. *bout ha)f an hour )ater,
Moha##ed e#erged. * different #otorbike was waiting outside. He hurried the re&orter onto it and
si#&)y said: G(o))ow this #an.H "he re&orter was taken to a %usto#s &ost outskirt of 1ao. "he bike
#an had a #essage for an officer there. "he na#e on his unifor# was Mou)aye 'u)d. 2t was easy to
#e#ori@e, as it re#inded the re&orter of actress Patti .ou)aye. "his *rab;)ooking officer wou)d &ut
the re&orter on a #ini bus out of town.
A good &amarithan
"he re&orter was re)ieved to see the end of the ordea) but the bus ride was not #uch a he)&. 2t
ter#inated at a vi))age so#e 7> ki)o#eters fro# 1ao. Dot one of the natives s&oke 8ng)ish. "he on)y
&)ace the re&orter knew was 1ao. With a few coins sti)) )eft in his back &ocket, he #ade u& %(*!>>
for the fare back to the ancient city. (or the next two days, there was neither food nor water. "here was
no #oney to buy any. "hough the re&orter sti)) had )oads of naira notes, they were of no use to anyone
in this &art of the wor)d. .y the end of the second day, it was stark destitution as the re&orter took the
bo)d ste& to beg for water.
*&&arent)y the good citi@ens of Ma)i had grown tired of the &athetic ta)es and s&ectac)e of #igrants
on their way to *)geria or Libya. However, when the odd see#ed highest, a good 4a#arithan ca#e
a)ong. *)iou Maiga, a 7;year;o)d Ma)ian said he )ived in Digeria for #any years in Lagos, .enin;%ity
and *bu6a. He offered water, food and she)ter. He exchanged so#e of the naira notes to %(*. 2t was
)ike turning water to wine. He arranged and &ut the re&orter on a cargo van to *gade@. Like a )ife)ine,
the re&orter c)ung to *)iou<s te)e&hone nu#ber. "he 6ourney took four days through #i)itary
check&oints and desert towns )ike -ida))i and -a))i)i.
31
Agade0
"he re&utation of *gade@ &recedes it any day. +ight fro# Lagos, this re&orter was warned that due
to the &rotracted "uareg rebe))ion in northern Diger, *gade@ is an un&redictab)e &)ace to trave). "he
"uareg &eo&)e are said to be the origina) %anaanites fro# the .ib)e. 'fficia))y, a &er#it is reBuired for
anyone to go to northern Diger but it is rare)y granted even to rich tourists. "he on)y way to *gade@ is
by taking the i))ega) o&tion of trave))ing without a &er#it. Paranoid that a trave))er #ight be &roviding
su&&ort to rebe)s, &o)ice have the authority to detain anyone without a cause. 2t is not unco##on for
so)diers to force trave))ers to dise#bark fro# a bus and wait at a check&oint in the #idd)e of the desert
unti) another bus co#es to take hi# in the o&&osite direction. However, *gade@ is an inevitab)e transit
&oint for #igrants on their way to 8uro&e. 2t is a)so a ho#e to drug &edd)ers and sex workers.
When this re&orter arrived on /ece#ber , he found hundreds of #igrants fro# Digeria, 1hana,
%a#eroun, Ma)i, Liberia, 1uinea .issau, "ogo and 1abon. Whi)e so#e had been in the city for a few
days or weeks, others have been tra&&ed there for severa) #onths &)otting unsuccessfu))y to cross the
desert. "hen there are the categories of #igrants who have been in the city for over three years. "hey
are easi)y identified by their dread)ocks and are said to have been interce&ted in the desert by Libyan
or *)gerian security forces on)y to be de&orted 1>>> ki)o#eters back to Diger. "hough #ost of the
#igrants were thorough)y in a bad sha&e, it took on)y a few hours of arriva) for this re&orter to begin
to encounter Digerians suffering fro# &sycho)ogica) &rob)e#s.
* 1;year;o)d Digerian, ')u Isurna#e withhe)dJ to)d this re&orter that he had been in *gade@ for 17
#onths. *n a#ateur footba))er, ')u and fourteen other young #en were )ured by a footba)) agent who
&ro#ised to take the# to 8uro&e to &)ay &rofessiona) soccer. 2n *&ri) >>: the agent, having co))ected
between D1>,>>> and D>>,>>> fro# each of the &)ayers, took the# to -atsina, crossed the# into
Diger and de&osited the# in Maradi. He had not been seen afterwards. 2n the s&irit of Sforward ever L
backward never<, ')u, another footba))er na#ed Moruf and six others so6ourned to *gade@ to get
c)oser to their drea#s. He said he wou)d die in sha#e at the &ros&ect of going back ho#e e#&ty
handed, after his fa#i)y and friends had he)d a )avish &arty to send hi# forth to 8uro&e.
(or a token, ')u and Moruf &rovided she)ter for the re&orter in their rented hut in *gade@. "hey
&ractica))y feed fro# hand to #outh. ,ob o&&ortunity is a #irage with businesses contro))ed by *rab,
Mauritanian and Hausa #erchants. *gricu)ture, she&herding and gardening are the other econo#ic
&ros&ects but those are great)y ha#&ered by the harsh environ#ent of the *gade@ region. "he few
o&&ortunities for #igrants are backbreaking )abour in construction, &rostitution, &edd)ing cocaine and
heroin, theft and begging. Migrants do a)) sorts to &ay for the next stage of their 6ourney.
* 1hanaian in the o&&osite hut, (rank)in 'nwusu, earns about %(*4>> a day working with a
brick)ayer in *gade@ (rank)in to)d this re&orter he a)#ost #ade it to Libya ear)y this year with 1
other #igrants but Libyan security forces caught and returned the# to a #i)itary &ost in northern
Diger fro# where Digerian so)diers &icked u& the baton and trans&orted the# back to *gade@. He had
been in a )i#bo. "o #ove forward he wou)d need %(*13>,>>> for a direct trans&ort to Libya. "o
return to *ccra, it wou)d cost hi# %(*:>,>>>. His %(*4>>;a;day 6ob was not even regu)ar.
2t was on the fifth day that this re&orter found out that =rheva was in *gade@. 4he disc)osed that +a6ah
was in the city too. (or so#e reasons that she did not say, *unty Uueen was staying back in .a#ako.
8veryone had heard what ha&&ened in Ma)i. 8san was with +a6ahK =goh and 2rabor were so#ewhere
in the city &re&aring to go to *r)it.
"hrough =rheva, this re&orter #et another Digerian )ady in the sa#e brothe) in *gade@. * graduate
of #icrobio)ogy, Linda Isurna#e withhe)dJ narrated how she had entered into a fake #arriage after her
Dationa) 5ouths 4ervice Progra##e ID54%J in *kwa 2bo# 4tate. 2n her des&eration to go to 8uro&e,
she had acce&ted to be one of the wives of a traditiona) ru)er in 8kiti 4tate so she cou)d #ake the )ist
of his entourage on his visit to London. Marriage certificates were &rovided and wedding &hotogra&hs
arranged. "he Monarch insisted on consu##ating the fake union but during &re&arations for his next
overseas tri&, she was denied visa.
3
5et another #igrant who had taken to &rostitution was a housewife fro# Digeria Ina#es withhe)dJ
who said she was a victi# of a bi@arre #arita) consensus. * wo#an in her #id thirties, she c)ai#ed
that after her husband was retired fro# the Digeria Ports *uthority IDP*J, both of the# had agreed
that she used a &art of his gratuity, which she said was nothing to write ho#e about, to finance her tri&
to 8uro&e. "he #other of four said she had not abandoned her #arriage, insisting that she had #ade it
a &oint of duty to regu)ar)y s&eak with her husband and chi)dren on &hone. However, she was fu)) of
regrets that she had been abandoned in *gade@ for a)#ost three #onths. "he Mada#e who# she had
&aid to take her to 8uro&e had turned her back at her 6ust, as the trafficker never disc)osed the )ife;
threatening cha))enges on the way.
*s the days ro))ed by and the re&orter went about town seeking a safe trave) &)an, ')u warned about
the activities of rogue drivers and fake trave) agencies who arrange to have their vehic)es i#&ounded
and the #igrants arrested in the desert. "hat way they &ocket the fares but do not have to #ake the
)ong and arduous 6ourney to Libya. "his re&orter found out that there are registered trans&ort
co#&anies )ike Pna#es withhe)dQ that trave) under #i)itary escort to as far as *r)it, the )ast town fro#
where #igrants can &roceed to "a#anraseth in *)geria. .ecause few #igrants can afford to &ay as
#uch as %(*13>,>>>, they go for chea&er and #ore dangerous o&tions. +ebe) activities a)so #eans
that so#e of the routes are #ined. 4o#e #onths back, a truck carrying i))ega) #igrants was re&orted)y
b)own a&art by )and#ine.
'ne evening, outside a busy drinking &ar)our ca))ed 'asis, this re&orter ran into =go and 2rabor
Monday. .oth a&&eared to have aged in so short a ti#e. "heir ex&erience in 1ao was as bad as the
re&orter<s. With the# was another Digerian ca))ed %os#as. * father of two, %os#as was known to
wee& #ost of the ti#e thinking of his wife and chi)dren. He to)d this re&orter that he )eft Digeria
because he was running away fro# a debt.
G2 convinced #y wife that trave))ing abroad was the on)y so)ution but #y brother, )ook at #e. 2 have
been here since *&ri). 2 #ade it to *)geria in March but one day 2 was wa)king when the gendar#es
arrested #e and brought #e back to *r)it. My &)an is to #ake #oney and return to #y fa#i)y. 2 have
worked in /ukuru digging sa)t 6ust to survive."here are )ots of Digerians in /ukuru )iving )ike
ani#a)s. "he sub;hu#an conditions in /ukuru are such that if you stay there for on)y four days your
#other wi)) not be ab)e to recogni@e you. 2 have a)so worked in .i)#a sa)t #ine because that a&&ears
to be one of the easiest 6obs to find. .ut how #uch do 2 #ake9 2 a# running away fro# debt but 2
have )eft behind those that 2 )ove #ost. 2 a# here suffering because of the#. 2<)) die for their sake.H
*s #ore &eo&)e gathered at the &ar)our, voices inevitab)y rose in a &assionate discussion of *frican
&o)itics. 2n what a&&eared to be a Par)ia#ent, o&inions f)ew )ike darts in different directions: G2t is
better to be a &risoner in 8uro&e than be a free citi@en in DigeriaK at )east 2<)) be sure of three sBuare
#ea)s a day[ Digeria is the )argest i#&orter of rice and tooth&ick in the who)e wor)d, yet we say we
are the giant of *frica[ Pfor#er Digerian dictator 4aniQ *bacha<s son was found with !3> #i))ion
do))ars in his 4wiss account. What work did he do to get such #oney["he #oney is enough to revive
the nation<s rai)way[ .ut what difference does it #ake recovering any #oney when the ones
recovered before has been sto)en by new &eo&)e. 2t wi)) sti)) get back to the sa#e 4wiss .ank in
another secret account[My father once said that )ife was better under %o)onia) ru)e[We need &eo&)e
)ike ,erry +aw)ings and "ho#as 4ankara to rescue *fricans fro# their )eaders[H
A'ross the desert
'n /ece#ber 1, this re&orter was ab)e to secure a &)ace in an over)oaded truck going to /irkou.
"he driver was a Mauritanian. "hrough the he)& of =hreva, the re#aining Daira had been changed to
%(*. "he 1hanaian (rank)in had strong)y suggested we visit a #arabout to find out what the future
he)d for us. We did. (or %(*:>>, the #arabout said he cou)d see no obstac)e in our way. Whi)e
waiting for de&arture, news reached the re&orter that the trafficker 2kechukwu was in *gade@ on his
way to Libya with eight gir)s. "his re&orter #et one of the trafficker<s foot so)diers, a Digerian na#ed
3!
Marce) Psurna#e withhe)dQ who had 6ust arrived fro# *r)it. Marce), who had )ived in Libya for two
years, said that Digerian hu#an traffickers o&erate secret brothe)s &o&u)ar)y ca))ed GbunkersH.
G"hese traffickers have the #oneyK so they are ab)e to rent houses in Libya."hey bring in these gir)s
and kee& the# there as their wives. Wo#en don<t co#e out in Libya so the gir)s re#ain indoors a)) the
ti#e. 2t is the #an that goes out to get c)ientsK they &ay to hi# and he )eads the# into his house. "he
gir)s are ke&t there )ike s)aves but the #an &rovides food and everything. *fter the gir)s have fu))y
&aid back the a#ount stated in the oath, they are free to work for the#se)ves, but they #ust a)so &ay
the #an for using his bunker and for bringing #en to the# since they cannot ste& outside.H
2t was a)so gathered that .ini wo#en now take gir)s through *gade@ to *)geria and Morocco. .ut
instead of taking the# to 2ta)y )ike before, they se)) off the gir)s to #e#bers of organi@ed cri#e grou&s
who co#e fro# 2ta)y for the i))icit trade. "hey a)so se)) to o)der Digerian wo#en, #ost)y retired sex
workers, who co))ude with cri#ina) gangs to s#ugg)e the gir)s into 8uro&e.
"hank 1od it was )earnt o&erates his sex house in Libya as a 6oint business with his wife. /es&erate
to increase the nu#ber of his gir)s to ten, he was said to have given #oney to Marce) to trick two gir)s
to detour and fo))ow hi# to Libya instead of fo))owing so#eone e)se to Morocco, When this re&orter,
back in Lagos, ca))ed hi# on &hone, the trafficker grunted Swrong nu#ber< and switched off.
"wo years ago, one %hinedu 'koro had died in the desert on his way to Libya after he and eight
others had each &aid D1!>,>>> to a hu#an trafficker, +ow)and %hide D)ewedu#. +ow)and had buried
the deceased in the desert c)ai#ing the #igrant had died of swo))en feet. =nconvinced, the victi#<s
fa#i)y had got the trafficker arrested when he turned u& in Digeria to #arry a wife.
We were about forty &assengers, inc)uding seven wo#en, cra##ed inside a truck. (o))owing trave)
advice, this re&orter was ar#ed with garri, sugar, bread, s#a)) honey and five;)itre 6errycan of water.
He a)so was carrying a shee&skin bag of water inside which was hidden his ca#era. 2t was a #irac)e
that Moha##ed and his #en did not notice the ca#era during the robbery in 1ao. We 6ourneyed fro#
*gade@ to .i)#a where we saw a sa)t caravan of over >> ca#e)sK to *chegour and /irkou. "he
desert has no roads, no trees, no houses, no sign&ost, no #i)estone and no friends. We trave))ed for
four days swinging )ike a &endu)u# between extre#e)y hot and extre#e)y co)d weather as days turned
to night.
"here was an unbearab)e stench as adu)ts urinated inside the #oving truck. *t )east once in a day, we
ca#e across carcasses of dead ani#a)s, hu#an ske)etons and &ersona) ite#s )ike &ass&orts and .ib)e.
Migrants are known to have fa))en off the #oving truck to their deathK so#e are known to have been
attacked by desert snakes and other uncanny creatures and #any are known to have died of thirst
when the truck breaks down or the driver #isses his way. "hankfu))y none of these ha&&ened. .ut
so#ething e)se did and )ike #ost tragedies it ha&&ened without a warning. 2t was a )itt)e before
/irkou, after *chigour when the truck was interce&ted by desert bandits. *fter everyone had hurried
down, &assengers began to bring out their #oney.
"his re&orter wasted no ti#e in stri&&ing naked after a few #en had done so. "he bandits se&arated
the #en fro# the wo#en. .ecause of the inf)ux of trave))ers, "uaregs in the /irkou region b)a#e
#igrants for the high cost of food which co#e fro# *gade@. "hey a)so 6ea)ous)y guard their water
we))s with guns. (or what see#ed an eternity, they searched every hu#an o&enings inc)uding anus
where so#e #igrants had )earnt to hide #oney. "here have been re&orts of #igrants dise#bowe))ed
either because the bandit was i#&atient or si#&)y did not want to suffer the indignities of digging their
fingers into that &art of the body.
'ne Digerian, who was found carrying &har#aceutica) &roducts, which he had ca)cu)ated wou)d
give hi# a headstart in Libya after he had so)d the#, was forced by the bandits to swa))ow two tab)ets
of each of the drugs. "he re&orter had ke&t his head bowed and cou)d not say how )ong the bestia)ity
had been going on. .ut right before everybody, one of the "uaregs was ra&ing a Digerian gir) )ater
identified as +ose. 4he did not cry but )ay there in the sand taking it.
34
We were a))owed to continue on our 6ourney but things were no )onger the sa#e. Dobody was
ta)king as we continued to /irkou to /ao "i#ni to a #i)itary &ost at Mada#aK across the border into
the Libyan town of "a6arhi and fina))y *) 1atrun. 2t had taken five #ore days and the re&orter had
beco#e very sick. (ro# here, the rest wi)) #ake their way to "ri&o)i.
"he #an who had drunk #edicines did not #ake it to *) 1atrun. He had beco#e so sick he begged
to be brought down fro# the truck at /ao "i#ni. "here was no waiting, no ti#e for words of
sy#&athy or encourage#ent as any #ore #inute s&ent in the desert is #ore water, #ore food and
#ore risk.
+ose )ooked broken and distraught. Her ordea) was too #uch a &ri@e to &ay for any &aradise. "he
re&orter dise#barked and handed ,u)iet 'koro<s )etter to =goh. He was in Libya and saw )itt)e &oint in
hitch;hiking with others to 4ebha and to "ri&o)i or .engha@i. 8very ste& forward was a further risk.
.efore the tri&, the re&orter had visited the Libyan 8#bassy in *bu6a in an effort to #ake )ega) his
entry into the country. .ut the Libyan 8#bassy had been shut for #onths. "he Libyan Ministry of
2nterior and the /e&art#ents of *nti;2nfi)tration and 2))ega) 2##igration o&erate over $ detention
centres. "he re&orter waited ti)) the fo))owing day to fo))ow the sa#e trans&ort back to *gade@.
33
*fterword by 8##aue) Mayah
"he story idea ca#e with the news re&ort in >>0 of secret executions of i))ega) #igrants in Libya
and of > Digerians on death row in the Dorth *frican country. *#ong the# were three wo#en. "o a
)arge extent, 2 ended with the sa#e story that 2 started withK the on)y difference was in discovering and
investigating as we)) other cri#ina) grou&s affi)iated to the hu#an trafficking network.
(ro# a #ateria) &ers&ective, the hardest thing 2 had to dea) with was funding. My editor was not too
enthusiastic about the story, es&ecia))y one that cou)d hard)y be acco##odated by the average
newsroo# budget. 2 had to invest #y &ri@e #oney received fro# the (oru# of *frican 2nvestigative
+e&orters I(*2+J for an ear)ier investigative story on tobacco s#ugg)ing.
4ince the nature of the investigation was &artici&atory, the basic docu#ents 2 needed to seek were
trave) &a&ersK fake docu#ents that cou)d #ask #y identity. However, one critica) docu#ent that 2
bad)y needed to su&&ort #y story was &hotogra&hs of at )east one of the hu#an traffickers. 2 fe)t it
wou)d he)& give credibi)ity to #y story. * )ot of resourcefu)ness went into achieving that.
"he #a6or cha))enge 2 had was working with conventiona) too)s. 2 had no #oney to &rocure a s&y
ca#era for instance. Looking back now 2 doubt if having one cou)d have #ade #uch difference.
"rave))ing the desert route took !$ daysK 2 don<t know of any undercover re&orter that re#ained wired
for that )ength of ti#e.
Working with a conventiona) ca#era sti)) #eant 2 #ust take extra care to &rotect the ca#era and to
&reserve i#ages. *)#ost a)) the ti#e, 2 hid the ca#era inside #y under&ants. 2t was the sa#e way 2
carried ca#eras in &revious undercover assign#ents. *t the &)anning stage, 2 had to figure out the
right c)othing.
2 a)so took advantage of the fact that in the desert &eo&)e wear 6ackets and covered the#se)ves in
)ayers of rags. "his way, it was not too difficu)t to hide the ca#era so#eti#es in the inner &ocket of
#y 6acket es&ecia))y when 2 #ust take shots. 2 wou)d go to a corner &retending to &ee, bring the
ca#era out fro# #y under&ants and transfer to #y &ocket. 2 cover the ca#era with #y rags whenever
2<# taking shots.
"o guard against )oss of #y data, 2 took a)ong eight #e#ory cards. 8ach ti#e we arrived at a new
destination 2 re#oved the #e#ory card fro# the ca#era and inserted a new one. 2n the event the
ca#era was sto)en or discovered by border security, 2 wou)d have )ost on)y one #e#ory card. *fter
the terrib)e encounter with the thieves of 1ao, the idea of a shee&skin bag for the ca#era beca#e
attractive.
My research began and de&ended )arge)y on hu#an sources, #ain)y #igrants and victi#s of hu#an
trafficking de&orted en #asse fro# Libya and 8uro&e. .esides sketchy news&a&er re&orts that re)ayed
officia) co##ents, there were not #uch docu#ents on the sub6ect or an insider account of the
trafficking network.
2 organise #y #ateria)s at &eriodic interva)s. 2 carried on #e a s#a)) notebook, 6otted na#es of
&eo&)e and &)aces and events in tiny handwriting in #y )oca) )anguage. When the border &o)ice in
.urkina (aso found #y notebook, 2 guess 2 got off )ight because the content of the notebook was
neither in (rench nor 8ng)ish nor in a )anguage that anyone cou)d read. *s #uch as &ossib)e, 2 sat
a&art fro# #e#bers of #y grou& inside the bus so none wou)d see #e scribb)ing, a#ong other
trave))ers. "he &eriod 2 s&end in the toi)et, whenever 2 found one, was used 6otting down #y
observations.
(ro# a &sycho)ogica) &ers&ective, the worst #o#ent was giving in to &ressure to &artici&ate in the
fetish oath of secrecy. 2 so#eti#es found #yse)f worried sick if there wou)d be so#e voodoo
re&ercussions. 2 fina))y dea)t with it, re#inding #yse)f that these were cri#ina)s who haven<t for once
ke&t to their own side of any bargain.
37
(ro# a &o)itica) &ers&ective, 2 was disa&&ointed by the unwi))ingness of D*P"2P, the anti;hu#an
trafficking agency, to co))aborate with #e. 2 had gone to the agency before 2 set out on the 6ourney
seeking technica) assistance. 2 had reBuested they )inked #e to their counter&art agencies in the
various countries a)ong #y routeK na#es and te)e&hone nu#bers of officia)s 2 cou)d contact if 2 ran
into troub)e. 2f they had done so, &erha&s he)& cou)d have co#e for 1$;year Lo)d '#osan in .enin
+e&ub)ic.
"here was no sufficient de#onstration of &o)itica) wi)) across the affected *frican countries to
suggest sincere co##it#ent to the fight against hu#an trafficking. 8xtortions at the various border
&osts c)ear)y showed that a good nu#ber of unifor#ed officia)s were )iving off the twin industry of
i))ega) #igration and hu#an trafficking.
"he best &iece of )uck for #e was getting the assistance of a 1ood 4a#aritan two days after the
robbery at 1ao. Without the kindness of the 7;year;o)d Ma)ian, 2 doubt if 2 wou)d have survived to
te)) the story. 2t is difficu)t to say what &receded it other than having )ived in Digeria before.
.y nature, 2 a# not given to conventions. 2t 6ust does not work for #e. 2 never write sitting at a desk.
"hat #ean, you won<t find #e working in the newsroo#. 2 write in bed, on the sofaK that kind of
&)aces. When #y writing starts getting tacky 2 watch cartoons.
2 didn<t have to do #uch rea))y. 2 si#&)y fo))owed the resonance which encouraged #e to enter it for
an award. When the story fetched #e the %DD *frican ,ourna)ist *ward it increased the i#&act to the
&oint that #y Managing /irector asked that the story be re;run.
+eactions to the story Ifirst &ub)ished in 'he Sun (ewspaper and re&ub)ished in various 6ourna)s and
websites across the wor)dJ have co#e fro# different Buarters. 2 have received co##endations fro#
re)igious and co##unity )eaders in Digeria, the Digeria Press %ounci) and fro# D*P"2P IDationa)
*gency for Prohibition in "rafficking in PersonsJ. "he fraud acade#y #entioned in the story has been
shut by the &o)ice. 2 have &rovided additiona) infor#ation not #entioned in the story to D*P"2P to
he)& the agency in its work.
*t a cere#ony in Digeria<s ca&ita) *bu6a, attended by officia)s of the 8#bassy of "he Dether)ands,
8#bassy of 4wit@er)and and re&resentatives of the =nited Dation 2nterregiona) %ri#e and ,ustice
+esearch 2nstitute I=D2%+2J, 2 was in *ugust >1> honoured and inducted by D*P"2P as G*nti
Hu#an "rafficking *#bassadorH, Gin recognition of your effort towards co#bating hu#an trafficking
in DigeriaH.
2 was interviewed on nationa) te)evision and was invited to s&eak to a high schoo) audience in
Lagos. 2 have a)so given ta)ks on #y desert ex&erience in 4enega), 4outh *frica, %a#eroun and the
Dether)ands.
3$
Chapter Three. Can this planet be saved?
Investigating the environment
A. &treams of $i"th
Money is flowing like water into prominent government pro,ects on river conservation,
but there is little effect on India$s lifelines.
By Shayamlal Bada%.
Introduction. 0hile mainstream print and broadcast media in 4urope and the 1S with some
e3ceptions ha%e suffered a triple decline of audience re%enues and human capacity o%er the
past decade Indias media ha%e been on the rise in more ways than one. 'he worlds biggest
democracy is presently the scene of a stupefying competition for e3panding newly prosperous
media audiences in print as in broadcast. Simultaneously the establishment of a strong E+ight
to InformationF law 6+'I for short7 has gi%en reporters potent new tools and those tools are
being used. In the piece published here Shayamlal Bada% deli%ers a classic in%estigati%e theme
; a bright promise that became another betrayal in a long list. He does so on the basis of the
go%ernments own data. 'hus when you finish this story you cannot argue about whether Indias
ri%er conser%ation policies ha%e failed 6as you could say after reading an editorial on the
subject7. If you are not a liar you will only ask what can be done about it. )art of the impact in
this story resides in superb colourful graphics that make comple3 data immediately clear for
the %iewer ; which is why we reproduce the article in its original published form.
)ublished in 2ndia "oday -ec. <G 9::=
3:
30
7>
71
7
7!
%fterword by Shyamlal 4adav
"he idea for this story c)icked when #y editor;in;chief wrote a )etter in one of the s&ecia) issues
of 2ndia "oday that des&ite #any achieve#ents on #any fronts, 2ndia has yet to successfu))y
c)ean its rivers. 2 fra#ed the story as how #uch #oney was s&ent on tack)ing &o))ution in
&ro#inent rivers that were covered under the Dationa) +iver %onservation P)an ID+%PJ L to
ex&ose how the D+%P is a fai)ed effort des&ite huge ex&enditure. .efore this story other 2ndian
#edia had &ointed to the &o))ution of rivers, but none covered a)) the rivers inc)uded under
D+%P, and none ex&osed its fu)) i#&act.
"his story wou)d have been i#&ossib)e to do without the +ight to 2nfor#ation I+"2J *ct,
i#&)e#ented in 2ndia in 'ctober >>3. "he +"2 *ct is )ike a wea&on for #edia to dig out
exc)usive and credib)e infor#ation fro# the govern#ent #achinery. .ut un)ess you are focused,
it<s not easy to get and use any such infor#ation. G(ocusedH #eans that a 6ourna)ist #ust have
c)arity in his #ind about what he rea))y wants to know and what he rea))y is going to say in his
story. 'therwise his or her story #ay be fu)) of infor#ation, but he or she #ay not have
so#ething to say.
"he D+%P started in the #id;10:>s and rivers were taken into it one after other. (irst 2
researched how #any authorities are invo)ved in this a#bitious sche#e. 2 had to fi)e si#i)ar
Bueries to the %entra) Po))ution %ontro) .oard I%P%.J, a do@en Provincia) Po))ution %ontro)
.oards, the %entra) Water %o##ission and the =nion Ministry of 8nviron#ent R (orests. 2
si#&)y asked for a co&y of the re&ort on the first sa#&)e of water taken fro# the each of !:
rivers. "hen we sought the re&ort on the )atest sa#&)es taken fro# the sa#e )ocations.
*)) the docu#ents did not co#e to #e in one go. 2 had to chase the authorities by fi)ing Bueries
one after other. Here in 2ndia, to obtain exc)usive infor#ation is rea))y a cha))enging 6ob even
with the +"2 *ct. 4ince the govern#ent authorities are trained to hide the infor#ation, it took
one year to get a)) the facts 2 needed. *fter getting a)) the infor#ation 2 ana)ysed it with the he)&
of #y sources and editors. "hen 2 interviewed the concerned #inister and sent &hotogra&hers to
so#e &o))uted )ocations. "hen, 2 en)isted artists to &re&are co##unicative gra&hics.
2 ty&ica))y work on #any such &ro6ects at one ti#e, and stories are &ub)ished as they #ature. My
e#&)oyers cannot a))ow #e to work on on)y one story throughout a year. 2 think that once you
have co#&)ete infor#ation on your the#e, and once you are we)) focused, writing is no
&rob)e#. "wo keys: "o be convincing and )ogica), you have to be chrono)ogica)K and to #ake a
story )ike this co##unicative, you have to use #ore and #ore &ictures, gra&hics and bu))et
boxes.
*fter you get the certified infor#ation using +"2 *ct there is a)#ost no &ossibi)ity for any
)itigation and correction. "hat is the beauty of +"2 act for #edia. Dobody cha))enged the facts
and nobody &rosecuted us. 2nstead 2 got &raise fro# #any Buarters and received two
internationa) awards in >1> L the Loren@o Data)i ,ourna)is# fro# the 8uro&ean %o##ission
and the /eve)o&ing *sia ,ourna)is# *ward fro# the *sian /eve)o&#ent .ank. "he
1overn#ent has initiated #any changes to &o))ution contro) #echanis#s in these rivers. 4o 2 a#
satisfied with resu)ts of the story and the recognition 2 got fro# it.
74
#. +onning the +"imate: 1nside the +arbon2Trading &he"" 3ame
By Mark Schapiro
Introduction. 5ew journalists ha%e in%ested so much of their careers in en%ironmental
in%estigations as Mark Schapiro of the 2enter for In%estigati%e +eporting in *akland
2alifornia. $mong other things he,s got a 2olumbo manner and a gift for finding the drama in
comple3 issues. 'he piece below defines the difference between e3planatory journalism or
Ehow things workF and in%estigati%e reporting which is usually about how things fall off the
tracks. 'here has been plenty of co%erage about carbon trading a multi!billion dollar scheme
through which market forces are allegedly harnessed to sa%e the en%ironment. Schapiro takes
apart the system piece by piece until he disco%ers the gaping emptiness at its core. $ crucial
but implicit element of this story is that Schapiro respects his own insights as much as he
respects those of his sources. $ great many reporters see themsel%es in essence as messengers
for more important righteous wise or knowledgeable people. Most of the time it,s because they
doubt their own worth and became reporters in order to fre"uent worthier people. (eedless to
say they can,t do an in%estigation that in%ol%es denouncing the mistakes 6which are fre"uent7 or
outright crimes 6which happen7 of those same worthies. Schapiro in contrast mo%es into the
circles of his sources as an e"ual. He speaks to the reader like someone who has the right to
gi%e his own opinion because he has thoroughly earned it. 'he astonishing ritual of his
preparation for encounters with sources which he describes in his afterword will tell you a key
part of how he achie%es this performance. (ote as well how he organises the story!line mo%ing
us among successi%e settings and sets of characters in this strange new industry at the same
time he maps it.
5rom Har&er<s Maga@ine 5ebruary 9:<:.
GDo, it<s not abstract, u& there in the c)oudsVH exc)ai#ed "a)ita .eck. G2 can see it. 2 can #easure it.H
We were ta)king about carbon, because .eck by trade is a carbon accountant, a &rofession that did not
even exist a decade ago. 4evera) ti#es a #onth, she heads out fro# her high;tech office in 4ao Pau)o,
.ra@i), to see carbon e#issions L or, #ore &recise)y, to &ay visits to sites that have sworn not to e#it.
4uch &ro#ises, whether #ade by #a)odorous &ig far#s, sBua)id city du#&s, or rustic sugar;cane
&rocessing #i))s, can be transfor#ed into #i))ions of do))ars by industries thousands of #i)es away, in
.ritain or 1er#any or ,a&an or in any other country that has ratified the -yoto Protoco)s.
%arbon trading is now the fastest;growing co##odities #arket on earth. 4ince >>3, when #a6or
greenhouse gas &o))uters in the -yoto countries were issued ca&s on their e#issions and &er#itted to
&urchase credits, based on e#ission reductions e)sewhere, to #eet those ca&s, there have been #ore
than X!>> bi))ion worth of carbon transactions. Ma6or financia) institutions such as 1o)d#an 4achs,
Merri)) Lynch, and %itibank now host carbon trading desks in LondonK traders who once s&ecu)ated in
oi) and gas are now s&ecu)ating on the &ros&ect of #aking one of the insidious side;effects of our
fossi) fue);based econo#y disa&&ear. 'ver the next decade, if President 'ba#a and other advocates
can institute a ca&;and;trade syste# in the =nited 4tates, the de#and for carbon credits cou)d ex&)ode
into a X;4! tri))ion #arket, according to the #arket ana)yst fir# Point %arbon.
=nder the ca&;and;trade syste#, regu)ated industries L the )argest being &ower generation,
che#ica)s, stee) and ce#ent L are given )i#its on their tota) e#issions, and co#&anies can &urchase
e#ission reductions fro# others in )ieu of reducing e#issions the#se)ves. *)ready, 8uro&ean
co#&anies buy and trade their credits freBuent)y under &ara#eters estab)ished by the 8uro&ean =nion,
which assigns a base)ine e#issions )eve) to #a6or industries as we)) as future )i#its they have to #eet.
"he #easure#ent of reductions is re)ative)y straightforward, based on readings fro# #eters insta))ed
73
at regu)ated &ower stations and #anufacturing faci)ities.
.ut #easuring the &ros&ect of future e#ission reductions is another #atter. -yoto a)so a))ows
co#&anies to &urchase Goffsets,H credits fro# e#issions;reducing &ro6ects in deve)o&ing countries.
4uch &ro6ects, which current)y account for as #uch as a third of tota) tradab)e credits, de&ending on
the country, are overseen not by the 8= but by the =nited Dations. 2n this way, #ore than !>> #i))ion
credits L each re&resenting the eBuiva)ent of one #etric ton of carbon dioxide L have been generated.
I2f ca&;and;trade were to be i#&)e#ented in the =nited 4tates, this nu#ber wou)d )ike)y #u)ti&)y by at
)east one;hundred &ercentJ.
Who)e new careers are b)osso#ing: Gcarbon deve)o&ers,H #any of the# e#&)oyed by )arge
#u)tinationa) fir#s, trave) the wor)d in search of carbon reduction &ro6ects to se)), whi)e carbon
accountants, such as "a)ita .eck, are &aid to affir# that those reductions are rea).
2 #et .eck at the .ra@i)ian offices of her e#&)oyer, the 414 1rou&. 1as chro#atogra&hs and other
sensing devices were &i)ed in a c)oset down the ha)). (ounded in (rance #ore than a century ago to
verify the weight of grains traded across 8uro&e, 414 has now #oved far beyond assessing the
#oisture )eve)s in bar)ey. 2ts core business, broad)y construed, is &roduct safetyK in the =nited 4tates,
for exa#&)e, its sensors detect the &resence of genetica))y engineered ingredients in food, and the
&resence of toxic che#ica)s in chi)dren<s toys. .ut after -yoto, the co#&any ex&anded into the new
fie)d of carbon verification. 414 now e#&)oys #ore than one hundred va)idators in a do@en offices
around the wor)d. 'ne of these is .eck, who obtained an environ#enta) science degree in 8ng)and
before returning to her native .ra@i) in >>:, with the drea# of he)&ing to so)ve the biggest g)oba)
cha))enge of our ti#e. GWe<re )ike environ#enta) &o)ice officers,H she to)d #e. G5ou have the )awK
that<s the =nited Dations. *nd you have the &o)ice L that<s us.H
Dever before has the =nited Dations &resided over the issuing of securities, and carbon offsets L
authori@ed through the body<s %)ean /eve)o&#ent Mechanis# I%/MJ L are un)ike any securities ever
created. 1reenhouse gases are e#itted by factories, auto#obi)es, fe))ed trees, ani#a) and agricu)tura)
waste, and innu#erab)e other sources fro# every corner of the earthK the su&&)y of &ro#ises to reduce
these gases is &otentia))y infinite. *nd un)ike with traditiona) co##odities, which so#eti#es in the
course of their #arket exchange #ust be de)ivered to so#eone in &hysica) for#, the carbon #arket is
based entire)y on a )ack of de)ivery of an invisib)e substance to no one. 2n an atte#&t to co#&ensate
for this intangibi)ity, the =nited Dations has certified twenty;six fir#s wor)dwide to Gva)idateH the
&ro#ises of e#ission reducers and then, often years )ater, to GverifyH that those reductions in fact
occurred. 2n =D )ingo, each of the carbon accounting fir#s are ca))ed a /esignated '&erationa) 8ntity,
or /'8 L designated by the =D to Gva)idateH the &ro#ises of e#issions reducers being &aid through
the =D syste#, and then to Gverify,H often years )ater, that those reductions actua))y occurred.
414 is one of two co#&anies that do#inate the carbon;va)idation business. "he other is /et Dorske
Eeritas I/DEJ, a Dorwegian fir# whose core business is #ariti#e safety. 'ther #a6or &)ayers inc)ude
the accounting fir# /e)oitte "ouche "oh#atsu, the trans&oartation safety fir# L)oyd<s +egister and
"]E 4]/, a 1er#an industria);testing co#&any. Much as )arge accountancies affir# the ba)ance
sheets of cor&orations, the /'8s are su&&osed to assess the credibi)ity of e#issions reducers by
verifying the truth of their state#ents, in which they are reBuired to &redict their own future reductions
of e#issions.
Dot )ong before .eck and 2 #et, for exa#&)e, she and two co))eagues had visited the site of a
&ros&ective co#&osting &ro6ect in /uBue de %axias, which sits a)ong the western shore of 1uanabara
.ay 6ust north of +io de ,aneiro. "he &ro6ect &)anned to co))ect fruits and vegetab)e waste fro#
grocery stores and street #arkets and co#&ost that waste into organic ferti)i@er, which cou)d then be
so)d to far#s. .y using aerobic co#&osting and #icroorganis#s to break down the waste, the &ro6ect
wou)d avoid creating #ethane, which is twenty ti#es #ore effective at tra&&ing heat than carbon. "he
&ro6ect<s deve)o&ers L which inc)ude /ub)in;based 8co4ecurities, the wor)d<s )argest carbon investor L
had brought in 414 as va)idator. *fter their visit, .eck and her co))eagues affir#ed that the &ro6ect
77
wou)d resu)t in the eBuiva)ent of 7$,>>>; tons of carbon dioxide that wi)) not be &roduced. *t the
current carbon &rice of rough)y X a ton, this wou)d entit)e the &ro6ect<s deve)o&ers, u&on =.D.
a&&rova), to credits worth near)y X1.3 #i))ion.
Mu)ti&)y that decision by the near)y ,>>> %/M &ro6ects wor)dwide Ias of )ast 'ctoberJ, which
re&resent c)ai#ed e#ission reductions in fifty;eight countries L hydro&ower da#s in 2ndia, wind far#s
in Morocco, #ethane ca&ture &ro6ects in .ra@i) L and the sco&e of the res&onsibi)ity &)aced u&on 414
and its co#&etitors beco#es c)ear. Market forces fue)ed the industria) growth that has )ed to the ra&id
rise of greenhouse gases e#itted into the at#os&here, and now those sa#e forces are being channe)ed
into reducing those e#issions to s)ow the rate of c)i#ate change. .y &o)icing this huge new effort in
re;channe)ing ca&ita), the =nited Dations has de&uti@ed the va)idators and verifiers to #easure carbon
and thereby transfor# it into a nove) co##odity, one whose va)ue resides entire)y in the &ro#ise of its
absence.
^^^
"he a&&rova) of carbon credits is a #u)ti;stage &rocess. *fter investors identify a &ros&ective
&ro6ect, they hire a /'8 to assess the reduction of e#issions. "he /'8 than &uts together a re&ort that
inc)udes esti#ates of both existing greenhouse;gas re)ease rates and the &otentia) for reduction given
different techno)ogica) a&&roaches. "hat re&ort is then sub#itted to the =D 8xecutive .oard, which
audits it before &assing 6udg#ent. 'nce a&&roved, the &ro6ect is considered Gva)idatedH and the
&ros&ective credits can be &)aced on the #arket as a sort of futures contract: the credits can be bought
and so)d, but buyers who need credits to #eet their ca&s do not actua))y receive the# yet. /e)ivery
ha&&ens #onths or even years )ater, after a /'8 is brought in again to GverifyH that the &ro#ised
e#issions reductions have occurred. *t that stage, the credits are ca))ed %ertified 8#ission +eductions
I%8+sJ and can be used by &urchasers against their ca&s.
/uring both va)idation and verification, the /'8 is the on)y entity a&art fro# the investors to visit
the &ro6ect site and assess it in the rea) wor)d. 'ccasiona))y the verification &rocess wi)) )ead to a re;
esti#ation of the credits de)ivered or even to an outright re6ection: in >>$, after a series of &ro6ects
had their credit )eve)s re;esti#ated, 8co4ecurities was forced to write down its tota) &ortfo)io by so#e
4> #i))ion credits, causing the co#&any<s stock to &)unge. .ut overa)), 6ust four &ercent of reBuests for
verification since >>3 have been re6ected.
"he carbon #arkets are intended to acco#&)ish two goa)s. 'ne is to o&erate successfu))y as a
#arket, with a steady su&&)y of carbon offsets and varying &rices to ensure &rofits can be #ade fro#
the s&read. "he other goa), of course, is the #arket<s u)ti#ate raison d<etre: to reduce greenhouse gas
e#issions by channe)ing funds into c)eaner sources of energy. "o achieve both goa)s, the va)idations
are the crucia) ste&, the thresho)d at which #essy rea);wor)d &ro#ises are transfor#ed into tradab)e
abstractions. Ea)idations are a)so, however, the syste#<s *chi))es Hee), a vu)nerabi)ity ste#s fro# the
centra) reBuire#ent for offsets: additiona)ity, i.e., &roof that one<s renewab)e energy &ro6ect wou)d not
have ha&&ened without %/M funds. "his is fraught with obstac)es of definition, invo)ving as it does a
conce&tua) )ea& into the future.
How does one &rove that a techno)ogica) shift to reduce e#issions wou)d not have ha&&ened
anyway, without %/M funds9 "o do so, &ro6ect deve)o&ers #ust de#onstrate that a )ess e#ission;
intensive techno)ogy is not co##on &ractice in the industry for which it is being considered Iif
everyone<s doing it, why does one need #oney sanctioned by the =D9J. Moreover, one #ust show that
it is not )ega))y reBuired Iwhy receive funds if you<d have to do it anyway9JK that the &ro6ect wou)d
#ake no econo#ic sense without %/M fundsK and that the docu#entation exists to de#onstrate that
a)) these and other factors were considered by the co#&any<s board of directors as key to the
co#&any<s decision to &ursue %/M financing.
"he va)idators are ex&ected to Gva)idateH that these reBuire#ents have been #et. G"hey are ex&ected
to deter#ine so#ething that is counterfactua), not an easy thing to do,H says %)are .reidinich, who
7$
worked on greenhouse gas &o)icy both at the =.4. 4tate /e&art#ent and, )ater, at the =nited Dations,
where she )ed the division that #onitored e#issions by deve)o&ed countries.
La#bert 4chneider, a 1er#an environ#enta) engineer who serves on a =.D. Pane) assessing carbon
offset #ethodo)ogies, reviewed hundreds of offset &ro6ects for the &eer;reviewed 6ourna) %)i#ate
Po)icy. He found that 6ust 7> &ercent of &ro6ects actua))y &rovided evidence that the %/M #ade the
difference between the# ha&&ening or notK and that 4> &ercent of co#&anies wou)d )ike)y have
reduced e#issions anyway. G5ou<re a &ro6ect deve)o&er, and you<re te))ing a story about how your
&ro6ect is Sadditiona)<,H he to)d #e. G"he /'8s check the story. "hey are re)ied on for their 6udg#ent,
and it<s often a very se)ective 6udg#ent.H
2t turns out that overesti#ating reductions is the tra&door in the offset syste#. 4tudy after study has
revea)ed that %/Ms have not de)ivered the fu)) a#ount of e#ission reductions &ro#ised. 2n the =nited
-ingdo#, Lord Dicho)as 4tern, wide)y credited for &ro#&ting for#er .ritish Pri#e Minister "ony
.)air to #ove aggressive)y on c)i#ate change, esti#ated )ast year that !> &ercent of e#ission
reduction c)ai#s had been exaggerated. 4tern created the %arbon +atings *gency )ast year in London
to begin a&&)ying c)ear standards to the Bua)ity of offsets, a &ioneering effort to acknow)edge the wide
variation in guarantees that an e#ission reduction wi)) actua))y be de)ivered.
*ccording to a re&ort by the =D<s 2ntergovern#enta) Pane) on %)i#ate %hange, the #argin of error
in #easuring e#issions fro# the ce#ent and ferti)i@er industries can be as high as 1> &ercent. (or the
oi), gas and coa) industries, the #argin of error is 7> &ercentK and for so#e agricu)tura) &rocesses the
#argin of error can actua))y reach 1>> &ercent. * .er)in think;tank, the 'ko 2nstitut, conducted a
review of the va)idation &rocess on beha)f of the Wor)d Wi)d)ife (und 2nternationa) and conc)uded that
none of the to& five va)idators scored higher than a / in an *;to;( grading schedu)e based on
cha))enges and Buestions about their &ro6ects.
*xe) Michae)owa, who serves on the =D<s %/M +egistration and 2ssuance "ea# before starting his
own carbon &o)icy consu)ting fir# in 1eneva, ca#e to a si#i)ar conc)usion. He to)d #e that 13 to >
&ercent of offset credits shou)d never have been issued, because the under)ying &ro6ects fai)ed to &rove
additiona)ity. 2n the =.4., the 1overn#ent *ccountabi)ity 'ffice, the investigative ar# of %ongress,
conc)uded that as a resu)t of such discre&ancies, the use of offsets G#ay not be a cost;effective #ode)
for achieving e#ission reductions.H "he 1*' issued that critiBue of ca& and trade )ast May after being
asked by severa) re&resentatives to study its &otentia) a&&)ication in the =nited 4tates.
GEa)idations are an o&en f)a#e in the syste#,H Michae)owa said. G"he initia) idea was that they
wou)d be the guarantee of )egiti#acy for a &ro6ect. .ut they began rubber;sta#&ing what deve)o&ers
were &utting into the &ro6ects. "hen once the &ro6ects are u& and running L we)), it<s too )ate.H
^^^
2 witnessed such an Gu& and runningH &ro6ect firsthand on #y tri& to .ra@i), when 2 drove north
a)ong a two;)ane highway through the state of Minas 1erais. "o the west, the &eaks of the /a %anastra
range are scarred fro# the excavation of iron and go)dK a)ong the savannah hugging the highway,
catt)e gra@e the &asture)ands that were once forests. Passing #e the other direction, heading south,
were trucks bearing ti#ber. Minas 1erais #eans S1enera) Mines,H a testa#ent to how dee&)y the idea
of &robing the earth for its treasure is tied to the identity of this .ra@i)ian state.
"urning off the highway down a )ong dirt road, we &assed through a corridor of trees L to the )eft,
re#nants of the *t)antic forest, tang)ed and wi)d, and to the right, rows and rows of a)igned euca)y&tus
trees, their thin trunks of &a)e bark growing in sy##etrica) rows into the distance. (ina))y, we arrived
at a 6arring sight: &i)es of b)ack charcoa) hea&ed in the #idd)e of a broad, dusty &)ain. 'n either side
the charcoa) was f)anked by what a&&eared to be #ott)ed, rust;co)ored ig)oos, but were in fact ki)ns.
G"hese are our #inesVH exc)ai#ed +odrigo %oe)ho (erreira, #y trave)ing co#&anion and guide,
gesturing toward the hea&s of charcoa). (erreira is a carbon &ro6ects ana)yst for P)antar, one of .ra@i)<s
7:
biggest forest resource co#&anies. .y G#inesH he didn<t #ean the trees, or what was )eft of the# in
the charcoa), but rather the carbon they contained, which the co#&any &)anned to se)) as e#ission
credits. (erreira ex&)ained that P)antar<s ki)ns used a new techniBue for contro))ing the four;hundred
degree fire inside, so as to reduce the e#ission of #ethane fro# the burning euca)y&tus )ogs. "he hot
charcoa) fro# the ki)ns is then e#&)oyed in a nearby &ig iron factory, a sho& of ro))ing treads about
twenty #i)es away where #o)ten iron is #o)ded into twenty;five &ound &)ugs for use in refrigerators
and auto#obi)es.
8ach stage of this co#&)icated &)an had a)ready been a&&roved by a )eading /'8, and each was
&)ausib)e on its face. "he charcoa) e#its two thirds )ess greenhouse gas than the coa) the co#&any
for#er)y used L that was verified by 414, according to the co#&any<s Pro6ect /eve)o&#ent &)an
sub#itted to the =D. /DE verified that the ki)ns< new air;f)ow syste# reduces #ethane gas
e#issions. *nd "=E 4ud, had been ca))ed in to confir# that the euca)y&tus trees soak u& carbon
through &hotosynthesis at a #ore substantia) rate than the denuded &asture)and that was there
&revious)y. (ro# its !,>>> hectares of euca)y&tus, its eighty ki)ns, and its charcoa);fired &ig iron
faci)ity, P)antar ex&ected to earn 1.3 #i))ion tons of carbon credits over the next twenty;eight years,
the schedu)ed )ife of the &ro6ect. 2t had a)ready so)d 1.3 #i))ion tons of credits to the Wor)d .ank in
return for initia) financing of the &ro6ect. 4o the co#&any wou)d have 11 #i))ion tons of carbon credits
to se)).
.ut the funda#enta) uncertainties of the %/M syste# were a)ready in evidence by the ti#e 2 visited.
*t the ti#e the three /'8<s ins&ected each of the e)e#ents of P)antar<s sche#e, the co#&any was
fu))y engaged in the &roduction &rocess. "rees were being burned, and the charcoa) being &roduced
was fue)ing the &ig;iron factory. .y )ast May, however, the entire enter&rise )ay dor#ant. 4tacks of
euca)y&tus )ogs ten feet high )ay a)ongside rows of sti));standing treesK the charcoa) was &i)ed
a)ongside ki)ns that had not been fired u&K and the &ig;iron factory<s ro))ing #achinery had been
fro@en in &)ace for at )east a #onth. "he g)oba) financia) crisis, (erreira ex&)ained, had dried u& the
#arket for auto#obi)e and refrigerator doors, at )east those uti)i@ing P)antar<s &ig iron. Whi)e the
entire &rocess was dor#ant, awaiting an econo#ic u&turn, so#e of the future credits were a)ready for
sa)e.
G'ur strategy is to se)) these credits to industries who need the#,H (abio MarBues, the director of
carbon &ro6ects, to)d #e back at co#&any headBuarters in the state ca&ito) of .e)o Hori@onte. "he
co#&any, he said, was in Gactive negotiations with 8uro&ean industries and banksH interested in
buying the#K he wou)dn<t &rovide their na#es. P)antar<s take cou)d a#ount to over X1>> #i))ion.
^^^
2n this high)y s&ecia)i@ed new industry, &erha&s a thousand &eo&)e rea))y understand how onsite
#easure#ent of %/M &ro6ects work, and there is a serious &otentia) for conf)icts of interest. 2t is not
unco##on for va)idators to cross;over to the far #ore )ucrative business of deve)o&ing carbon
&ro6ects L and then reBuest audits fro# their for#er co))eagues. 4chneider &oints out that young
university graduates entering the fie)d co##on)y s&end severa) years )earning the ro&es with a
va)idator, and then Ggo to work for a carbon &ro6ect deve)o&er where they #ake three ti#es the sa)ary
doing #ore interesting work.H
"hese deve)o&ers L which &artner with )oca) businesses and govern#ents to set u& offset &ro6ects L
are by and )arge funded or owned outright by #u)tinationa) fir#s, &articu)ar)y financia) houses such as
,P Morgan %hase, which owns the biggest deve)o&er in the wor)d, 8co4ecuritiesK go)d#an 4achs,
which has a significant interest in the )argest =.4.;based deve)o&er, .)ue 4ourceK and %antor
(it@gera)d, which owns %antor%'e, another #a6or &)ayer. 'ther )arge investors in the fie)d are the
agricu)tura);co##odities fir# %argi)), which is now one of the to& deve)o&ers of carbon &ro6ects, as
we)) as .HP .i))iton, the wor)d<s )argest #ining fir#. 4o#eti#es, as is the case with 1o)d#an 4achs
and ,P Morgan, deve)o&ers< owners a)so s&ecu)ate in the secondary #arkets for credits through
dedicated carbon;trading desks in London. (ar fro# being inde&endent third;&arty auditors, the /'8<s
70
get &aid by these very deve)o&ers and have to co#&ete vigorous)y for their business. (abio MarBues of
P)antar to)d #e the co#&any routine)y takes Gvarious bidsH of differing &rice fro# va)idators.
2n recent years, the =.D. 8xecutive .oard has atte#&ted to increase its oversight of the syste#,
en)arging the %/M su&&ort staff fro# 6ust twenty &eo&)e in >>3 to near)y a hundred today, two thirds
of the# dedicated to technica) reviews and assess#ents. "hey now read the /'8 &ro&osa)s wtth #ore
scrutiny: today, #ore than 73 &ercent are sent back for #ore su&&orting docu#entation, co#&ared
with about 1> &ercent of such GreBuests for reviewH in >>3. "he =.D. a)so has been trying to tighten
the reins on va)idators: in the s&an of 6ust nine #onths in >>: and >>0>, it issued te#&orary
sus&ensions of both /DE and 414, due to irregu)arities found in their &ro6ect assess#ents.
*t the ti#e of /DE<s sus&ension, in /ece#ber >>:, it was the do#inant carbon accounting fir#,
having va)idated 4: &ercent of a)) offsets L a)#ost a thousand &ro6ects, re&resenting #ore than four
hundred #i))ion tons of e#ission;reduction credits. 2t was one of the first two fir#s to be accredited
under the -yoto Protoco), and had he)&ed estab)ish the #ethodo)ogies for #easuring e#issions and
for &redicting future e#ission reductions that )ay at the heart of the #arket<s ra&id ex&ansion. "he
investigation began after the 8xecutive .oard re6ected severa) of /DE<s &ro6ects. "he .oard then
initiated a Gs&ot;checkH at /DE<s offices in 's)o, where a %/M tea# found five Gnon;confor#ities,H
inc)uding a f)awed review &rocess within the co#&any<s auditing staff, inadeBuate &re&aration and
training of fie)d auditors, and an overa)) fai)ure to assign assessors with the &ro&er technica) ski))s.
*fter revising its &rocedures to =.D. s&ecifications, /DE was reinstated as a /esignated '&erationa)
8ntity in (ebruary >>0.
"he sus&ension of 414 was handed down )ast 4e&te#ber, four #onths after 2 #et "a)ita .eck in 4ao
Pau)o. .y this &oint, 414 had beco#e the do#inant va)idator, res&onsib)e for #ore than a third of a))
%ertified 8#ission +eductions being uti)i@ed and traded. 2n its case, the 8xecutive .oard co#&ared
severa) of the co#&any<s verificication re&orts for a sing)e &ro6ect and found inconsistencies a#ong
the#K the .oard then sub6ected 414 to a s&ot check. /uring the investigation, the co#&any was
unab)e to satisfy the .oard<s assess#ent tea#<s concerns and the Bua)ifications of its staff. 414 was
cited for six non;confor#ities with /'8 standards. *fter revising its own auditing &rocedures, the
co#&any was reinstated by the =.D. )ast /ece#ber.
"ogether, 414 and /DE have been res&onsib)e for near)y two thirds of the e#issions reductions
now being uti)i@ed by industries in the deve)o&ed wor)d. *)though the two fir#s< te#&orary
sus&ensions were a strong gesture of oversight on the &art of the =nited Dations, they a)so i))ustrate
the )i#its of the =.D.<s ca&acity to #onitor those fir#s it has de&uti@ed. "he on)y #echanis# the =.D.
has for eva)uating its /'8<s is the evidence they the#se)ves create and &resent: the va)idation re&orts
they write and the data they gather onsite. When the =.D. does s&ot checks, as it did with /DE and
414, it &erfor#s the# in the offices of the va)idators, not in the fie)d. "he increasing)y co#&)ex and
far;f)ung &ro6ects, with deve)o&ers dredging u& thousands of c)ai#ed reductions in re#ote areas a))
around the wor)d, a)ready far outstri& the =.D.<s abi)ity to &o)ice the#.
^^^
*n even )arger Buandary &osed by the sus&ensions is the )ack of retroactive re#ova) L an issue that
does to the heart of ca&;and;trade, which re)ies on a direct corre)ation between do))ars s&ent and
e#issions reductions obtained. 8very ton of offsets verified by a /'8 can thereafter be used to
co#&ensate for excessive e#issions by co#&anies in 8uro&e, ,a&an, *ustra)ia and Dew Tea)and. "he
8xecutive .oard has no &ower to order the re#ova) of credits fro# the #arket, even in the event of
#isconduct by a va)idator or verifier.
More than a decade ago, negotiators of the -yoto treaty foresaw the &otentia) &rob)e#s with tainted
credits. *ccording to %)are .reidenich, the for#er 4tate /e&art#ent officia) who &artici&ated in the
negotiations, the sub6ect was hot)y debated as ear)y as 100$, before -yoto was signed and )ong before
the )aunch of the g)oba) carbon #arkets. "he Buestions then were the sa#e as those today: Who wou)d
$>
be )iab)e if credits were found to be s&urious9 %ou)d e#issions credits based on fau)ty assu#&tions or
inadeBuate review be revoked9 "he debate high)ighted the cha))enges of turning carbon into a
co##odity, with the undertaking<s si#u)taneous goa)s of i#&osing financia) &ena)ties on &o))uters,
)uring #ore investors into the #arket, and channe)ing #oney toward renewab)e energy techno)ogies
that wou)d reduce e#issions.
G2f credits were revocab)e,H .reidenich ex&)ained, reca))ing the dis&ute, Gthen industries o&erating
under ca&s wou)d sudden)y discover that they did not have the credits they thought they had. *nd they
were afraid that if that were the case, there wou)d be no #arket.H
"he debate was reso)ved with a decision not to decide. "he =.D. wou)d not be given the &ower to
revoke credits. Ho)ding co#&anies accountab)e to the degrees of uncertainty in the #arket L rough)y
co#&arab)e to the )eve)s of risk that &ub)ic)y traded co#&anies are ob)igated to re&ort to &otentia)
investors L was dro&&ed in the interest of )uring ca&ita) into the #arket #ore Buick)y. "he inabi)ity of
the =D to retroactive)y re#ove f)awed credits high)ights the troub)e with a co##odity intended to act
as both a too) of invest#ent and a too) for environ#enta) re;engineering. G2t<s )ike counterfeit #oney,H
co##ents Michae) Wara, a )aw &rofessor who has been ana)y@ing the offset syste# for 4tanford
=niversity<s Progra# on 8nergy and 4ustainab)e /eve)o&#ent. G'nce those counterfeits are
introduced into the syste#, they<re out there being used.H
8va Ha)vorsen, #anager of cor&orate co##unications at /DE<s 's)o office, reassured #e that if
there were &rob)e#s with the co#&any<s va)idations, they wou)d be identified during the verification
&rocess, which on )arge &ro6ects is conducted by a different co#&any. .ut sti)), even in the unco##on
case where %8+<s are never issued, the va)idated credits derived fro# those &ro6ects are a)ready being
traded on the #arket.
GWe<re conning the c)i#ate,H says 4an6eev -u#ar, director of c)i#ate &o)icy for the WW(<s
8uro&ean office in .russe)s. G2f you<re a &ower co#&any using Buestionab)e credits to #eet e#ission
targets, that<s a &rob)e#. "hey<re good for seven years. "hen they can be renewed for another seven
years. *nd renewed again, and sudden)y you<ve got twenty;one years when nothing in effect is being
done to reduce e#issions L either in the deve)o&ed countries or in the deve)o&ing countries.H
^^^
2f anyone is #ost res&onsib)e for the =D<s #ore aggressive stance toward the verifiers, it is ,ose
Migue@, who re&resents .ra@i) on the 8xecutive .oard and as a to& officia)s in the country<s Ministry
of 4cience and "echno)ogy is one of the country<s key c)i#ate &o)icy negotiators. 2n coo&eration with
the =nited 4tates during the -yoto negotiations, he he)&ed create the %/M syste# that, in c)i#ate
circ)es, is sti)) known as the .ra@i) Pro&osa). Migue@ is fervent)y co##itted to the offset syste#, he
to)d #e one afternoon in +io de ,aneiro, because it has )ed to a historic transfer of techno)ogy and
know;how fro# industria)i@ed countries to industria)i@ing ones, channe)ing #oney to &arts of the
wor)d which otherwise wou)d have re#ained too unknown to have even been forgotten by #a6or
g)oba) industries now hunting for e#ission credits.
.ut Migue@ a)so has an abiding interest in #aintaining the credibi)ity of the syste#. When he took
over as President of the 8xecutive .oard Ia rotating &osition a#ong #e#bers of the boardJ in >>7 he
ordered the s&ot checks of /DE that )ater )ed to the co#&any<s sus&ension. =nti) then, he said, the
va)idators assu#ed that their findings wou)d s)i& right by the =D L and, with few staff to review the
va)idation re&orts, they usua))y did. Migue@ was instru#enta) in increasing that staff, which now
scrutini@es &ro&osa)s far #ore carefu))y. He recogni@es that the centra) b)ack ho)e in the syste# is its
re)iance on &rivate co#&anies to va)idate e#ission reductions. G"he &rob)e#,H he says, Gis that the
auditors are hired by the &ro6ect deve)o&ers.H He suggested &ara))e)s to the financia) wor)d. G"hink of
the &eo&)e who audit Microsoft<s ba)ance sheet. 5ou have shareho)ders who wi)) co#&)ain if the audit
is bad. .ut with the %/M, there is no figure )ike the shareho)der to co#&)ain if the audit is bad. "here
is no outside, inde&endent force to #oderate the# and ho)d the# accountab)e.H
$1
Migue@ said there have been &ro&osa)s circu)ating inside and around the =D to refor# that syste# L
notab)y by granting the 8xecutive .oard the authority and the funds to enab)e the =D itse)f to hire the
verifiers. Pro6ect deve)o&ers wou)d &ay a fee to the =D, which wou)d assign va)idators to a &ro6ect
according to a rando# se)ection &rocess L &roviding so#e )eve) of &rotection fro# evident conf)icts of
interest. "he &ro&osa)s, though, have been rebuffed re&eated)y by his co))eagues on the 8xecutive
.oard, which reBuires a three;Buarters #a6ority of eight votes to i#&)e#ent new ru)es. ,ust three votes
can b)ock any new #a6or initiative. "he #ain o&&osition, he said, has co#e fro# the va)idators
the#se)ves, who have strenuous)y )obbied #e#bers of the board to o&&ose any changes: G"hey want
to be ab)e to negotiate fees with the &ro6ect deve)o&ers. With a f)at rate estab)ished by the =D they
wou)d not be ab)e to do that.H
.ut this refor#, whi)e e)i#inating the conf)icts of interest, wou)d do )itt)e to address the )arger
&itfa))s of the va)idation syste#. "o #aintain even the current )eve) of #onitoring wou)d re&resent an
undertaking of enor#ous sco&e, necessitating the coordination and #anage#ent of hundreds Iif not
thousandsJ of fie)d &ersonne), stationed in re#ote offices )itera))y everywhere in the wor)d. Moreover,
the nu#ber of offset &ro6ects continues to c)i#b and wi)) skyrocket if the =nited 4tates institutes ca&;
and;trade. 'ffsets criteria &ro&osed in congressiona) )egis)ation thus far wou)d be far broader L and
#ore co#&)ex L than those now traded in 8uro&e: reductions in greenhouse;gas;intensive far#ing
&ractices, for exa#&)e, and the &reservation of )iving forests, and other new c)asses of counterfactua)
carbon &ro#ises, each of the# with a &articu)ar set of #easure#ent and accountabi)ity cha))enges.
2n fact, the &rob)e#s with turning carbon into a co##odity begin at the very #o#ent of conce&tion.
* one;ton carbon credit is not &recise)y re&roducib)e )ike an ounce of go)d or twenty tons of &ork
be))iesK each credit e#erges fro# entire)y different conditions and co#&onents, whether the &)anting
of euca)y&tus trees, the ca&ture of #ethane fro# &igs, the substitution of wind &ower for coa). 8ach
re&resents a &ro#ise of &otentia))y varying )ongevity and effectivness, and uncertain trustworthiness.
8ach invo)ves rewarding a &ro#ise that #ay not be ke&t and whose kee&ing #ay not be re)iab)y
#easured. 'n &a&er, ca&;and;trade is seductive)y e)egantK but in &ractice, #aking good on its &ro#ises
wou)d reBuire an enforce#ent structure that is hard)y )ess onerous than the a)ternative is was designed
to re&)ace L a carbon tax.
^^^
2 ran into ,ose Migue@ again in /ece#ber, on a (riday evening in %o&enhagen, as 2 wandered a
ha))way inside the vast, c)i#ate;contro))ed co#&)ex of )ow;s)ung #eta) hangars where the c)i#ate;
change negotiations were taking &)ace. 2t was the end of the su##it<s first week, and the faces 2
&assed a)) had a weary as&ect to the#. 8verything, it see#ed, was in &)ay: e#issions )i#its, the offset
structure, the ro)es of the =nited 4tates and of the deve)o&ing wor)d in a &otentia) &ost;-yoto regi#e.
"he &revious week, the 8xecutive .oard had )ifted 414<s sus&ension and had a)so L according to
observers &resent at the &roceedings L encoutered resistance fro# the co#&any and fro# other /'8s
to #easures that wou)d tighten the standards governing auditors< Bua)ifications. "he board a)so
dec)ared, in a #ove that once again sent ri&&)es through the #arket, that the credits of ten wind#i))
&ro6ects in %hina, des&ite a)ready having been va)idated, wou)d be sus&ended due to Buestions about
additiona)ity.
+oadb)ocks aside, the offset syste# was charging forward into new terrain. "he 8xuectuve .oard
was considering a &ro&osa) L &ushed by the 1u)f states, Dorway and +ussia L to Bua)ify carbon
ca&ture;and;seBuestration techno)ogy, which invo)ves dirverting at#os&heric carbon;dioxide
e#issions fro# the air dee& into the earth or under the sea, as an offset avai)ab)e for &o))uting
industries. Long advocated by coa) and oi) interests, the #ove was o&&osed by the .ra@i)iansK the
#i))ions of new chea& credits generated by a))owing the carbon;ca&ture &ro6ects wou)d Gdestroy the
#arket,H Migue@ to)d #e in +io. I'f course, these credits wou)d a)so under#ine the va)ue of .ra@i)<s
offset &ro6ects. "he batt)e over offsets is as #uch about where you co#e fro# as it is about what
actua))y reduces e#issionsJ. 2 asked hi# about the &ro&osa) again in %o&enhagen. G8veryone has their
interests,H he di&)o#atica))y re&)ied, as he hust)ed off to another #eeting.
$
"hat 4unday, the negotiators took the day off, and 2 #ade #y way downtown to a Ggreen businessH
exhibition, in order to see what a &ost;carbon econo#y #ight )ook )ike. "here were wind &roducers,
e)ectric;car #akers, and ethano) L based &)astics #anufacturersK even the =.4. /e&art#ent of
%o##erce had a booth to &ro#ote an array of green *#erican industries. 2n a booth s&onsored by the
govern#ent of *bu /habi L &ro#oting what it c)ai#ed was the wor)d<s first Gcarbon;neutra) city,H
which the e#irate was bui)ding in the re#ote desert and for which it ho&ed to obtain %/M funds L 2
#et Mark "rex)er, the director of %)i#ate 4trategies and Markets for /DE. "rex)er has been in the
c)i#ate;change business in the =nited 4tates for so#e twenty years, #ost recent)y as an executive
with 8co4ecurities.
We sat down over coffee, and 2 raised by concerns about the va)idation syste#. "rex)er c)ai#ed that
any &rob)e# was not with the va)idators L GWe on)y enforce the ru)es of the =.D.,H he averred L but
instead with the GinterestsH that devised the &riorities of the syste# and &ri@ed vo)u#e over accuracy.
He offered ho#e;&regnancy tests as an ana)ogy. 4uch tests de)iver news that can be good or bad, but
there wi)) a)ways be a &ercentage of fa)se readings in either direction. 2f one tries to design the test to
reduce fa)se &ositives, he said, Gyou wi)) increase the nu#ber of fa)se negatives, and the reverse.H *
si#i)ar eBuation he)d, he be)ieved, for #easuring offsets. G2f the =nited Dations on)y &er#its &ro6ects
with airtight additiona)ity, you<)) have a huge increase in the &oo) of fa)se negatives. 4o#e )egiti#ate
&ro6ects wi)) be ke&t out.H .ut, he went on, the rea)ity is that everyone L e#itting businesses, carbon;
&ro6ect deve)o&ers, entre&reneurs in the deve)o&ing wor)d, and govern#ents L has a vested interest in
va)idating as #any &ro6ects as &ossib)e. G4triking the ba)ance between the nu#ber of fa)se negatives
and fa)se &ositives is a &o)itica) decision, not a technica) decision,H "rex)er said.
2ndeed, carbon exists as a co##odity on)y through the decisions of &o)iticians and bureaucrats, who
deter#ine both the de#and, by setting e#ission )i#its, and the su&&)y, by estab)ishing criteria for
offsets. 2t was the =nited 4tates that scu)&ted the ca&;and;trade syste# during the -yoto negotiations,
before &u))ing out of the accord and )eaving the rest of the wor)d to i#&)e#ent the sche#e. 4ince then,
#ost of the wor)d<s #a6or &o)itica), financia), and environ#enta) interests have a)igned the#se)ves
with the idea, because of its &otentia) to generate &rofits out of adversity and to detour #any of the
difficu)t econo#ic decisions &osed by c)i#ate change. Dow the 'ba#a *d#inistration and the
/e#ocratic %ongress L a)ong with #any *#erican co#&anies, which see ca&;and;trade as the
friend)iest regu)ation they cou)d ho&e for L want to re6oin the wor)d and #u)ti&)y the #arket. "hat
#arket is, in essence, an e)aborate she)) ga#e, a disa&&earing act that nice)y serves the i##ediate
interests of the wor)d<s govern#ents but fai)s to #eet the cha))enges of our )oo#ing environ#enta)
crisis.
$!
%fterword by Mark Schapiro
2<d been reading about the wor)d<s effort to dea) with c)i#ate change through an internationa)
carbon #arket. Earious re&orts suggested it was a X13> bi))ion #arket. *t first 2 thought this was
a ty&o L Was that a CbC9 2 thought it #ust be an S#<, for #i))ion, but it was indeed bi))ion. *n
enor#ous #arket had been created as the &ri#ary too) to co#bat c)i#ate change, and few
&eo&)e, certain)y not #e, understood what that #arket was or how it o&erates. "hat<s a rich area
for investigation.
2 started with this story L )ike others L with reading as #uch as 2 cou)d about this new wor)d of
carbon trading. * key ste& is getting fa#i)iar with the )anguage and conce&ts that are co##on)y
used in the arena you<re investigating. 2 read trade 6ourna)s, scho)ar)y 6ourna)s, news&a&er
artic)es I#ost)y in 8uro&ean &a&ersJ, etc. in order to #ore fu))y understand the dyna#ics of the
#arket. 2 began to see the out)ines of the key Buestion starting to sha&e: 2f this entire #arket is
based on a co##odity that does not exist, then who does the #easuring9 2 rea)i@ed that no one
was asking what see#ed to #e )ike a significant Buestion.
2t was the atte#&t to answer that Buestion L and a)) the associated Buestions of the veracity of
those #easure#ents L which )ed #e to the s#a)) grou& of auditors, the va)idators, whose
#easure#ents are critica) to the creation of the carbon co##odity that ends u& being bought
and so)d on internationa) #arkets. *nd this, u)ti#ate)y, was a way of investigating whether the
e#ission reductions being &aid for are actua))y being de)ivered.
2 used #any do@ens of docu#ents L fro# =D assess#ents to scho)ar)y 6ourna)s and re&orts by
the 8=, the Wor)d .ank and by the .ritish, 1er#an, and (rench govern#ents, and by D1's, ;;
in order to reconstruct the &rocess of turning a carbon &ro6ect into an offset for sa)e. "he =4*
has a freedo# of infor#ation )aw but it was of no use in a &ro6ect in which the =4 govern#ent
is not a &artici&ant.
"he =nited Dations, though, does have so#e )eve)s of trans&arency: (or exa#&)e, you can
obtain co&ies of carbon offset &ro6ect &ro&osa)s and a record of a&&rova)sMre6ections fro# the
=D8P site: htt&:MMune&risoe.org. "he cha))enge is in understanding the high)y technica) )anguage
used in those docu#ents, which reBuired #u)ti&)e interviews and substantia) reading. "he D1'
G%/M WatchH can be very he)&fu) in navigating so#e of those co#&)exities: www.cd#;
watch.org. "he 8=<s freedo# of infor#ation )aws can be Buite he)&fu) if you know what you<re
)ooking for. * great source for getting acBuainted with the docu#ents one #ay obtain fro# the
8=, or fro# individua) govern#ents, is www.wobbing.eu .
Whi)e reading, you start )aying a &)an for interviewing. 2 high)ight key &eo&)e who are either
authors or Buoted in stories who indicate so#e )eve) of fa#i)iarity with the to&ic, and write
down a )ist with their na#es and a&&arent areas of ex&ertise.
"he hardest thing with a story )ike this is finding a narrative that ho)ds it together. My ai# was
to take this high)y abstract wor)d of carbon invest#ents and offsets and bring it to )ife, to convey
the nu#erous and often hidden interests at stake in a syste# that #ost &eo&)e see as too
co#&)icated to co#&rehend. "he cha))enge is to find characters and settings, in a story where
what is being investigated is a syste#.
My initia) idea was to un&ack one of the carbon offsets being bought and so)d on the carbon
trading desks in London back to its sources in deve)o&ing countries. .ut 2 was not ab)e to
unrave) the trai) behind a &recise offset bund)e. 2 had to switch tactics in #y story;te))ing
strategy, working fro# interviews with va)idators and govern#ent officia)s in .ra@i) to a #ore
genera)ised &ortrait of how a &ro6ect trave)s into the carbon #arket.
$4
2 was )ucky to be &ursuing this story at a ti#e when few 6ourna)ists were even aware of the
&otentia) &rob)e#s. "o so#e extent, &eo&)e were wi))ing to ta)k and ex&)ain the funda#enta)s of
the syste# L and identify &otentia) tra&;doors L because few 6ourna)ists had ever before
a&&roached the#. "his is the advantage of being ahead of the curve. 2t a)so creates extra
cha))enges, as you have to ex&)ain basic &rinci&)es L )ike Gwhat<s an offset9H L that are not yet in
the &ub)ic )exicon.
2 obtained &ress accreditation to attend trade;fairs of carbon &ro6ect deve)o&ers in which &eo&)e
engaged direct)y in the #arket gather with their &eers L where 2 cou)d s&eak with key &)ayers in
a )ess;for#a) and threatening fashion. "hese settings can be inva)uab)e in having off and on the
record conversations to dee&en your understanding, and setting re)ationshi&s into #otion that
can )ater )ead to S)ucky< reve)ations.
*n interview sub6ect need not know the fu)) di#ensions of your story. Later, with a co#&)ex
story )ike this one, you asse#b)e the various &ieces together L each interview, each docu#ent, a
&iece of the overa)) &u@@)e which Iho&efu))yJ conveys your reve)ations and kee&s your story
#oving.
2 a)ways try to find so#eone who #ight understand #y own re&orting Buest, and who 2 #ight be
ab)e to go back to &eriodica))y to check in with to see if 2<# understanding correct)y what 2<ve
discovered. "his can be a he)&fu) way of checking yourse)f as you &)unge dee&er and dee&er into
a story. 2 )ike to think of these &eo&)e as Snavigators< L he)&ing you navigate what can so#eti#es
be very co#&)icated terrain, where inter&retation of technica) infor#ation is critica). Periodica))y
it<s i#&ortant to test your own hy&othesis and see if it<s sti)) standing u& in the face of additiona)
#ateria) you #ay have discovered, and this &erson can be he)&fu) in c)arifying your a&&roach.
What<s critica) is that you trust the# and they see# to have a know)edge not co)ored by &ersona)
interest that #ight skew their &erce&tions.
2n su##ary, these are #y basic techniBues:
+ead L i##erse yourse)f in the #ateria) to understand the )anguage and assu#&tions that
are co##on know)edge a#ong those who are active in the area you<re re&orting. (igure
out who<s i#&ortant to ta)k to, and about what.
2nterview L "ry to be as educated as &ossib)e about so#eone<s invo)ve#ent with the
issue, cite their own writings or &ast state#ents to the#, which can he)& signa) your
seriousness in &ursuing the sub6ect.
"hink L /eve)o& a thesis Buestion of what you<re trying to investigate, and try to be as
concise as you can. 4ee if you can turn your investigative hunch into a sing)e Buestion,
and then set about answering that Buestion. *)so consider the broader i#&)ications of
what you<re investigating: 2s your story )ine )ike)y to revea) the#9
/eve)o& a trusted Snavigator<, so#eone who is know)edgeab)e and you can trust, to
check in with &eriodica))y to he)& affir#, or not, that you<re headed in the right direction.
'rgani@ationa))y s&eaking, 2 try to )ay out the key the#es 2 want to ex&)ore and revea) in the
story and then create se&arate fi)es for each, which #ight inc)ude key docu#ents, re&orts, c)i&s
and interviews or &ortions of interviews. "hen when you<re writing, the #ateria) is there to refer
to.
'nce you<ve done your re&orting, then writing beco#es as #uch about &acing, tone, rhyth# as
it is about getting a)) the facts out. 2t can be very effective to deve)o& a rhyth# in which the
reader knows that after so#e &erha&s very co#&)ex or unnerving infor#ation they can &ause
$3
with a s&ace;break or shift in tone L ho&efu))y on so#e conc)usion or c)iffhanger L and resu#e
with another idea or i#age or co#&onent of the story;)ine. 2t a)so can be he)&fu), de&ending on
the )ength and breadth of the story, to &u)) away fro# the narrative &eriodica))y to give the
reader a big &icture view&oint to re#ind the# of the significance of what they<re reading, then
resu#e your narrative. 2f you can figure out where the tension &oints and conf)icts are, that wi))
start sending you on a #ore c)ear narrative trai).
*nd, of course, in the o&ening of a &iece it can be i#&ortant to evoke an i##ediate sense of
&)ace or engage#ent with the #ateria) that signa)s to the reader that they are in the hands of an
authority L you L as they fo))ow your 6ourney into the story.
2n writing a )ong &iece, 2<ve a)so noticed that )eaving a section unfinished at the end of the night
can be #uch #ore &roductive than co#&)eting it L because you<)) wake u& ready to take another
round at co#&)eting the &revious night<s thoughts rather than getting war#ed u& with a who)e
new section in the #orning.
Harper,s Maga@ine did aggressive &ub)icity, as did we at the %enter for 2nvestigative +e&orting
L that inc)uded web &ress re)eases, contact with other news #edia, etc. "his )ed to nu#erous
radio interviews and citations in other &ub)ications. 2t was wide)y distributed in the =4
%ongress, which was debating a =.4. ca& and trade syste# at the ti#e. 4o#e of this distribution
2 a&&reciated, as it was cited by staff &eo&)e who were serious about i#&)e#enting an effective
e#ission contro) regi#e in the =4 as a reason to i#&)e#ent tighter ru)es, to avoid the abuses
that 2 revea)ed in the internationa) syste#. .ut 2 was dee&)y irritated by efforts fro# c)i#ate
sce&tics to #ani&u)ate #y findings to under#ine any effort to dea) with c)i#ate change. 2n one
instance, a conservative ta)k show host suggested to #e )ive, on the air, that c)i#ate change was
an Ginvention of 1o)d#an 4achsH. 2 disagreed in detai), a)so )ive.
"he story was a)so wide)y disse#inated throughout the internet, has been used as &art of the
sy))abus in nu#erous university courses, and )ed to #any s&eaking invitations and invitations to
write a book. 2 heard fro# #any &eo&)e active in the carbon #arkets that it raised i#&ortant
Buestions which had )ong been known or sus&ected in the s#a)) universe of &eo&)e now at the
centre of ca& and trade a&&roaches to c)i#ate change.
$7
Chapter Four. Whos in charge here?
Investigating the crisis of governance
A. &tea"ing Hea"th in the Phi"iines
by $%igail M. *larte and B%onne '. 2hua
Introduction. $s pressure grew on central go%ernments around the world to cut costs and slim
down in recent years a great many functions that were pre%iously handled at the State,s le%el
were localised. *ne of the conse"uences has been to make o%ersight of many public ser%ices far
more difficult because essential data and witnesses are scattered o%er wide areas. In this series
from the )hilippine 2enter for In%estigati%e &ournalism 6www.pcij.org7 which has become
famous for its e3posHs of domestic institutions we are told how corruption works in detail that
is at once fascinating sordid and ludicrously petty. *ne of the striking features of the following
two stories selected from a longer series resides in the great %ariety of witnesses that $%igail
*larte and B%onne 2hua found and persuaded to talk often at the risk of their li%elihoods or
li%es. 'his achie%ement reminds us that in%estigators rely first and most on the refusal of
citi@ens to accept what they know is wrong. But translating that refusal into actionable
information is another matter and one of the keys here is backing up charges using both public
and pri%ate documents. *f course its much easier to find such papers when you know what
youre looking for. *ne way to do that is benchmarking ; finding how things are supposed to
work normally and then measuring the way things really work against that standard ; and
*li%arte and 2hua are %ery good at it.
5irst published by 'he )hilippine 2enter for In%estigati%e &ournalism and %arious daily
newspapers May 9!I 9::J
Part One. Up to 70% of local healthcare funds lost to corruption
"H8 5'=D1 #other was frantic. * seven;#onth;o)d baby was burning with fever in her ar#s,
bare)y ab)e to breathe. "he doctor at the rura) hea)th unit Buick)y attended to the chi)d, who was
suffering fro# serious res&iratory tract infection. .ut she had no #edicine to give the baby: her su&&)y
of Eento)in or sa)buta#o), which wou)d have given the infant instant re)ief, had run out.
"he doctor, who #inisters to the needs of residents of a &oor #unici&a)ity in .u)acan, cou)d on)y
wring her hands. 2t took two weeks before the &oor #other cou)d scra&e together P IPhi)i&&ine &esoJ
3> to buy the drug. (ortunate)y, the baby survived, a)though it had to suffer the fever and cough )onger
than it shou)d have.
"he doctor sees 0> to 1>> &atients a week and the #edicines the )oca) govern#ent buys for her
c)inic a)ways run out. Worse, she says, the drugs she is su&&)ied with are over&riced by so#eti#es
over 1>> &ercent, with the difference )ining the &ockets of )oca) officia)s.
4ince the Loca) 1overn#ent %ode devo)ved &ub)ic hea)th centers and other hea)th &rogra#s and
faci)ities fro# the /e&art#ent of Hea)th I/'HJ to )oca) govern#ent units in 100!, )oca) officia)s have
had #ore discretion on how hea)th budgets shou)d be s&ent. Whi)e there are so#e bright s&ots,
evidence suggests that a cu)ture of waste, corru&tion and &atronage &ervades hea)th care in #any )oca)
$$
govern#ents.
/octors, su&&)iers and )oca) officia)s and e#&)oyees interviewed for this re&ort esti#ate that
kickbacks fro# the &urchase of drugs L a)so known as standard o&erating &rocedures I4'PsJ, rebates,
interna) arrange#ents and G)ove giftsH L given to #ayors, governors and other )oca) officia)s range
fro# 1> to $> &ercent of the contract &rice.
"he resu)t: a syste# that can bare)y answer the needs of the &oorest one;third of the &o&u)ation that
re)ies on )oca);govern#ent;funded hea)th care centers.
G.efore the devo)ution, a)) the corru&tion was ha&&ening in Mani)a,H says ,uan *. Pere@ 222, who
was a /'H officia) when ,uan ()avier was sti)) secretary. "ransferring resources to )oca) govern#ents
shou)d have direct)y he)&ed co##unities, he says, but in far too #any instances, corru&tion has
thrived instead. /evo)ution, says Pere@, see#s to have resu)ted on)y in Gde#ocrati@ing corru&tion.H
G2ncreases in discretion en6oyed by )oca) govern#ents )ead to increase in )oca);)eve) corru&tion,H
says a >>> study on decentra)i@ation in the Phi)i&&ines by the =.4.;based %enter for 2nstitutiona)
+efor# and the 2nfor#a) 4ector I2+24J. GWhen officia)s en6oy #ore discretion, they have greater
o&&ortunities to de#and bribes.H
/ecentra)i@ation was ex&ected to reduce corru&tion, es&ecia))y in drug &rocure#ent. 5et for the #ost
&art, such &ractices as over&ricing, rigged biddings, short and ghost de)iveries, and the &urchase of
substandard drugs re#ain &ervasive.
"hese &rob)e#s are de#ora)i@ing the ranks of doctors assigned to the #ore than 1,7>> rura) hea)th
units I+H=sJ and urban hea)th centers. "oo often, these doctors find the#se)ves batt)ing with )oca)
officia)s who divert &recious resources to corru&tion and &atronage. G"he doctors are )eaving,H says a
#unici&a) hea)th officer fro# the %a)abar@on region.
Prob)e#s have dogged the devo)ution of hea)th services fro# the start. =n&re&ared )oca)
govern#ents had troub)e &aying for the sa)aries and benefits of about $>,>>> hea)th workers and to
run )oca) hea)th centers and hos&ita)s now under their 6urisdiction. "he &rob)e# &ersists, but the
nationa) govern#ent and internationa) agencies have co#e to their aid.
*)) these factors i#&eri) the de)ivery of front)ine hea)th services, es&ecia))y for the &oor. "he >>!
Dationa) /e#ogra&hic and Hea)th 4urvey found #ore (i)i&ino househo)ds visiting &ub)ic hea)th
faci)ities than &rivate c)inics and hos&ita)s. .arangay Ivi))ageJ hea)th stations, which are su&ervised by
the +H=s and urban hea)th centers, had the #ost c)ients, fo))owed by the +H=s and urban hea)th
centers the#se)ves. * survey done by the 4ocia) Weather 4tations for the Wor)d .ank in >>1 a)so
shows the country<s &oorest !> &ercent seeking he)& #ost)y fro# the )oca) hea)th units for their aches
and &ains."hese hea)th centers are the &oor<s &ri#ary source of #edicines as we)).
$:
5et #any )oca) officia)s see hea)th as another source of i))icit inco#e and de#and hefty shares fro#
su&&)iers of drugs and hos&ita) eBui&#ent. 'f the near)y P1 bi))ion a))otted in >>! for the
#aintenance and other ex&enses of a)) rura) hea)th units, a #ini#u# of P1>> #i))ion and a #axi#u#
of P$>> #i))ion was )ost to graft, given that drug su&&)iers esti#ate kickbacks at between 1> and $>
&ercent of &rocure#ent costs. .y way of co#&arison, that #oney cou)d have been used to &urchase at
)east 1>> #i))ion &ieces of 3>>;#g. tab)ets of &araceta#o), which is &rescribed for si#&)e fevers and
aches. "hat a#ounts to #ore than 7,>>> tab)ets &er )oca) hea)th unit.
"he tab)e be)ow shows the &urchase &rice &aid by the Uue@on %ity 1overn#ent, co#&ared to the
nationa) %o##ission on *udit<s bench#ark &rices. 2n the far right co)u#n, Gdisa))owanceH refers to
the su#s s&ent that are not a))owab)e under )ega) &urchase guide)ines. 2n every case, a c)ear #a6ority
of the costs were no#ina))y Gdisa))owed.H
"oday #ost +H=s and urban hea)th centers have )itt)e or no #edicine for their &atients. "oo often,
the de)iveries L if they were #ade at a)) L fa)) short of what had been &ro#ised by drug su&&)iers, in
both Bua)ity and Buantity. 'ften, the ex&ected &roducts have been sei@ed by officia)s en route.
4o#eti#es drugs are de)ivered in s#a))er Buantities than contracted for, or #ade fro# substandard
ingredients, to ad6ust costs to the kickbacks subtracted fro# the &urchase &rice. 4o#eti#es, no
de)iveries are #ade at a)).
"hus a #unici&a) hea)th officer in Laguna reca))s an instance when she issued a &rescri&tion, on)y to
be to)d by her staff that their +H= had run out of the needed #edicine. 5et the doctor knew that two
weeks before, there had been a de)ivery of su&&)ies.G2 went to the su&&)y c)oset, and there was indeed
no #edicine,H she says. G4o 2 went to the &o)ice Iand to)d the#J, SPa&untahin #o Syung ahente dito at
ihatid ang ga#ot ko kung ayaw niyang #agha)o ang ba)at sa tina)u&an I1et that agent to de)iver #y
#edicine if he doesn<t want the sh__ to hit the fanJV<H
*nother +H= &hysician reca))s that in the &ast, she wou)d order 1> boxes of assorted #edicines
every two #onths. .ut there ca#e a ti#e when on)y four boxes arrived at her office. When the
confused doctor was asked to sign the &ay#ent voucher, she noticed that the &rices had been
Gad6usted.H 4he had co&ied onto the reBuisition voucher the &rices of the #edicines based on the
handwritten )ist given by the #edica) re&resentative. Later, she saw a ty&ewritten co&y of that )ist with
figures twice the actua) &rice. "his served as the basis of the &ay#ent voucher. 4ince then, the doctor
has been )eaving the &rice co)u#n b)ank, reasoning that Gthey<)) 6ust change it anyway.H
Heidi Mendo@a, auditor at the %o##ission on *udit I%'*J, says over&ricing of su&&)ies is the #ost
co##on for# of fraud. G'ne city #ayor to)d an auditor casua))y that when the &rice difference fa))s
within the range of 3> &ercent to 1>> &ercent, that is not over&ricing,H Mendo@a says. /rugs can be
$0
over&riced by as #uch as $>> &ercent, %'* records show.
* drug distributor ad#its having so)d to a )oca) govern#ent in northern Lu@on the antibiotic
a#oxici))in for three ti#es #ore than its actua) &rice of P:> &er box of 1>> tab)ets. G/oes it affect the
hea)th syste#9H she asks. G5es, because 2 can se)) it for P!:> &er box. 2<# a)ready okay with that P1>>
#arku&. 8ven P3> &er box is fine. 4o that Ishou)d have beenJ !>> boxes instead of I6ustJ 1>>.H
2n the chart be)ow, the )ast co)u#n on the right shows the &ercentage by which the city of %ainta
over&aid for #edecines, co#&ared to the +egiona) Hea)th 'ffice I+H', co)u#n 3J. "he overs&end for
the sa#e &roducts was u& to $70 &ercent.
*ccording to the su&&)ier, !> &ercent of the contract went to bribes, or P37 &er box. .ut she says
the share of the contract &rice going to G)ove giftsH now starts fro# 3> &ercent u&. 'ther su&&)iers and
hea)th officers, #eanwhi)e, say that !> &ercent of the contract a#ount goes to the #ayor whi)e 13
&ercent goes to accountants, budget officers, and to whoever e)se has to sign or a&&rove the contract.
(ive &ercent, #eanwhi)e, so#eti#es goes to the doctor at the hea)th center.
=nder +e&ub)ic *ct 01:4 or the 1overn#ent Procure#ent +efor# *ct, a)) govern#ent &urchases
#ust go through co#&etitive bidding to ensure the best Bua)ity at the )east cost. "he Loca)
1overn#ent %ode, #eanwhi)e, says that each town or city is su&&osed to have a %o##ittee on
*wards co#&osed of the #ayor, treasurer, accountant, budget officer, genera) services officer, and the
de&art#ent head, which in cases invo)ving #edica) su&&)ies is the +H= or urban hea)th center doctor.
.ut Mendo@a says the &rocuring officia) and the bidder a)ways find GcreativeH ways to avoid &ub)ic
bidding. "here are a)so instances where a winning contract is &ractica))y decided even before the
conduct of actua) bidding.
4u&&)iers say #e#bers of the awards co##ittee are the key &eo&)e in GbaggingH a contract. "he
a#oxici))in su&&)ier says the contract is &ractica))y guaranteed as a done dea) once one has sett)ed the
GsharingH of the s&oi)s. *ccording to the su&&)ier, the doctors are the starting &oint: G2f you can #ake
the# your friends, then you can have the contract.H
GWhen a doctor doesn<t coo&erate, there wi)) be no #edicines,H another su&&)ier ex&)ains. G"he
budget wi)) be rea)igned. .ubuwisitin ni)a yung doctor Ithey wi)) &ester the doctorJ.H
"he next &eo&)e to ta)k to wou)d be the #ayors, treasurers or genera) services officers to negotiate
the contract and sett)e the G)ove gifts.H
/e)ivery of > to 3> &ercent of the negotiated a#ount is done ear)y on as a down &ay#ent. "he rest
of the #oney co#es after the co))ection of the&ay#ent to the su&&)ier, to guarantee the &rocessing of
:>
the &a&ers. "he a#oxici))in su&&)ier says #ayors &refer cash, since checks )eave a trai).
"o #ake it a&&ear as if a bidding had taken &)ace, the a#oxici))in su&&)ier says she borrows her
friends< co#&any na#es and registration &a&ers, &ro#ising the# a five;&ercent share )ater on, and
adds two other fictitious co#&etitors for good #easure.
"he su&&)ier says she so#eti#es has to Gad6ustH so#e #ore to #eet the de#ands of increasing)y
greedy )oca) officia)s whi)e ensuring she sti)) gets a &rofit. 4uch Gad6ust#entsH cou)d #ean
substandard drugs, confesses the su&&)ier. 4o#eti#es, wracked with gui)t, she te))s officia)s that a
higher kickback wou)d #ean #edicine of )esser Bua)ity.
'ne doctor says she took one of the #edicines avai)ab)e at her hea)th center when she was having
sto#ach troub)e. "he drug didn<t work, she says, #aking her worry about her &atients. 4he )a#ents,
GWhat can 2 do9 "hat<s the kind of drugs they de)iver.H
"his doesn<t ha&&en on)y in the &rovinces. 2n >>>, the Uue@on %ity govern#ent bought so#e P:
#i))ion worth of #edicines in three batches. 'f these, #edicines tota)ing P1.: #i))ion L inc)uding
7,>: bott)es of #u)tivita#ins with )ysine syru& and $4> boxes of a#oxici))in ca&su)es L fai)ed .ureau
of (ood and /rugs I.(*/J tests conducted as &art of a s&ecia) audit. /es&ite the .(*/ finding, the
)oca) govern#ent sti)) &aid the contractor, La %roesus Phar#a 2nc., in fu)). "he su&&)ier did &u)) out
Buestionab)e #edicines, but the re&)ace#ents it de)ivered again fai)ed .(*/ tests.
When %'* verified the &rices of the #edicines that &assed the tests, it a)so found these to have been
over&riced by P4.! #i))ion. %ity officia)s, however, #aintained that La %roesus Phar#a<s bid was the
)owest co#&etitive bid. %'* argued that the city shou)d not have )i#ited its eva)uation to the
sub#itted bids, but cou)d have co#&ared the# with &revai)ing #arket &rices. "hree hos&ita)s in
Uue@on %ity, in fact, were ab)e to &urchase si#i)ar #edicines at )ower &rices during the sa#e year.
4o#e &rovinces have a)so shown that a syste#atic &oo)ed &rocure#ent can drastica))y bring down
costs. 2n Pangasinan, which is one of the &ioneer &rovinces that have enforced the Hea)th 4ector
+efor# *genda IH4+*J of the hea)th de&art#ent, bidded &rices went down by 3 &ercent through
bu)k &rocure#ent.
4tate auditors say the absence of a &rocure#ent &)an is a red f)ag. "ake the case of %ainta, +i@a),
which %'* says circu#vented ru)es six years ago because it had no annua) &rocure#ent &rogra# for
#edicines. "he Loca) 1overn#ent %ode, which then governed the syste# of &rocure#ent, reBuires
that &ro6ects be in )ine with the &rocure#ent &rogra# of an office before any &urchase is #ade, exce&t
in cases of e#ergency.
*ccording to %'*, %ainta avoided &ub)ic bidding for #edicines fro# ,anuary 1000 to 'ctober
>>> by &urchasing in se&arate and s#a))er batches, each be)ow P7>,>>>. *t one &oint, %ainta<s )oca)
hea)th office #ade u& to 11 &urchases in 6ust a #onth<s ti#e.
%ainta<s then #unici&a) hea)th officer said they did this because the )oca) govern#ent didn<t have
funds to conduct &ub)ic biddings. .ut %'* noted that the freBuency of the &urchases indicated that
%ainta did not suffer fro# any financia) )ack. "he absence of s&ecifics on the &urchased #edicines
#ade the transactions even #ore Buestionab)e.
*s a ru)e, before any &rocure#ent takes &)ace, the doctor &re&ares a reBuisition voucher on which he
or she )ists the #edicines, s&ecifying the Buantity and cost for each drug. 2n %ainta<s case, the
#unici&a) hea)th officer &rovided no such thing a)though she was obvious)y &rivy to the &urchase.
2n so#e instances, however, the hea)th;center doctor cou)d be c)ue)ess about the )oca) govern#ent<s
&rocure#ent of #edica) su&&)ies. * doctor in the Eisayas says so#e )oca) govern#ents there 6ust #ake
the heads of hea)th units sign the &ay#ent vouchers. Many of the doctors sign 6ust so their +H=s can
have su&&)ies.
:1
.ut there are those who refuse L and )ater face the wrath of )oca) officia)s. 'ne young doctor )eft his
&ost at an +H= in Mindanao after the fu#ing #ayor 6abbed a finger at hi# at the town ha)) and
berated hi# as the entire #unici&a) workforce )ooked on. "he doctor L the town<s first in #ore than a
decade L was a)#ost reduced to tears, and a)) because he had refused to sign the de)ivery recei&t of
#edicines bought by the #ayor<s office. "he doctor said the #edicines had been over&riced by #ore
than 1>> &ercent. He knew the rea) &rice because he had #et the su&&)ier 6ust weeks before.
*fter his &ub)ic hu#i)iation, the doctor, then 6ust 7, &acked his bags and )eft the town. %orru&tion,
he says, has #ired that fifth;c)ass #unici&a)ity L the second;&oorest of the six c)asses of Phi)i&&ine
#unici&a)ities L in &overty. "he doctor has sworn never to be a co##unity &hysician again.
Part Two. Health politics demoralize doctors
by B%onne '. 2hua
WH8D .*++2' doctor +ichard Lariosa arrived in Pa town of the 4a#ar region, na#e withhe)dQ in
>>, he was sur&rised to )earn that #edicines for the town were being ke&t at the #ayor<s office.
GWhen you gave a &rescri&tion to a &atient not of the sa#e &o)itica) co)or as the #ayor, he<d be to)d
by the &eo&)e at the #ayor<s office there was no #edicine even when there was sti)) a )ot,H the doctor
says. G%o)or coding.H
"he #ayor was )ater &ersuaded to turn over a)) the stocks to the rura) hea)th unit, after being assured
the &eo&)e wou)d know the #edicines ca#e fro# hi#. .ut #onths before the May >>4 e)ections,
new)y de)ivered #edicines again wound u& with the #ayor. He agreed to )et go of ha)f the #edicines
on)y after Lariosa &aid hi# a visit.
"he young doctor<s re)ationshi& with the #ayor, however, was a)ready Buite strained. *t one &oint,
Lariosa had ob6ected to the re#ova) of trained hea)th workers and their re&)ace#ent by untrained
su&&orters of the #ayor and the barangay ca&tains. "he #ayor was in turn dis&)eased when Lariosa
changed caterers for a hea)th;training course because the food served by the first caterer caused the
trainees to have diarrhea. *&&arent)y, the for#er caterer was the #ayor<s a))y.
Last /ece#ber, Lariosa was &u))ed out of Pthe townQ after the /octors to the .arrio;Leaders for
Hea)th &rogra#, which had sent hi# there, conc)uded that the #ayor was not very concerned about
hea)th. Dow assigned to =yugan, .atanes, Lariosa ho&es )oca) &o)itics wi)) not again beco#e a
hindrance to his work.
%orru&tion and officia) neg)ect are not the on)y &rob)e#s &)aguing the hea)th syste# in )oca)
govern#ent units. "raditiona) &o)itics is a)so co#&ro#ising the de)ivery of hea)th services to the
&eo&)e who need it #ost, and discouraging hea)th workers who wou)d otherwise not even #ind the
)ow &ay and )ong hours their 6obs entai).
G%onfident)y, we can say that &artisan &o)itics is the nu#ber one &rob)e# at the +H=,H says
Maritona Laba6o, assistant director for fie)d o&erations of the Leaders for Hea)th &rogra#, which
a))ows barrio doctors to earn a #aster<s degree in co##unity hea)th #anage#ent. 4he a)so concedes,
GPo)iticians[.are rea))y difficu)t to work with. "he &rogra# can be sabotaged by the #ere fact that
the #ayor does not coo&erate.H
"his has )ed to disi))usion#ent even a#ong the #ost idea)istic of doctors, so#e of who# had
vo)unteered for the #uch;vaunted /octors to the .arrio &rogra# begun #ore than a decade ago by
then hea)th secretary ,uan ()avier. "he &rogra# has a)ready sent #ore than 4>> &hysicians to about
!>> doctor)ess fifth; and sixth;c)ass towns, but #edica) &ractitioners are sti)) bad)y needed in the
countryside, even by wea)thy towns.
:
Whi)e so#e of the vo)unteer doctors eventua))y stay as #unici&a) hea)th officers in the towns they
are assigned to, severa) wind u& swearing off working for )oca) govern#ents ever again. 'ne barrio
doctor assigned to a re#ote town in Mindanao can hard)y wait unti) her four;year contract is u&. G2
can<t stand the &o)itics,H she says.
Like +ichard Lariosa, #any doctors interviewed for this story recounted story after story about
c)ashing with )oca) officia)s, usua))y the #ayor, over such see#ing)y trivia) things as the hiring of
barangay hea)th workers and the safekee&ing and distribution of #edicines. "hese issues, however,
have serious i#&)ications, and affect the continuity of services and effectiveness of treat#ent.
2n #ost of the cases, &atronage &o)itics was invo)ved, with the officia)s using e#&)oy#ent and
#edica) su&&)ies as a #eans of garnering su&&ort for the#se)ves and c)inching votes for the next
e)ection.
* frustrated doctor in western Mindanao a)so recounts that when she was the #unici&a) hea)th
officer of a &oor town in the southern &art of the region, she dis&)eased the #ayor when she dis&ensed
#edicine to every &atient needing treat#ent instead of 6ust the #ayor<s fo))owers. 4he didn<t win
&oints with the #ayor, either, when she refused to sign &rocure#ent for#s that she dee#ed
Buestionab)e. When she resigned so#eti#e )ast year, the #ayor re&)aced her with a favoured #idwife,
instead of the nurse, the +H=<s second in co##and.
Dow the doctor is in yet another i#&overished town, this ti#e under the /octors to the .arrio
&rogra#. .ut she says it fee)s )ike she hasn<t #oved at a)). "he first;ter# #ayor in her new )oca)e has
taken to a&&ointing unBua)ified &eo&)e as barangay hea)th workers. Moreover, says the doctor, &atients
#ust have their +H=;issued &rescri&tions signed by the #ayor<s office before the #edicines are
re)eased.
"here are other variants on on what is ca))ed Ga co##on &ractice in #any )oca) govern#ent units,
where +H= &atients get their drugs fro# the #unici&a) ha)) rather than fro# the +H=,H notes a study
by the /e&art#ent of Hea)th I/'HJ and the Manage#ent 4ciences for Hea)th IM4HJ, a non&rofit
internationa) organi@ation working in &ub)ic hea)th areas.
"he study describes one such &ractice in a town in northern Lu@on: "he +H= doctor &rescribes the
drugs, the &atient goes to the socia) we)fare office to get an a&&rova) of indigency, and then &roceeds
to the office of the sangguniang bayan Itown counci)J chair on hea)th co##ittee where the drugs are
dis&ensed. "o assure safety and regu)ate the va)idity of drug dis&ensing, the &atient is asked to go back
to the +H= for further instructions on the intake of #edicine.
"he risks invo)ved in the &ractice, the study says, are Gwhen the &atient does not go back to the +H=
for fina)[ a&&rova) and when the wrong, ina&&ro&riate drug is given to the &atient.H +H= doctors
the#se)ves say that those who ha&&en to su&&ort the o&&osition a)so do not bother to go to the town
ha)) for their #edicine, knowing the chances of being given so#e are s#a)) anyway.
Many doctors a)so co#&)ain that a change in )oca) ad#inistration #eans hiring new hea)th workers.
=nfortunate)y, the newco#ers are often unBua)ified for the 6ob that had taken their &redecessors years
to )earn.
* doctor in 8astern Eisayas says barangay Ivi))ageJ ca&tains re#oved barangay hea)th workers who
didn<t be)ong to the sa#e &arty and re&)aced the# with untrained ones. When the doctor offered to
train the new workers, he was s&urned and even accused of #edd)ing. G2 was bui)ding a good referra)
syste#, so there shou)d be no breaks. .arangay hea)th workers are i#&ortant,H he ex&)ains. G"he
#ayor a)so hired #idwives as casua)s.H
Laba6o of the Leaders for Hea)th Progra# observes that a )ot of barangay hea)th workers are
Gnonfunctiona)H: "hey do things other than de)iver hea)th services.
Months before the >>4 e)ections, for instance, the #ayor and &o)itica) candidates of the 8astern
:!
Eisayas town fie)ded the barangay hea)th workers, #idwives and casua) e#&)oyees to conduct Gdata
gathering.H "hey went around the is)and to survey who the residents were voting for. G2t<s strategic
inte))igence,H a )oca) doctor says. GPo)iticians &aid P3>> &er voter, and #ore for those who #ay not
vote for the#.H
Laba6o says that even governors have recogni@ed that barangay hea)th workers are a &o)itica) force
in e)ections, and offer to &ay ha)f their sa)aries or #ake the# casua)s or contractua)s of the &rovincia)
govern#ent. G*s casua)s, they get P,3>> to P!,>>> a #onth. "hat<s a )ot of #oney in a &oor town,H
agrees the doctor fro# 8astern Eisayas.
2n #any &)aces, barangay hea)th workers don<t even re&ort for duty but sti)) draw their &ay. "hey
have a na#e, says the Mindanao doctor:: GMga S13;!>` si)a,H e#&)oyees who don<t work but show u&
at the town ha)) or ca&ito) every 13th and !>th of the #onth to c)ai# their &aycheck.
Laba6o says a town with 4 barangays cou)d have as #any 1:4 barangay hea)th workers. .ut she
notes, G"he nu#ber of barangay hea)th workers doesn<t necessari)y #ean that you have a good ratio of
barangay hea)th workers to the &o&u)ation or that the barangays are being serviced.H
4o#e #ayors do not sto& at hiring and firing barangay hea)th workers at a whi#. 2n so#e towns,
#ayors have de#oted doctors who disagreed with the# or so#ehow dis&)eased the#, and a&&ointed
nurses and #idwives in their stead as officers in charge of #unici&a) hea)th offices.
/octors whose re)ationshi&s with their #ayors beco#e strained but continue to stay in their &osts
often )ose effectiveness in carrying out hea)th &rogra#s. (or instance, the +H= in a northern
Mindanao town had hard)y any )oca) hea)th &rogra#s to s&eak of because the #ayor and the +H=<s
staff were not on s&eaking ter#s.
%o##unity doctors who butt heads with )oca) officia)s find to their disa&&oint#ent that other
govern#ent agencies can hard)y co#e to their aid. 2n #any towns, the )oca) hea)th board rare)y or
never #eets, or is under the #ayor<s contro), says one doctor assigned in Mindanao. "he board
consists of the #ayor, &resident of the barangay hea)th workers, the rura) hea)th &hysician, and one
re&resentative each fro# the /'H and the sangguniang bayan Itown counci) #e#bersJ.
Likewise, #uch as he had wanted to engage the #ayor and sanggunian officia)s to &ush Phis townQ<s
hea)th &rogra#, +ichard Lariosa rea)i@ed there was )itt)e he cou)d do. "he #ayor was in town 6ust
once a #onth, staying for about a weekK #ost of the ti#e he was in %a)bayog, where he a)so ke&t a
house, su&&osed)y fo))owing u& with other govern#ent agencies.
Lariosa cou)dn<t turn to the sanggunian for su&&ort either, since it hard)y ever convened sessions.
G"he reso)utions are &assed around the barangay where they ha&&en to be for their signature,H he says.
.ut things ca#e to a head when the #ayor<s ne&hew sought treat#ent at the +H= and found it
e#&ty. "he doctor and his staff were out i#&)e#enting a /'H ca#&aign and the staff assigned to #an
the hea)th center had fai)ed to re&ort to work. "he angry #ayor nai)ed the +H= shut. +ecounts
Lariosa: G"he fo))owing #orning 2 to)d the #ayor what he did was unfair. Hindi ka#i nag)a)akwatsa
IWe weren<t out having funJ.H "he +H= reo&ened, but the town beca#e doctor;)ess after Lariosa )eft.
2t #ay take so#e ti#e before the /'H sends another barrio doctor there. "he town wou)d first have
to convince the nationa) govern#ent that its )oca) officia)s and co##unity )eaders are coo&erative
enough to deserve another barrio doctor.
Lariosa was actua))y the second barrio doctor to beco#e a casua)ty of these )oca) &o)itics. /ani)o
+eynes, the town<s first &hysician after a doctor)ess decade, be)onged to the /octors to the .arrio
&rogra#<s first batch. He stayed there for four years, but )eft because incu#bent officia)s &erceived
hi# to be a))ied with their &o)itica) o&&onents.
Dor is Lariosa the on)y barrio doctor to be withdrawn fro# their &)aces of assign#ent. "wo doctors
:4
fro# Western 4a#ar towns Pna#es withhe)dQ were &u))ed out for the sa#e reason: "he #ayors refused
to abide by the agree#ent that fu)) su&&ort for hea)th be given within their very )i#ited resources.
* few years ago, two of seven barrio doctors assigned to a northern Mindanao &rovince cut short
their stint, saying they cou)d not stand the treat#ent they were getting fro# their #ayors. 4ays one of
the doctors: G2 )eft fee)ing rea))y bad. 2 didn<t even want to be reassigned. My idea)is# had been
shattered, 2 had been disi))usioned. 2f 2 went to another )oca) govern#ent unit, and there wou)d be yet
another #ayor who wou)d be contro))ing #y )ife.H
/octors who have )odged co#&)aints against their #ayors to their governors, the /'H, the
/e&art#ent of 2nterior and Loca) and 1overn#ents and the /e&art#ent of .udget and Manage#ent
say that #any re#ain unreso)ved.
4ti)), when the )oca) govern#ent &uts i#&ortance on hea)th, success stories are &ossib)e. Pascua)ito
%once&cion, an *teneo de Ta#boanga a)u#nus assigned by the /octors to the .arrio &rogra# to
"a)usan, Ta#boanga 4ibugay in >>, has shown 6ust how #uch a co##unity doctor can acco#&)ish
when the )oca) govern#ent is hea)th;friend)y.
With he)& fro# the #ayor and the town counci), %once&cion transfor#ed a dusty warehouse;)ike
bui)ding into an air;conditioned hea)th center. He got Phi)hea)th to accredit his rura) hea)th unit and
enro))ed 3>> &oor fa#i)ies in the &rogra# in >> a)one. His +H=<s &har#acy a)so se))s &araceta#o)
for as )ow as 3> centavos eachK usua))y the chea&est a tab)et of the #edicine can get is 0> centavos.
%once&cion convinced )oca) officia)s to increase the +H=<s share fro# the deve)o&#ent fund Ifro#
P>>,>>> in >> to P1. #i))ion in >>!J and even &ersuaded the# to )et it kee& the Phi)hea)th
&ay#ents for the u&kee& of the hea)th center and its &rogra#s. "he )oca) govern#ent has since created
#ore &ositions for the +H= and has been fu))y i#&)e#enting the Magna %arta for Pub)ic Hea)th
Workers. "he hea)th center )aboratory is co#&arab)e to a #edica) center )ab with &a& s#ear, b)ood
sugar and other b)ood che#ica).
%once&cion was given the 1rand /istinction *ward in the /e&art#ent of Hea)th<s annua)
recognition of outstanding doctors to the barrio.
+obert .riones, who gave u& a )ucrative &rivate &ractice to beco#e a barrio doctor in the is)and
town of Loreto in 4urigao de) Dorte, a)so says he does not regret his decision, even if it has #eant
being away fro# his wife and three young chi)dren, aged six, four, and two.
G2 freBuent)y wonder[.what is ha&&ening to the#,H he says. G.ut in #y 6ourney as a doctor to the
barrio, a doctor in a far;f)ung co##unity[one thing is a&&arent. "his #ade #e affir# that Sit is not
the end of the 6ourney that #atters #ost but the 6ourney itse)f is what #atters in the end.<H
8ven Lariosa has not 6unked the idea of serving co##unities des&ite his rather tu#u)tuous
ex&erienceP.Q He ad#its #u))ing over the idea of residency training in interna) #edicine or surgery
after finishing his contract as barrio doctor. G.ut 2<# having second thoughts,H he says. G"he work of
a &ub)ic hea)th &ractitioner is cha))enging.H 2n a good way, he #eant.
Lariosa<s younger sister has 6ust graduated fro# #edica) schoo) and &)ans to go straight to residency
training. G.ut 2<)) try to ex&ose her to the /octors to the .arrio &rogra# when she visits #e in .atanes
in the su##er,H says Lariosa. G"here are bits of ug)iness, but 2 think #y ty&e of work is beautifu).H
:3
%fterword by %vigail M. 5larte and 4vonne T. 6hua
"he investigation started during a #eeting between a non&rofit grou& of hea)th &rofessiona)s and
one of us, during which the grou& #entioned so#e of the &rob)e#s that rura) doctors have
encountered since hea)th services ad#inistration #oved to the )oca) )eve). "he other writer,
#eanwhi)e, had been assigned to do a regu)ar feature on the /octors to the .arrio &rogra# for
the Phi)i&&ine %enter for 2nvestigative ,ourna)is#<s #onth)y #aga@ine. "he doctors )ikewise
o&ened u& to her about their &rob)e#s with #ayors. We tea#ed u& to &ursue the story.
'ur research began with going over background Iwe ca)) the# GsecondaryHJ docu#ents..efore
any interviews were done, research #ateria)s were conso)idated and organi@ed. * su##ary or an
out)ine of the initia) findings served as a guide for the entire investigative &rocess. 2f in the
course of the investigation the initia) hy&othesis cou)d not be su&&orted, the story #ust take on a
different focus and for#.
'ur background research was devoted to gathering of on)ine #ateria)s, inc)uding news stories
about corru&tion in the )oca) hea)th sector. We accessed )aws re)ated to the to&ic, such as the
100 Loca) 1overn#ent %ode and the 1overn#ent Procure#ent +efor# *ct, a#ong others. We
a)so )ooked into the i#&)e#entation of the /octors to the .arrios &rogra# by the /e&art#ent of
Hea)th, and other refor#s the govern#ent has instituted.
We did this without benefit of a strong freedo# of infor#ation act: Whi)e freedo# of access to
infor#ation is enshrined in the %onstitution, %ongress has yet to &ass an enab)ing )aw. "he on)y
existing )aw that 6ourna)ists can invoke is +e&ub)ic *ct Do. 7$1!, a)so ca))ed the %ode of
%onduct and 8thica) 4tandards of Pub)ic 'fficia)s and 8#&)oyees. "his )aw has a genera) ru)e
on accessing infor#ation but )ists no s&ecific and unifor# guide)ines for accessing certain
docu#ents fro# govern#ent agencies.
'ur &ri#ary research focused on accessing of )oca) budgets, &rocure#ent )ists, vouchers, drug
&rice )ists, and audit re&orts. "his was our #ost difficu)t task. /ocu#ents such as &rice )ists and
vouchers were gathered fro# doctors who were wi))ing to &rovide the# but reBuested
anony#ity.
Meanwhi)e, we were ta)king to #ore than a do@en doctors and drug su&&)iers. Many of the
doctors refused to be identified, fearing the &ossibi)ity of being harassed by the town #ayor, or
reassigned to another &rovince, or )osing their 6obs, or even being ki))ed. 4o#e drug su&&)iers
a)so reBuested anony#ity for fear of )osing contracts and bids. 'ur best &iece of )uck was
finding the doctor who was wi))ing to show a)) the &rocure#ent records #ade by a certain rura)
hea)th unit. 2n &ara))e), one drug su&&)ier, after so#e convincing, &rovided the different &rices
for the sa#e #edicines that he sub#itted to )oca) govern#ents. Looking for sources )ike this is
difficu)t but if you find a good source with a good story to te)), you wi)) co#e u& with a good
investigative &iece.
"hese interviews were corroborated by &ub)ic records. (or exa#&)e, we did an inde&endent
check of drug &rice )ists fro# #anufacturers and distributors and co#&ared the# to the &rices
we found in the &rocure#ent )ists of rura) hea)th doctors.
Whi)e docu#ents do so#eti#es )ie, docu#entation is i#&ortant to any investigative &rocess.
'ne way to verify a docu#ent<s authenticity is to corroborate it with other docu#ents that wi))
su&&ort the &ertinent infor#ation found. 2nterviews wi)) a)so he)& verify the data gathered fro#
such docu#ents Iand vice versaJ.
4o far as writing goes, 5vonne %hua, the &ri#ary author, swears by an out)ine. *n out)ine wi))
guide a tea# of writers and researchers working on the sa#e story.
:7
4ince the re&ort ca#e out, no one has cha))enged its accuracy or de#anded a correction or
c)arification. We briefed researchers and those who inf)uence &o)icy #akers on our findings. .ut
it is difficu)t to gauge the i#&act of our efforts. We can say that the artic)e beca#e one of the
in&uts into critica) discussions of the /octors to the .arrio &rogra#, as we)) as in &o)icy &a&ers
on )oca) governance. 2t was a)so cited in 'he +ole of )ublic $dministration in Building a
Harmonious Society I>>7J &ub)ished by the *sian /eve)o&#ent .anks and the Detwork of
*sia;Pacific 4choo)s and 2nstitutes of Pub)ic *d#inistration and 1overnance, and in /avid
*)t#an<s 2onnected# 9I Hours in the Dlobal 4conomy I>>$J.
:$
#. The stage2managed famine
There is enough water in thiopia 7 but development workers are talking the world
into believing in a catastrophic drought.
By Lut@ MKkke
Introduction. In the past decade natural disasters became more fre"uent and more se%ere.
Simultaneously the response to such disasters became more orchestrated for better and
sometimes for worse. Dreater specialisation and e3pertise in relief work from fund raising to
logistics and new forms of partnership between the public and pri%ate sectors certainly sa%ed
li%es. Howe%er as Lut@ MKkke shows below anticipation of crises sometimes also led to
unforseen side effects. MKkke a pillar of the Derman in%estigati%e reporters, association
(et@werk +echerche does not "uestion the sincerity of the officials who warn of famineA his last
line alludes to the horror hanging o%er them if they don,t. His target is the system in which they
are simultaneously dri%ers and dri%en in which good intentions lead to bad outcomes. His story
is organised as a methodical "uest a series of encounters with a growing crowd of witnesses
introduced in terse portraits. 'hey all tell of a society that is being crippled by EaidF of the
wrong kind in the wrong place with the willing help of complacent journalists. MKkke reminds
us that a significant in%estigation can be based on %oices instead of documents ; but note that if
you go this route it may be e%en more work than finding documentary proof. -oing a story like
this also in%ol%ed a truly dreadful responsibility for a reporter# If he or gets it wrong a great
many people may die as a result. So it is no wonder that MKkke keeps seeking for sources keeps
waiting for someone anyone who will tell him that he,s wrong. .
5rom /ie Teit (o%. <G 9::I
"he three;#inute wa)k fro# the rece&tion desk on the ground f)oor to his office on the sixth f)oor of
the =D tower b)ock in the 8thio&ian ca&ita), *ddis *baba, gives Wagdi 'th#an enough ti#e to
disc)ose a)) the necessary infor#ation on the current food situation of the country: the absence of rain
wi)) )ead to cro& fai)ure for the far#ers in the high)ands, and to heavy catt)e )osses for the no#ads on
the &)ains. 4hou)d nothing be done to he)&, #i))ions of 8thio&ians wi)) die of starvation. 'th#an, 4,
is the s&okes#an of the =D Wor)d (ood Progra##e IW(PJ, the )argest and #ost i#&ortant food
distributor in 8thio&ia. *nd, to #ake Buite sure that the dra#atic Bua)ity of the situation is rea))y
a&&reciated, he adds: GWe are about to suffer an even worse fa#ine than in 10:4.H
Pictures of 8thio&ia were sent round the wor)d at that ti#e, and #any &eo&)e have not forgotten
the#: chi)dren with wide;o&en eyes in sku))s that see#ed enor#ousK a&athetic;)ooking young #others
with thin babies in their ar#sK rescue ca#&s fu)) of hungry &eo&)e who had set off fro# distant
vi))ages, fo))owing a ru#our that &ro#ised food e)sewhere.
Pi)ed u& next to 'th#an<s desk, 74;&age g)ossy brochures are ready to hand. Painting a very b)ack
&icture, using charts, nu#ber co)u#ns and tab)es, they forecast a fa#ine in 8thio&ia for >>! that wi))
outdo a)) disasters ever ex&erienced, even the fa#ine of 10:4. *t the ti#e, the W(P re&orts, a #i))ion
&eo&)e died. Present)y, a)#ost a)) regions of the country are suffering gigantic cro& )osses. 2n the
regions of *#hara, 'ro#iya and 4o#a)i a)one, #ore than nine #i))ion &eo&)e were in acute danger of
starvation. With Buantities ca)cu)ated to the )ast digit, the &ress #ateria) s&ecifies that 8thio&ia wi))
need 1.441.14 tons of food and $3.1>0.330 do))ars in e#ergency aid this year to guarantee the
surviva) of a fifth of its tota) &o&u)ation.
::
&trong 'att"e and 'ame"s at we""2fi""ed water oints
'th#an, a for#er ..% corres&ondent, is current)y receiving visits every day fro# 6ourna)ists fro#
a)) over the wor)d in his air;conditioned office. He ho&es that they wi)) infor# the wor)d of these
a)ar#ing figures. "heir re&orts are the on)y way in which the internationa) aid #achinery can be
effective)y set into #otion. "he #edia are one of the #ain factors that deter#ine how #any #i))ion
do))ars wi)) be &oured into 8thio&ia in the co#ing #onths. G"he =4*, 1reat .ritain and the
Dether)ands have a)ready &ro#ised extensive aid in view of the forecastsH, says 'th#an. +egretfu))y,
1er#any is sti)) ho)ding back, he says.
*fter a two;day )ong 6ourney over a distance of 7>> ki)o#etres, trave))ing at 3 k&h a)ong never;
ending roads and tracks, the rugged 8thio&ian high)ands dro& abru&t)y into the wide &)ains of the
4o#a)i arid @one. "he further we drive into the va))ey, the higher the te#&eratures rise. We )eave the
#ountains behind us, a #onu#enta) si)houette. "he ratt)ing bus turns into the bu#&y #ain sBuare of
,ig6iga, ca&ita) of the 4o#a)i &art of 8thio&ia which, since co)onia) ti#es, has been ca))ed 'gaden in
the vernacu)ar.
,ig6iga is a s#a)) town: a few &o#&ous ad#inistration bui)dings, a busy #arket, shabby hote)s and
bars and a #i)itary station L a)) ce#ented together by count)ess #ud houses with corrugated;iron
roofs. %hristians and Mos)e#s have divided the town between the#. 'ne grou& )ives to the )eft of the
high street, the other to the right. Mi)itary 6ee&s drive through the streets and sBueaking garis, the
horse carts ty&ica) for the region. *t #idday, the )oca) te#&erature can rise to above 4> degrees
centigrade. 'n the outskirts of the town, a few thousand dis&)aced &ersons, civi) war victi#s fro#
neighbouring 4o#a)ia, have found refuge in a tent city in the course of the &ast ten years. 2t is a #ere
two;hour drive to the border. 4#ugg)ing goods to nearby 4o#a)ia is a thriving business. "he #i)itary
&osts that were set u& on the road after the 11th 4e&te#ber to contro) every vehic)e #oving in the
direction of 4o#a)ia do nothing to change this. "he 8thio&ian govern#ent, boso# buddy of the =4*,
has sent tens of thousands of so)diers to 'gaden over the &ast few #onths to contro) the 1.3>>
ki)o#etre;)ong border and, under the &retext of counteracting terror, has carried out #i)itary
o&erations on the territory of 4o#a)ia, the o)d arch;ene#y.
2n the W(P &a&er, the barren, brier;covered 4o#a)i region is described as one of the areas worst;
stricken by drought. 1.1 #i))ion &eo&)e are a))eged to be affected. 2n the vicinity of ,ig6iga a)one,
74.>>> 4o#a)is are at risk of starvation, and are said to be ho&ing for aid. "here is ta)k of e#aciated
catt)e and ca#e)s. 2t says that the &resent water situation is a)ar#ing both for #an and beast, because
the rainy season has not set in for two years in succession.
'ver a vast area, however, there is no such evidence of this. 2n s&ite of the dry season, thousands of
robust catt)e, ca#e)s, goats and shee& #ove across the f)ickering &)ain of the arid @one. *s if &art of a
bib)ica) setting, hundreds of ani#a)s in good condition and with bu)ging hu#&s gather around the
we));fi))ed watering &)ace of '#an. (ar#ers and no#ads within a radius of a two day<s #arch te)) of
no rea) need.
(aisa) *ch#ed, , wearing a tattered *didas t;shirt and sanda)s #ade fro# car tires, and his two
ta)), wiry brothers te)) us in the singeing #idday heat that a)) the watering &)aces known to the# bear
water. Done of their fa#i)y #e#bers, wide)y dis&ersed over the inferti)e &)ain, are suffering &resent)y
fro# hunger. *nd nothing wi)) ha&&en to change that in the i##ediate future either, they say, and
)augh o&ti#istica))y. "hey refer to the stars, fro# which the o)dest #e#bers of their c)an can forecast
the weather. "hen they drive their sta#&ing and b)eating catt)e herd further on down the dusty s)o&e
towards the #uddy, brown water.
2n ,ig6iga, the heat of the day has given way to the #i)d evening air. 2n the s#a)) garden of Hote)
*frica, Moha##ed .eu) is si&&ing at a bott)e of #inera) water. 4o#a)i #usic is &i&ing fro# a
crack)ing )oud;s&eaker box. 2n ,ig6iga, the si)ent #an with the &eaked ca& &u))ed down over his face is
known by the knick;na#e of Pi)ot. .eu) does not beco#e ta)kative unti) he hears the keyword Sfood
:0
aid<. .orn and raised a no#ad in 4o#a)ia<s arid @one, )ife for#er)y washed the #an, by now a
&ensioner, first of a)) into the 4oviet =nion, then to the =4*, where he was trained as a fighter &i)ot in
the *ir (orce. He fina))y ended u& in 4an /iego, but visited his o)d ho#e country fro# there ti#e and
ti#e again. G5ou<re writing about the &resent fa#ine9 5ou<re in the wrong &)ace.H .eu) takes a si& of
his #inera) water. G2<ve s&ent the &ast two #onths trave))ing across the 'gaden region. "here are
&rob)e#s here and there, but there is no sign of a disaster.H
When a big white "oyota Land %ruiser bearing a W(P sticker sto&s outside in the sa))ow )ight
i))u#inating the hote), .eu) says: G5ou shou)d write about those guysVH "wo we));dressed #en a)ight
fro# the %ruiser. G"hey drive the biggest cars, rake in the fattest sa)aries, and hard)y any of the# even
have the faintest idea about the )ife of the no#ads.H .eu) is fu)) of conte#&t for the deve)o&#ent
organisations that have been distributing free grain for years in so;ca))ed feeding centres to the
no#adic 4o#a)is of his c)an. .y now, this has )ed to the# changing their itinerant routes and #oving
to wherever free grain is current)y being distributed. Most of it is fed to the ani#a)s or gets so)d to
others. G*nd what<s #ore, #y &eo&)e are growing accusto#ed to grain as a source of nourish#ent.
"he stuff is )ike a drug to the#. 2t<s ruining their diet, because in for#er ti#es they )ived fro# their
ani#a)s a)one.H
4udden)y, .eu) starts to )augh: G%an you hear that9 5our fa#ine is 6ust about to be washed away.H
Heavy raindro&s crack )oud)y onto the roof of the hote) &orch. 2t rains a)) through the night, the
fo))owing #orning and for severa) days. "here is not a star )eft to be seen.
2t is raining in /ire /awa, too. "he town, which is ha)f a day<s 6ourney away fro# ,ig6iga, was
estab)ished in 10> by order of the 8thio&ian 8#&eror Mene)ik as a trading &ost on the rai)way )ine
between *ddis *baba and /6ibouti and is now 8thio&ia<s second )argest city. 8very day, trains ru#b)e
at a snai)s< &ace a)ong the rusty, narrow;gauged rai)way )ine in the direction of /6ibouti to the 1u)f of
*den. "he tracks run direct)y behind /ire /awa<s di)a&idated custo# house.
'n the o&&osite side of the road, the ecc)esiastica) re)ief organisation, Hararghe %atho)ic +e)ief
4ervices, runs its du));)ooking centre. /r. Pau)o Pironti, a recognised s&ecia)ist in no#adic affairs in
the 8thio&ian deve)o&#ent workers< co##unity, works here. "he )ean 2ta)ian has been )iving in
8thio&ia for the &ast 1: years. (ro# a s#a)), si#&)e roo# he uses for work, the agricu)tura) scientist
ru)es, together with the resident bisho&, over :> deve)o&#ent workers who work both with the no#ads
in the )ow)ands and with the far#ers of the high)ands. GDo;one is going to die of starvation here in the
)ow)ands. (orecasts of that nature are dra#atica))y exaggerated, and #ay, but 6ust as easi)y #ay not
&rove true.H Pironti shakes his head. G"he &rob)e# is that #any of the so;ca))ed ex&erts and &o)iticians
in *ddis never )eave their air;conditioned offices. "hey haven<t the faintest idea of the no#adic way of
)ife, and because of that, take every sick ca#e) as &roof of an i#&ending disaster.H
A renaissan'e of 1s"am4 finan'ed by &audi2Arabia
Pironti<s face disc)oses the fury surging u& within hi#. He takes a dee& breath, )ights u& a cigarette
and then says, G(or over twenty years now, grain has not 6ust been brought here to he)& the needy, but
to reduce the &roduction sur&)us of high)y;subsidised far#ers in the =4*, %anada and Western
8uro&e. 'r what other reason is there for not giving us the #oney in cash9 2n this &art of the wor)d 2
cou)d buy twice the a#ount of grain for the #oney: the &rices are )ower, and there wou)d a)so be no
need to fund the cost of )ong;distance trans&ort.H His gesticu)ations grow wi)der. GWhy shou)d the
West bother so #uch about 8thio&ia9 .ecause the country is a strategic bu)wark between the 2s)a# of
4udan and 4o#a)ia and )ocated o&&osite the *rabian Peninsu)arVH
8thio&ia too, however, wou)d see# to be threatened. Whereas the %hristian orthodox contingent of
the &o&u)ation is di#inishing in this country, 2s)a# is ex&eriencing a renaissance. Money, co#ing
above a)) fro# 4audi;*rabia, is funding the bui)ding of nu#erous new #osBues, 2s)a#ic schoo)s and
hos&ita)s in #any regions of the country. "he deve)o&#ent that officia) statistics have concea)ed for
so#e ti#e is now beco#ing evident: a&&roxi#ate)y ha)f of a)) 8thio&ians are Mus)i#s.
0>
G+eason enough for the =4* to &u#& even #ore #i)itary su&&ort and food aid into 8thio&ia after
0M11 in order to su&&ort the %hristian govern#ent. Do;one bothers very #uch where these aid su&&)ies
go to in the endH, Pironti co#es round fro# behind his desk and reaches for the next cigarette.
G"here<s no doubt about it, &eo&)e are starving here and there is great need. .ut we #ust ask
ourse)ves, why that is sti)) the case. 2f you want your fa#ine story you shou)d drive further on to
Mieso. 4o#e of the vi))ages suffered a tota) )oss of cro&s there )ast harvest. "hey are rea))y in a bad
way. "hat<s where the fa#ine &ictures co#e fro# on te)evision. "hat<s the region #ost of the
6ourna)ists go to. 8ven the &resident has a)ready been there for a few hours.H
2t<s raining cats and dogs outside, the streets have been swe&t e#&ty, and &eo&)e have found she)ter
in cafNs or stand c)ose)y &acked in the doorways of houses and under &orches. "here<s a s#e)) of da#&
earth.
.end after bend, the ser&entines wind their way u& the stee& hi))s to a height of .3>> #etres. *t a
s&eed of !>, the four;whee);drive digs its way a)ong the road that has sunk in the rain and #ud in the
direction of Mieso. "he heating is defective, and thick c)ouds obstruct the view into the dee& va))eys.
2t<s co)d.
(ar#er *)iye Mu#ed )ives at the roadside of the vi))age we have reached na#ed Me)kahora. "he
#an )eaves his round #ud hut and hurries to #eet the visitors across his boggy fie)d. He is shivering
and, for 6ust a short #o#ent, &ushes out a hand to greet us fro# under the thick, co)ourfu) cotton ca&e.
+ain is running down his wrink)ed face. We cower beneath an acacia. "he .3 hectares of )and cannot
feed hi#, his wife and the four chi)dren. "he weather hadn<t &)ayed a)ong with the#. Was he &)eased
about the rain now9 "he 3! year;o)d takes a dee& breath: G"he rain is good for our two oxen. We<))
have grass again within a week. .ut it<s no he)& to us otherwise.H 2n the #eanti#e, Mu#ed<s
neighbours have hurried over to 6oin us. 'ne of the# says of the aid su&&)ies they receive, GWe get 1>
ki)os of corn &er head each #onth. We<ve been eating nothing e)se for #onths. .ut the worst &art is
that you can<t sow this strange foreign corn. 2t<s steri)eVH
*)iye<s neighbours begin to chide: Without any seeds they<d a)ways be de&endent on aid de)iveries.
*)iye Mu#ed raises hands #ade strong by work u& to the sky, on)y to dro& the# again with a he)&)ess
gesture: G,ust )ook at #y fie)dV 2t is &)oughed, it<s a)) ready. 2 cou)d start to sow nowV Maybe 2<d be
)ucky this ti#e.H He fa))s si)ent, an uneasy )ook on his face and, when the rain grows heavier, returns
to his hut.
(or various reasons, the corn de)ivered as food aid to 8thio&ia is bare)y ab)e to ger#inate. 4o#e
kinds are genera))y not suited for sowing, others are fro# such o)d stock that they have )ost their
abi)ity to ger#inate, and others again have &revious)y been ther#a))y treated. *)though the 8thio&ian
govern#ent has recognised the &rob)e# with the seed stocks, it is #aking a dea) out of it. 2t has set u&
an agrarian &ackage &rogra##e, in which seeds and #anure are so)d to the far#ers on credit. "he
&ackage, however, is of )itt)e he)&, &articu)ar)y to those far#ers who are rea))y in need. Dot on)y do
they sub6ect the#se)ves to a dangerous degree of de&endence because of the re&ay#ent rates, but a)so
because of the seeds. (or the seeds in Buestion are high)y;cu)tivated hybrid seeds fro# an *#erican
co#&any na#ed Pioneer Hi;.red 2nternationa), which guarantees the yie)d of a rich cro& for on)y one
season. 2t cannot re&roduce itse)f and has to be bought again year after year.
'ne and a ha)f hours after take;off in *ddis *baba, the s#a)) 8thio&ian *ir)ines< &assenger aircraft
begins the a&&roach to )and at .ahir /ar. "he enor#ous !.3>> sBuare ki)o#etre surface of Lake "ana
is g)istening in the b)a@ing sunshine. "his is the source of the .)ue Di)e. *)) of the )and surrounding is
dense)y &o&u)ated. 2t is easy to see fro# the air how the far#ers &ut every bit of their towe);si@ed
fie)ds to use. (ro# the air&ort of .ahir /ar, a town fa#ous for the orthodox #onasteries of the region
which are u& to a thousand years o)d, a 6ourney of 1>> ki)o#etres sti)) )ies ahead to /ebre "abor, a
s#a)) town in the *#hara &rovince of 4outh;1ondar.
"his is where -)aus (e)dner works. (ro# the veranda of his house, the agricu)tura) ex&ert, head of
01
the &ro6ect G2ntegrated (ood 4ecurity Progra##e 4outh;1ondarH for the 1ese))schaft fAr "echnische
Tusa##enarbeit I1"TJ, )ooks down onto his garden which is overf)owing with f)owers. *ccording to
the officia) version, his region, too, has been bad)y affected by the drought. "he bearded (ranconian
shakes his head in disbe)ief after studying the figures and statistics of the disaster that has been
forecasted. 'nce again, a few #ore districts have been c)assified as nutritiona))y instab)e. G/uring the
seven years 2<ve s&ent here, 2 haven<t yet ex&erienced a sing)e one of the# being re#oved again fro#
these statistics. "heir status si#&)y &ersists, irres&ective of whether or not it has been a good or bad
year for cro&s. 2n the vi))ages of this region, the occasiona) sing)e fa#i)y #ay need he)&. .ut it is
never the case that an entire vi))age is affected.H (e)dner is abso)ute)y convinced that 8thio&ia cou)d
not on)y feed itse)f, but even ex&ort grain. G"his country has huge &otentia).H
*fter !7 years as a deve)o&#ent worker, (e)dner is short)y due for retire#ent. 4outh;1ondar is his
)ast &ro6ect and his first success, as he says: he has &)anted a ty&e of grain na#ed "ritica)e, a stabi)ised
hybrid of wheat and rye. %u)tivated at the 4outh *frican =niversity of 4te))enbosch in two varieties
suited to the tro&ics, "ritica)e was re;introduced to 8thio&ia by (e)dner, after ear)ier atte#&ts of the
8thio&ian govern#ent to grow other breeds of "ritica)e in the region had fai)ed. 2n the #eanti#e, the
corn with the )ong beard has s&read ra&id)y in the s#a)) fie)ds of the far#ers of *#hara, inde&endent
of the 1"T endeavours. (or "ritica)e can #ore than doub)e its yie)d and bear its own new seed. 4o#e
8thio&ian #inisters and a#bassadors of 8= countries have even set out fro# the distant city of *ddis
*baba for /ebre "abor to exa#ine (e)dner<s #aster&iece.
1nfuriated by the 'o""ar2and2tie deve"oment workers
"o achieve this success, however, the sturdy 7> year;o)d had to e#&)oy Buite unconventiona)
#ethods: deter#ined to avoid waiting for #onths in custo#s, i#&ortation costs and tedious debates
with the govern#ent over the advantage of "ritica)e, he si#&)y s#ugg)ed the seeds and eBui&#ent into
8thio&ia. 'n severa) occasions, (e)dner was a)so ob)iged to argue with the 'rthodox %hurch in
8thio&ia, as it &revented the high)y;re)igious far#ers of the *#hara high)ands fro# working in their
fie)ds on count)ess &ub)ic ho)idays. "he far#ers of the region are on)y a))owed to work on around 1>
days of the year.
2n his dusty working c)othes, (e)dner is the )iving contrast to the #en #anaging the disaster in *ddis
*baba, a #an who sti)) strugg)es to i#&rove #atters in We))ington boot &ro6ects way out in the sticks.
He finds it annoying to witness how deve)o&#ent work in 8thio&ia is beco#ing an increasing)y
acade#ic issue. *ccording to hi#, the nu#ber of high)y;Bua)ified scientists #anning the desks in
co))ar and tie in the ca&ita) city is increasing constant)y. What is needed, (e)dner re#arks critica))y, are
&eo&)e who can sti)) &ush a &)ough the#se)ves.
He accuses the Wor)d (ood Progra##e of having doub)e #ora) standards. He considers it to be
#uch too c)ose to the govern#ent and a)so very #uch in &ursuit of its own interests when, at regu)ar
interva)s that are hard)y &erceived as such by the &eo&)e of the wor)d, it announces fa#ines. G2f there
were no #ore fa#ines, the W(P wou)d no )onger be ab)e to finance its huge organisation. "hey get
#oney for each ton of food they distribute. "hat is why they have such a vested interest in b)owing u&
crises. 8thio&ia, 4outh 4udan and .ang)adesh were, over the &ast decades, an ever;f)owing source of
#oney for the W(P.H
Without inf)uentia) friends, however, (e)dner wou)d not be ab)e to do a thing to #ake things #ove in
4outh;1ondar. 'ne &erson he knows on his side is the high;ranking govern#ent officia), ,onas
.eke)e
!
. 'n)y one &hone ca)) fro# (e)dner is reBuired to render .eke)e wi))ing to give an interview.
-ey &ositions )ike his are, a)#ost without exce&tion, staffed by #e#bers of the a));&ervasive
governing &arty, the 8thio&ian Peo&)e<s +evo)utionary /e#ocratic (ront I8P+/(J. "hey are a)) bound
to fo))ow the officia) )ine of thought. .eke)e, however, says things which one very se)do# hears fro#
! Da#e changed by the editor
0
a govern#enta) e#&)oyee, and cou)d cost the )itt)e #an with the &iercing eyes his 6ob. G"he weather is
not so #uch to b)a#e for the &resent food shortage,H .eke)e says, Gbut #uch #ore so the issue that,
having been given food aid for decades, between five and six #i))ion &eo&)e are now &er#anent)y
de&endent on it. "hat has encouraged the e#ergence of a decadent se)f;service #enta)ity a#ong the
far#ers. We have beco#e accusto#ed to aid )ike we have to the rising sun. "he saying SWe are
&raying for rain in %anada< has been doing the rounds a#ongst the far#ers of the region for yearsVH
The government wastes no time with its 'riti's
His staff #e#bers chuck)e, but .eke)e hi#se)f re#ains serious. GWe have to #ake it &ossib)e for our
far#ers to feed the#se)ves,H the econo#ist continues. GWe cannot a))ow it to be the duty of the aid
organisations 6ust to &rovide the ordinary &eo&)e with bread. "he deve)o&#ent workers shou)d show
the# how to bake it for the#se)ves. 'ver the )ast > years, huge a#ounts of #oney for deve)o&#ent
aid have been sBuandered. We #ust &ut an end to thatV Many deve)o&#ent organisations #ake the
&rob)e# they are su&&osed to actua))y so)ve even worse. "hat<s because the organisation of food aid,H
the civi) servant &roceeds to argue, G&rovides the functionaries with a basis for their existence.H *
grave re&roach, shared by 141 #e#bers of the association of catho)ic aid organisations in 8thio&ia. 2t
is assu#ed in these circ)es that, in the #eanti#e, one third of the !3 aid organisations registered in
the country are dea)ing exc)usive)y with the distribution of food. "he ob6ective of he)&ing &eo&)e to
he)& the#se)ves, a #uch;)auded conce&t of sustainab)e deve)o&#ent in 4unday ser#ons and in draft
&a&ers, wou)d see# to have fa))en by the wayside.
.eke)e te))s us of an enor#ous sur&)us of grain that is &roduced in 8thio&ia ti#e and ti#e again and
in different &arts of the country. He revea)s that the )ast record harvest was in >>1. .ut neither the
&eo&)e in need nor the &roducing far#ers benefit at a)) fro# these sur&)us su&&)ies. 'n the one hand,
this is because a functioning #arketing syste# has not been estab)ished, but on the other hand,
because food aid is even &oured into the country in good years. 8x&erts esti#ate that between > and
4> &ercent of the :>>.>>> tons of grain i#&orted on average each year for distribution are eventua))y
so)d at a ridicu)ous)y )ow &rice in the #arkets of the towns and vi))ages. Do far#er can co#&ete with
such du#&ing &rices. "hat is why grain is si#&)y no )onger &)anted in #any regions. 2nstead, bushes
of the chewing drug na#ed S-hat<, with active ingredients I-ata#insJ that have a si#i)ar effect to
those of a#&heta#ines, thrive on enor#ous ex&anses of )and in 8ast 8thio&ia, and transfer &eo&)e
over entire regions of the country on the Horn of *frica into a state of 6oyous )ethargy.
"he green )eaves of the drug guarantee the far#ers fat &rofits, as we)) as ha&&y hours beyond a))
care. (or the -hat #arket is growing, both within 8thio&ia and on the *rabian Peninsu)ar, and in
8uro&e and in the =4*. 2n recent years, -hat has advanced, a)ong with coffee, oi), &u)ses and catt)e,
to one of the #ost i#&ortant agricu)tura) ex&ort &roducts of the country.
2n &ub)ic announce#ents and conferences, govern#ent re&resentatives in *ddis *baba affir# ti#e
and again that the country shou)d endeavour to #anage without food aid. .ut instead of that, they
contro) the aid industry with growing &erfection. "o the &resent governing &arty, the 8P+/(, that
governs a)one and uno&&osed and has a wide)y ra#ified financia) e#&ire at its dis&osa), food aid is not
an e#ergency so)ution, but a rea) b)essing. "he &eo&)e in &ower have benefited fro# the 14 #i))ion
tons of grain i#&orted between 10:4 and the &resent day.
Huge trading and trans&ort co#&anies that distribute food su&&)ies within the country and are owned
by the governing &arty earn u& to 13> do))ars on each ton of food. /e&ending on the degree of
e#ergency which is &roc)ai#ed, this #eans that su#s of #oney often a#ounting to three;figured
#i))ions are &oured year after year into the &arty<s &ockets. *nd in addition, the 8P+/( uses food
su&&)ies to syste#atica))y reward its su&&orters and by doing so kee& the# in )ine.
*round !> &ercent of the food su&&)ies are channe))ed into the 4tate of "igray, for exa#&)e, the area
where )eading #e#bers of the 8P+/( co#e fro#, even though it houses a #ere 1> &ercent of the
tota) &o&u)ation and the need for he)& was on)y esti#ated there as being average. * survey conducted
0!
by the 1rain Market Pro6ect ca#e to this conc)usion in 100:. 2t a)so revea)ed that on)y &ercent food
su&&)ies reach those in needK #ost food si#&)y ends u& where #uch of it has gone to a)) a)ong: that is
in &)aces, where the govern#ent and deve)o&#ent organisations have #ade )ong;ter# invest#ents in
staff, contacts, offices and vehic)es. "he tea# of *#erican and 8thio&ian acade#ics were not ab)e to
deter#ine a significant connection between under;nourish#ent and those who were given aid.
*s soon as these high)y ex&)osive resu)ts were &ub)ished, the 8thio&ian govern#ent decided to
ter#inate the research &ro6ect i##ediate)y. 4hort)y beforehand, it had been acc)ai#ed as a shining
exa#&)e of co;o&eration between 8thio&ia, the *#erican deve)o&#ent aid authority =4*2/, and
Michigan 4tate =niversity. *s "ho# 4. ,ayne, &rofessor of agricu)tura) econo#ics at Michigan 4tate
=niversity and in charge of the &ro6ect at that ti#e, has since revea)ed, GWe were individua))y &ut
under &ressure by very high;ranking 8thio&ian &o)iticians to revise the findings of our survey and
re&)ace so#e of the 8thio&ian co))eagues &artici&ating in it with functionaries who were true to &arty
&rinci&)es. When we did not co#&)y with either of the reBuests, since we Buestioned neither our
findings nor our co))eagues, we were ob)iged to )eave the country.H
"he *#erican cannot understand to this day why his survey has attracted hard)y any internationa)
attention. His theory is that 8thio&ia<s geo;strategic &osition has a)ways been of such significance to
the West, even before 0M11, that &o)itica) econo#ics have do#inated everything. "he 8thio&ian
govern#ent is in fu)) contro) of the deve)o&#ent organisations. "his is to)erated by Western donors,
who are obvious)y on)y concerned that the &ower shou)d re#ain in the hands of the %hristian e)ite
who are &resent)y governing 8thio&ia.
2nstead of being concerned with u&ho)ding %hristian va)ues, however, this e)ite<s on)y ob6ective
see#s si#&)y to be the sheer #aintenance of &ower. "he 8thio&ian govern#ent genera))y wastes no
ti#e with its critics. %ount)ess &o)itica) o&&onents disa&&ear into &rison without tria), govern#ent
o&&onents are executed, &rotesting students are b)udgeoned, disagreeab)e deve)o&#ent workers are
banned fro# the country and 8thio&ian 6ourna)ists are )ocked away.
8cono#ist and citi@en<s rights )eader .erahanu Dega, one of 8thio&ia<s #ost &ro#inent #e#bers of
the o&&osition, was one of those thrown into &rison because of his &artici&ation in the student &rotests
of >>1. Dega arrives )ate for his a&&oint#ent to give an interview at the 4heraton Hote) *ddis *baba.
Here a stay overnight costs one and a ha)f ti#es as #uch as the average 8thio&ian earns in a year I13>
do))arsJ. Dega is )ate, because ha)f a do@en de)ighted su&&orters waiting a)ong the 3> #eters of the
e)egant #arb)e )obby and have been giving hi# a war# we)co#e. "he s#a)), agi)e #an a&o)ogises for
his )ate arriva), orders so#e water and co#es Buick)y to the &oint: G/o you think a fa#ine #ust
auto#atica))y fo))ow a &eriod of drought in this country9 'f course not. "here are structura) reasons
that cause such a deve)o&#ent. 'ne of the#, for exa#&)e, is that the 4tate sti)) owns every acre of
)and. Private invest#ents, such as in irrigation syste#s or in the introduction of new &roduction
#ethods, are therefore si#&)y not #ade. 'ur far#ers work the )and with wooden &)oughs, 6ust as they
did !.>>> years ago. "he average far#er cu)tivates a #ere hectare of )and nowadays, and that a&&)ies
to :3 &ercent of the 73 #i))ion 8thio&ians.H
Dega gets u& for a #o#ent, takes a few ste&s to contain his e#otions, sits down again, then
continues: G'ur govern#ent does not want to change a thing. 2t neither wishes to &rivatise )and, nor to
deve)o& strategies to industria)ise the country. Why is this so9 Maybe it<s because that<s the on)y way
it can re#ain in &ower. 2t has )ong )ost its su&&ort in the cities. (ood aid fro# abroad,H 43 year;o)d
Dega is convinced, Gcontributes )itt)e in the way of so)ving these &rob)e#s, and is #ore )ike)y, on the
contrary, to ce#ent the#. "he donor countries and the deve)o&#ent organisations shou)d focus their
attention on the de#ocratisation of 8thio&ia. * sustainab)e deve)o&#ent can on)y co#e fro# within.H
A"" te"evision teams are taking the same famine i'tures
"he 8= de)egation has its headBuarters in *ddis *baba between the city centre and the air&ort,
behind the )arge stee) gate of the for#er e#bassy of the 1er#an /e#ocratic +e&ub)ic, 8ast;1er#any.
04
*)though the 8= was invo)ved in the co#&i)ation of the officia) forecast of the i##inent fa#ine, the
&eo&)e there tend to take a critica) stance with regard to the figures, at )east as )ong as no;one is
#entioned by na#e. *s one #e#ber of staff fa#i)iar with the sub6ect #atter co##ents, the figures
can on)y be given )i#ited credibi)ity, since there is no functioning ad#inistration at a)) in #any &arts
of the country, and it is conseBuent)y not &ossib)e to co))ect re)iab)e data. "he two do@en tea#s on
whose work the figures are based, consisting of #e#bers of the 8thio&ian govern#ent, the =D and
deve)o&#ent organisations, assessed the situation in Dove#ber >> in a kind of out;of;the;6ee&;and;
back;into;the;6ee& inBuiry. *fterwards, the &eo&)e res&onsib)e for it hagg)ed over the detai)s whi)e
they drew u& a re&ort on the #i))ions of &eo&)e ex&ected to suffer in the fa#ine.
"he re&ort a)so ref)ected the dis&ute over how the food su&&)ies handed out each year shou)d be
distributed. (or #onths, a wave of su&&ort had been ro))ing for the starving in southern regions of
*frica. "o be noticed at a)), dra#atic figures were reBuired.
"he re&resentatives of the 8thio&ian govern#ent and the Wor)d (ood Progra##e even argued that
the &eo&)e of the wor)d shou)d be confronted with an even greater nu#ber of fa#ine victi#s, but the
8= staff wanted )ower nu#bers. 4o#ehow, agree#ent was reached, the staff #e#ber continued.
*id organisations and #edia have one thing in co##on: "hey survive on disasters, as Hans;,osef
/reck#ann re#arks. .efore he returned to 1er#any in >>1, he worked for 1! years as *frica
corres&ondent to the *+/, 1er#any<s 1st te)evision &rogra##e. He knows 8thio&ia we)). G"he
e#otive na#e S8thio&ia< is an effective too) which can be used to exert &ressure on wea)thy
govern#ents, because #any &eo&)e can sti)) re#e#ber the devastating catastro&he of 10:4M:3,H says
the 74 year;o)d. G*t the ti#e, the 8thio&ian govern#ent and the internationa) co##unity a))owed tens
of thousands in the north of the country to die of starvation. "hat was the first ti#e that this
indescribab)e suffering cou)d be seen so c)ose on te)evision. "hese &ictures shocked the wor)d, and
8thio&ia has &)ayed this 6oker ti#e and ti#e again ever since. 2t is 6ust as easy for the aid
organisations, too, to #obi)ise the &ub)ic with the sy#bo) of 8thio&ia.H
/reck#ann had his )ast drastic ex&erience with fa#ines in 8thio&ia in >>>, when shocking &ictures
of 8thio&ia sudden)y a&&eared overnight on the te)evision screens. 'nce again, the Wor)d (ood
Progra##e had #obi)ised &ub)icity and f)own in te)evision tea#s whose &ictures were bound to have
the right effect. ..%, +euters, %DD, and a)) the big na#es in the fie)d were re&orting. 8thio&ia >>>
beca#e a fast;se))ing ite#: "he editoria) staff on the ho#e front wanted re&orts fro# their *frica
corres&ondents on what they had a)ready seen on te)evision. "he head)ines of the ye))ow &ress cou)d
hard)y kee& &ace with deve)o&#ents. *s /reck#ann reca))s, however, this was a)) 6ust ha&&ening in
the one s#a)) townshi& of 1ode in 'gaden. .ut the te)evision &ictures concentrated on the issue to
such an extent that everyone was bound to get the i#&ression that the who)e of 8thio&ia was once
#ore stricken by fa#ine. Practica))y every te)evision crew was shooting the sa#e fi)# of the fa#ine
and interviewing the sa#e &eo&)e. "hat one iso)ated situation was a&&)ied to the who)e country. *nd
figures were circu)ating which to)d of #ore than ten #i))ion fa#ine victi#s.
"his exaggeration was even too #uch for the head of the W(P, %atherine .ertini. .ut her
announce#ent that this was not a wides&read fa#ine fe)) on deaf ears, the catastro&he re&orts were
being broadcast one after the other, and a differentiated version of the story cou)d no )onger &enetrate
the fiction. When *+/ corres&ondent /reck#ann did not co#&)y with the reBuest of the editoria)
office at ho#e for hi# to f)y back to 8thio&ia to get a story of the catastro&he that wou)d ensure good
Buotas, they si#&)y sent his co))eague, Hans HAbner, in his &)ace.
When he arrived, Hans HAbner, now 7! years o)d and a for#er *frica corres&ondent, too, cou)d on)y
find &eo&)e suffering fro# under;nourish#ent, but no one was starving. He so re&orted back to the
"agesschau Ithe #ost i#&ortant 1er#an news &rogra##eJ in Ha#burg. .ut his re&ort did not &rovide
#ateria) that was sufficient)y dra#atic to )aunch a donation a&&ea). Without regard to the outco#e of
his research, the "agesschau )aunched the a&&ea) and got donations to &our in, as HAbner reco))ects.
"his conseBuent)y caused disagree#ent between hi#se)f and the editoria) office.
03
"he 8thio&ian govern#ent and Wagdi 'th#an in *ddis *baba, s&okes#an of the Wor)d (ood
Progra##e, forecast that this year<s fa#ine wi)) reach its &eak in the #onths of *&ri) and May. "hey
re#ind us to hurry. .y then, the severa) #i))ions of do))ars and food &arce)s ought to have arrived in
the country.
*nd no;one wi)) be ab)e to b)a#e the# for not re#inding us in ti#e.
07
%fterword: My System, by 3ut8 M9kke
(irst ste&: 2 begin searching re)evant docu#ents and books. 2 knew that the 8thio&ia story was
going to be co#&)ex and #y studies he)&ed #e a )ot.
4econd ste&: *fter reading a #ountain of &ages 2 contacted ex&erts and discussed the #atter
with the#. 2 ca))ed across 8uro&e. Dot a)) sources are #entioned in the story, because there are
si#&)y too #any, and the story wou)d si#&)y fa)) a&art. "he text sticks to the #ost i#&ortant
sources and the Buotations of highest Bua)ity. *nd so#e sources 2 6ust cannot #ention because
they asked to stay anony#ous: di&)o#ats, business &eo&)e, so#e 8thio&ians who were afraid to
get troub)e.
2 organi@e, read and s&eak about a sub6ect as #uch as 2 can before 2 trave). 2n this case it took
#e three, four weeks. .ut otherwise 2 wou)d not fee) ha&&y, because on)y know)edge gives #e a
free #ind, a c)ear head and o&en eyes when 2 )eave the desk and breathe Gre&orter airH. "o
co#bine both is the art of our 6ob.
"hird ste&: 2 trave). "he story was financed by Det@werk +echerche, an organisation of
investigative 6ourna)ists in 1er#any, who gave #e a grant of 1,3>> euros. Without that #oney
the story wou)d not have been written.
2 s&eak to those invo)ved and try to understand the#. /o not be)ieve anything before you have
not seen and fe)t it. "ry to understand the entity behind an a&&earance. 2 trave)ed as a tourist
without a 6ourna)ist visa or working &er#ission. 2 did so#e very de)icate interviews and
recorded the#. 2 had to run away twice. 'ne evening 2 #et an 8thio&ian who had studied c)ose
to #y ho#etown in 1er#any and was f)uent in 1er#an. 2 was stu&id enough to te)) hi# about
#y work. .ig #istakeV His face went a)#ost white. He turned out to be a govern#ent officer,
and he ca))ed the &o)ice. 2 had not even ten #inutes to burn two ta&es at the toi)et, to get #y
back&ack, to )eave the hote) via a window and to hide in a donkey cart.
My visit to the di&)o#atic #ission of the 8= in *ddis *baba was a &oor re&orter<s good )uck. 2
went there two days before 2 had to )eave 8thio&ia, and after three weeks of research and
trave)ing 2 was tired. .ut the 8= di&)o#ats gave #e so#e very i#&ortant and sensitive
infor#ation and contacts L a fina) &iece in the &u@@)e. *fterwards 2 was ha&&y )ike a five;year;
o)d boy with a big ice crea# in #idsu##er. "hat wonderfu) fee)ing )asted for days.
%onc)usions: Work ti)) your )ast #inuteK be)ieve in your )uck and search for trustworthy
contacts. 4tart with docu#ents, ask ex&erts, than s&eak to those invo)ved and try to understand
the#. /o not be)ieve anything before you have seen and fe)t it. "ry to understand the entity
behind an a&&earance.
(ourth ste&: "he torture of reduction of the research #ateria).
(ifth 4te&: "he torture of writing. My &)an: 2 &ick the best characters, strong scenes and
state#ents and centra) docu#ents. "han 2 take #y centra) conc)usion and bui)d the story around
it. 2n the 8thio&ian case 2 choose a chrono)ogica) story, a trave) across 8thio&ia in the search for
truth.
4ixth ste&: "he torture of discussing the text with co))eagues I#y thanks to the#VJ.
When the story was &ub)ished, a )itt)e stor# ca#e over #e. 'n one side so#e D1's, the
=DM(*' in +o#e and the 8thio&ian consu) to 1er#any wrote )ong &rotest )etters to the
&ub)ishers and the desk in Ha#burg. 4o#e readers co#&)ained that 2 re)ativised the #isery of
8thio&ians. 'n the other side 2 got standing ovations fro# readers and 8thio&ians. /ie Teit is a
0$
very i#&ortant week)y in 1er#any, and that #ay be the rea) reason that nobody sue #e for that
story. 1er#any is one of the biggest donation #arkets in the wor)d and the aid organi@ations are
not too interested in dangerous &ub)ic discussions.
2 a# satisfied with #y story. 2t<s a good one, and 2 got an internationa) &ri@e for it. .ut the
&o)itica) i#&act was #inor, unfortunate)y. "hings have not changed #uch. "he aid industry does
not understand that criticis# cou)d he)& it to refor#. 'n the contrary.
0:
Chapter Five. The local face of globalisation
A. +asua"isation undermining workers
By $l%in 2hiinga
Introduction. 'here is no sacred commandment that a proper in%estigation can only be a long
story. $l%in 2hiingas article on Lambias copper mines runs less than <::: words 6four double!
spaced pages7A yet in that tight space he takes apart the mechanism of an emerging inhuman
system. 'he principle is simple# In a country with admirable labour laws the laws ha%e become
ink that no one reads let alone enforces. 'he story maps a pyramid of official indifference and
impotence in an implacable only!the!facts tone. In the same understated tone 2hiingas
afterword tells us just how hard it was to get this story.
5rom the Ta#bia /ai)y Mai) $pril 9: 9:<:
-ings)ey -avwi)i finds hi#se)f about 4>> feet underground, #ining co&&er everyday, his face
dri&&ing with sweat as he works the unbearab)y hot tunne)s. He earns about -13>,>>> &er #onth,
hard)y enough for one &erson to )ive on. *nd he has a fa#i)y to feed.
=nder Ta#bian )abour )aw, the #ini#u# ex&ected wage for a worker is -7:,:>>. 2n addition, each
worker has to be &aid a trans&ort a))owance of -:>,>>>, a )unch a))owance of -$>,>>> and a housing
a))owance eBuiva)ent to !> &ercent of the basic sa)ary. His hea)thcare a)so has to be taken care of by
his e#&)oyer.
-avwi)i is not getting any of these benefits because he is a Gcasua)H worker, and as such, he cannot
engage his e#&)oyers in any #eaningfu) negotiations for better &ay or conditions of service.
%asua) workers are not housed by the #ines )ike the regu)ar workers: "hey )ive in ra#shack)es
dotted around the vicinity of the #ines. Mr -avwi)i )ives in a shack near a #ine in Lua. %asua)
workers do not use any &rotective c)othing to ward off danger, and have no guaranteed #edica)
attention regard)ess of the fact that they are ex&osed to occu&ationa) ha@ards. *s they go about their
work, casua) #iners face the risk of suffering fro# various diseases associated with their work,
&articu)ar)y res&iratory infections. "he #ines are treated with various strong che#ica)s which can
affect hu#an hea)th.
"he conditions of the #ines, &o))ution and ex&)oitation of workers can get so bad that they can drive
so#e &eo&)e to tears. (or#er 4outhern Province #inister *)ice 4i#ango shed tears before te)evision
ca#eras at the sight of under;fed #iners c)ad in rags, without any &rotective gear, at a foreign;owned
coa) #ine in 4outhern Province. Her co))eague, Labour and 4ocia) 4ecurity de&uty #inister 4i#on
-achi#ba, was GshockedH, he said, when he found that workers in a foreign;owned foundry were
casting #eta) in very hot conditions, without any g)oves or safety boots.
Do one knows exact)y how #any casua) workers are current)y toi)ing in this industry, the )argest
e#&)oyer in the country after the govern#ent. "he on)y re&ort which atte#&ted to give statistics is a
study by the 2nstitute of 4ecurity 4tudies I244J datring fro# >>4. "he study re&orted that by >>4,
there were 0, :7: workers in the #ining industry. More than a third of these were casua) e#&)oyees.
"hat &ercentage is )ike)y to have gone u& since then. * re&ort on the socia) and econo#ic i#&act of
*sian (oreign /irect 2nvest#ents I(/2J in the extractive industry in Ta#bia I100$;>>$J showed that
00
#ost of the co#&anies in this category were &aying )ow wages, and hiring casua) )abour was co##on,
with 6ust a few workers on fixed ter#s of e#&)oy#ent.
"he re&ort a)so said that the Bua)ity of e#&)oy#ent offered fe)) short of decent work standards,
#ain)y because of casua) )abour, &oor &ay and conditions of work, and ha@ardous work environ#ents.
"he #ining industry is the backbone of the Ta#bian econo#y. 2t accounts for #ore than $> &er cent
of ex&ort earnings and #ore than ha)f of the 1ross /o#estic Product.
2n the ear)y 100>s, #ining unions were a force to reckon with on the &o)itica) front. "hey wie)ded
i##ense &o)itica) c)out and cou)d easi)y inf)uence the course of &o)itics on the %o&&erbe)t and
beyond. "he second re&ub)ican President, /r. (rederick %hi)uba, ascended to &ower )arge)y because of
the inf)uence of the trade unions.
* )ot, however, has changed in Ta#bia since the &rivatisation of #ines in >>>. 2nternationa),
#ost)y %hinese, co#&anies have invested in the #ines. 4o#e of those #ining co#&anies now
virtua))y re)y on casua) workers. (or exa#&)e, Pone co#&any whose na#e is withhe)d by the editorQ at
%ha#bishi has 1,:>> casua) workers and on)y $1 fu));ti#e e#&)oyees, according to the 244 Pan
officia) statistics bureauQ. 2n co#&arison, -onko)a %o&&er Mines, an o)der and #ore traditiona))y
estab)ished co#&any, e#&)oys on)y 7,>>> casua) workers out of a tota) workforce of 17,>>>.
Whi)e Mr. -avwi)i has so#ewhat ada&ted to his situation, his co))eague, .rian Lundwe, o&en)y
b)a#es the authorities for their suffering. ZWe have no re&resentatives to #onitor our working
conditions,Z he says.
Mr. Lundwe is right that there shou)d be strict #onitoring by authorities, because casua) workers are
&rotected under Ta#bian )aw. "he )aw states that anyone e#&)oyed for #ore than three #onths #ust
be confir#ed as a fu));ti#e e#&)oyee.
Lack of #onitoring by authorities has been the #a6or contributing factor to an increase in casua)
)abour in Ta#bia. 4enior Labour 'fficer at the Ministry of Labour and 4ocia) 4ecurity %hiku)a
%hinyanta agrees that the G#onitoringH is weak.
He a)so ad#its that whi)e his #inistry is aware that co#&anies are breaking )aws which regu)ate the
hiring of casua) workers, the authorities &refer to GnegotiateH with e#&)oyers rather than &rosecuting
the#. Z*s of now, we have not &rosecuted anyone in the #ines who e#&)oys workers on a casua)
basis,Z he says. Z"he #inistry is trying to avoid &aying )ega) costs if it )oses any court case.Z
Mine Workers =nion of Ta#bia IM=TJ President +ayford Mbu)u said it is not easy to #onitor the
&)ight of casua) workers because Gthey are not union #e#bersH, and G#ost %hinese #ining co#&anies
do not recognise the M=T.H Mbu)u said the union had taken the #atter of casua) workers to court and
won, but that nothing had changed.
Whi)e Mr. -avwi)i, Mr. Lundwe and the other Gcasua)sH toi) for #eagre wages, their e#&)oyers take
hefty &rofits ho#e fro# Ta#bia. 2t wi)) take #ore than the efforts of unions in the country to end
ex&)oitation in the #ining industry.
1>>
%fterword by %lvin 6hiinga
"his story has been going on since the )ibera)isation of the econo#y in the year >>>, when
foreign invest#ent, es&ecia))y in the #ines, increased in Ta#bia. "hat was #y &ersona)
observation. "he idea 2 started with is what 2 ended with, though 2 so#ewhat underesti#ated the
#agnitude of casua)isation in Ta#bian #ines.
My research strategy started with trave)ing to the #ines or to &)aces near the #ines, where 2
cou)d co))ect &ersona) ex&eriences of casua)isation. 2 fe)t 2 cou)d on)y understand the sub6ect
#atter if 2 was c)ose to the &eo&)e affected, so 2 began with hu#an sources. %ertain)y, you have
to #a& out the sources and the &)aces before you begin.
2 successfu))y disguised #yse)f as so#eone who was )ooking for e#&)oy#ent at a #ining fir#.
"his increased #y chances of getting inside the #ine. Meanwhi)e 2 was busy observing and
recording how e#&)oyees were working under unbearab)e circu#stances. What cou)d have
a#a@ed so#e e#&)oyers is that after severa) days of &ursuing a 6ob at their fir# as a casua)
worker, 2 did not acce&t an offer.
2 got so#e data concerning casua)isation in the Ta#bian #ines fro# the 2nternet. %ivi) society
organisations gave #e data on foreign direct invest#ents co#ing into Ta#bia fro# *sia. 2n
genera) it is hard to get docu#ents here, es&ecia))y if they are critica) of the govern#entK &eo&)e
are afraid. "here is no freedo# of infor#ation )aw in Ta#bia, but this is certain)y co#ing, as a
)aw is before Par)ia#ent.
"hat said, 2 had &rob)e#s getting data fro# &)aces where 2 ex&ected it wou)d be easier, such as
the Ministry of Labour. "hey said they cou)dn<t &rovide data because they had )i#ited resources
to co))ect it.
(ro# a &o)itica) &ers&ective, 2 had &rob)e#s because #ost of the #ines that &ractice
casua)isation are %hinese. "he %hinese unfortunate)y have strong backing fro# the govern#ent,
and anything you #ight say against the# is usua))y not we)co#ed by the authorities.
My &ersona) ex&erience in investigative re&orting is that it is better to organise #ateria) as you
go. (or one thing, organising takes a )ot of ti#e. *nd if you do not organise the #ateria) as you
go you #ight end u& forgetting or #is&)acing i#&ortant data by the ti#e you are done.
2 )ike the descri&tive way of writing, because it c)ear)y shows what a writer is trying to &ut
across fro# the first &aragra&h of the story. Putting facts c)ear)y and si#&)y is not on)y easier to
hand)e as a writer, it a)so he)&s the reader gras& what one is trying to co##unicate. 2 a)so
be)ieve that sentences shou)d be #ade shorter, to effective)y bring out 6ust one thought.
"he res&onse to the story was &ositive, es&ecia))y fro# the 2nternationa) Labor 'rganisation,
which vowed to kee& an eye on #ines that &ractice casua)isation. 2 can<t say that anything
changed, but 2 received a nu#ber of thu#bs u& fro# readers who wrote to the &a&er to say that
the artic)e was on)y the ti& of the iceberg. 4o#e %hinese #ine owners wanted to cha))enge #y
figures, but we had data detai)ing the )eve) of casua)isation in Ta#bian #ines, es&ecia))y those
that are owned by %hinese. 2t<s a)ways cardina) to countercheck facts, es&ecia))y nu#bers,
because you #ight end u& running so#ething that is incorrect.
2 wou)d have )oved to do a fo))ow u&, but funding for such stories is not that easy to co#e by
here in Ta#bia. 2 work for a govern#ent news&a&er which doesn<t rea))y su&&ort such
investigations. 2 ho&e the 2L' did so#ething as we)), because they have #ore #usc)e than 2 do
when it co#es to )abour issues.
1>1
B. A 5uestion of ethi's: The "etter from %undbe'k
By $nne Lea Landsted
Introduction. (o industry is more hea%ily regulated where%er you may be in the world than
pharmaceuticals. Bet no industry is more prone to scandal. *ne of the reasons is regulatory
arbitrage which occurs in many industries. 5or businesses it amounts to shopping for
congenial legal en%ironments. 'he issue at hand may be labour laws or en%ironmental rules or
in the case below how drugs are appro%ed and promoted. Here a firm is trying to sell a drug
far from home that is not appro%ed for use in its home market. It is neither the first nor the last
time that such a thing has occurred as $nne Lea Landsteds deliciously ironic last line reminds
us. 4%ery reporter will get the chance to do such a story in his or her career and Landsted 6a
journalism professor at the 1ni%ersity of Southern -enmark as well as a practitioner7 does it
well here. In this particular story the drug is certainly not a killer. 0hat counts more is the
careful demonstration of how this product which Sri Lankas best!"ualified people rejected
nonetheless got onto the market. 'hings changed since the story was published at least for
Lundbeck# 'he company did the right thing by responding to the reporters re%elations with
sincere remedial actions. (ote that Landsted does not denounce the productA her target is the
process of getting it to market. By implication Landsted is in%estigating the medical interface
between rich countries and poor ones showing us the gears and wheels of a system. (ote how
she uses a con%ersational tone that helps to clarify comple3 matters like regulatory issues. Style
is also information and part of the information here is that the author is confident of what she,s
saying so simply. (ote also that she takes space to sketch the Sri Lankans she met. 'hese
encounters tell you something about how the country works and they also contain an implicit
affront to anyone who imagines that Ede%elopingF means Eunci%ilised.F
5rom 4yge&)e6ersken 6"he Durse -enmark7 May 9< 9::9
"his is about ethics, or &erha&s rather the )ack of the#. * )arge, estab)ished /anish &har#aceutica)
co#&any refuses to acce&t that a deve)o&ing country has twice re6ected its a&&)ication for the a&&rova)
of a co#bination &roduct for the treat#ent of de&ression and #i)d &sychoses. "he &roduct is not
registered for sa)e L #eaning that it has been a&&roved for use L in /en#ark.
"he &har#aceutica) co#&any is H. Lundbeck *M4K the &roduct is /eanxit and the country where it
was first re6ected and )ater a&&roved is 4ri Lanka. "he Durse has exa#ined a)) the docu#ents in the
case and visited a)) seven of the &sychiatrists who, according to Lundbeck, &artici&ated in a #eeting
Pwhere the drug su&&osed)y obtained their unani#ous a&&rova)Q and who are #entioned in a )etter to
the 4ri Lankan authorities asking for their a&&rova) for the drug. *t )east two of the &sychiatrists were
unab)e to attend the #eeting. Done of the# had heard that the &roduct had never been registered in
/en#ark, or that the 4ri Lankan authorities had twice refused its a&&rova).
'ne &sychiatrist who was invo)ved in the 4ri Lankan authorities< &revious re6ection of the &roduct,
and who was not invited to the #eeting with Lundbeck, was incensed when she was &resented with
the facts of the case. 4he wi)) now take u& the issue with the authorities in 4ri Lanka.
ZMy 6ob #akes no sense if the &roduct gets registered regard)ess of what ha&&ens,H said /r.
He#a#a)i Perera.
+onfiden'e in the referen'e 'ountries
"he story began on March 100$. 'n that day the 4ri Lankan /rug +egu)atory *uthority I4L /+*J
1>
received an a&&)ication fro# the /anish &har#aceutica) co#&any Lundbeck for the a&&rova) of its
drug /eanxit for sa)e in 4ri Lanka. "here was nothing &articu)ar)y extraordinary about this. Lundbeck
a)ready had Buite a few #edicines on the #arket in 4ri Lanka, but this &roduct was different. 2t is a
co#bination consisting of two ingredients: f)u&enthixo) and #e)itracen. ()u&enthixo) is fa#i)iar in the
treat#ent of #enta) disorders. Me)itracen is not.
8nc)osed with the a&&)ication were two docu#ents fro# the /anish drug ad#inistration. 'ne of
the# was an a&&rova) of Lundbeck as a &roducer of &har#aceutica)s. "he other was what is known as
a Zfree;sa)e certificateH, which &er#itted Lundbeck to ex&ort /eanxit.
"he a&&)ication fi)e a)so contained a Zto who# it #ay concernZ )etter fro# Lundbeck. /ated 13
(ebruary 100!, it said that /eanxit had been registered in > countries L /en#ark inc)uded.
2n 4ri Lanka the authorities are ske&tica) of co#bination &roducts, but since the country is not
wea)thy and does not have the resources to check whether this new #edicine is in order, it chooses to
re)y on the eva)uations of other countries known for their thorough, and at ti#es restrictive, contro)s of
#edicines. "hese GreferenceH countries are %anada, the =4*, .ritain, the Dether)ands, 4candinavia,
*ustra)ia and Dew Tea)and. "he )ist has the a&&rova) of the Wor)d Hea)th 'rganisation, WH'. 2f the
&roduct has been registered and a&&roved for sa)e in one of the above countries, there wi)) be no
&rob)e# getting it a&&roved for sa)e in 4ri Lanka L whether it is a co#bination &roduct or not.
6ot so"d in )enmark
.ut /eanxit had not been a&&roved by any of the reference countries, and on 1 ,u)y 100$, 4ri
Lanka<s first refusa) was issued.
GWe checked to see whether f)u&enthixo) and #e)itracen were registered in our reference countries.
()u&enthixo) was registered in severa) &)aces as a sing)e ingredient, inc)uding in 4ri Lanka. .ut
#e)itracen was not to be found, either as an inde&endent tab)et or in co#bination with f)u&enthixo). 4o
we re6ected the &roduct because of the co#bination of a known and an unknown &roduct, and because
it does not a&&ear in any of our reference countries,H said /r. -ris Weerasuriya, &rofessor of
&har#aco)ogy and for#er secretary of the /rug 8va)uation 4ub;co##ittee I/84%J of the /rug
+egu)atory *uthority. 2n that ca&acity he was invo)ved in re6ecting Lundbeck<s a&&)ication.
2##ediate)y fo))owing the first refusa), Lundbeck sent a new, u&dated )ist to 4ri Lanka of 3
countries where /eanxit was registered as of 100$. /en#ark was not on the )ist.
*ccording to Lundbeck<s own docu#ents, /eanxit was registered in /en#ark in 100!, but no
)onger in 100$. How cou)d that be9
ZLundbeck never a&&)ied for /eanxit<s a&&rova) as a #edicine in /en#ark, but on)y had it on the
so;ca))ed ex&ort register,Z said Per He)boe, head of the drugs a&&rova) section of the /anish Medicines
*gency.
4o in 100! /eanxit was not a&&roved for sa)e in /en#ark L on)y for ex&ort. *nd the reBuire#ents
are #uch )ess stringent for ex&ort than if a &roduct is to be a&&roved for sa)e in /en#ark.
GWhat we eva)uate in re)ation to the ex&ort register is whether the &roduct contains what it is
su&&osed to and whether it has been #anufactured under satisfactory conditions,Z said Per He)boe.
*nd what de#ands do you #ake on &roducts for sa)e in /en#ark9
G2f the drug is entire)y new, the de#ands are Buite stringent. We de#and co#&rehensive c)inica)
docu#entation of the efficacy and safety of the &roduct.H
*ccording to Lundbeck<s /anish office, the fir# never tried to get /eanxit a&&roved as a #edicine
in /en#ark because /en#ark is extre#e)y restrictive as far as co#bination &roducts are concerned.
1>!
2n 4ri Lanka the authorities do not )ike co#bination &roducts either, but that is where the /anish
&har#aceutica) co#&any decided to continue its efforts to get the drug registered.
2n 4e&te#ber 100$, Lundbeck ca))ed on the 4ri Lankan authorities to reconsider its a&&)ication.
Lundbeck enc)osed a re&ort on /eanxit. /ated 1 May100$, it was written by one of Lundbeck<s own
staff, ,argen Dybo *ndersen, &har#acist and #edica) #anager. "he re&ort inc)uded a detai)ed
technica) ex&osition of /eanxit, but no c)inica) tria)s or #edica) eva)uations.
"he re&ort is nine &ages )ong, inc)uding a bib)iogra&hy with 41 references. (ourteen of the# are
fro# the ear)y 10$>s, and 4 are fro# the beginning or the #idd)e of the 10:>s. * third of the# are in
1er#an and (rench, and one of the# is in /anish. 'n)y three of the references are fro# the #id;
100>s. "wo of the# re)ate to )ectures in the .u)garian ca&ita), 4ofia. "he third refers to a &oster Pan
un&ub)ished &a&er that has not been sub6ected to &eer reviewQ at a scientific conference in
%o&enhagen.
GMost of the docu#ents had never been &ub)ished in scientific 6ourna)s and cou)d therefore not be
considered to su&&ort the a&&)ication. 2n addition to this, a good third of the references were
inco#&rehensib)e because they were not written in 8ng)ish,Z said Professor Weerasuriya, the 4ri
Lankan regu)ator. G8ven so, we decided to a))ow Lundbeck the benefit of the doubt, so we asked a
&sychiatrist to eva)uate the a&&)ication.Z
'n 4 4e&te#ber 100:, the second re6ection of /eanxit was sent to Lundbeck. "he reasons given
were:
1. %o#bination tab)ets are difficu)t to test in ter#s of dose and effect as we)) as side effectsK
. Me)itracen is &ractica))y unknownK
!. 4ri Lanka a)ready has enough #edicines that can #anage the sa#e sy#&to#s as /eanxitK
4. "here is not adeBuate substantiation of /eanxit<s c)ai#ed effect.
*nd that is where the story cou)d have ended. .ut it didn<t.
&ri %anka4 *anuary 1777
Most of the roo#s at the five;star "a6 4a#udra Hote) in %o)o#bo have a view of the 2ndian 'cean.
2n the evenings one can witness the #ost fabu)ous sunset. * high wa)) and a wea)th of trees screen the
hote) fro# the busy 1a))e face +oad. 8very entrance is guarded and the ar#y freBuents the bui)ding
next door.
.ecause of its )ocation, &osh faci)ities and security, the "a6 4a#udra is often used for conferences
and business #eetings. 2n ,anuary1000, Lundbeck hosted one such #eeting at the hote). 4even of 4ri
Lanka<s )eading &sychiatrists were invited.
*fter the #eeting, Lundbeck sent a )etter to the chair#an of the 4ri Lankan /rug +egu)atory
*uthority. "he )etter was divided into seven &oints. 2n &oint one, Lundbeck referred to the &ast two
years< un&roductive atte#&ts to get /eanxit a&&roved. Point ! referred to the #eeting at the "a6
4a#udra:
Z+ecent)y, the Medica) Manager of Lundbeck, Mr. ,argen Dybo *ndersen, M.4c. Phar#., was in 4ri
Lanka [ and during this ti#e he had an o&en discussion in a foru# with the fo))owing %onsu)tant
Psychiatrists and discussed with the# the incidence of the Mixed *nxiety /e&ression /isorders and
the usefu)ness of /eanxit.Z 4even &artici&ants are na#ed.
=nder &oint 4, Lundbeck wrote: Z"he res&onse fro# the above consu)tant &sychiatrists was very
1>4
&ositive and encouraging, and the consu)tants concerned agreed that a co#bination such as P/eanxitQ
wou)d be very usefu) in the treat#ent of &atients with a #i)d to #oderate #enta) state.Z
Lundbeck attached hand;written dec)arations of su&&ort fro# four of the &sychiatrists. "hree of the
dec)arations were secured before the #eeting in ,anuary. 8ach said the sa#e thing, as though so#eone
had dictated the contents: ZHaving gone through the &roduct detai)s of /eanxit there are certain)y
indications for it to be &rescribed by &sychiatrists. 2 therefore suggest that /eanxit #ay be considered
for registration favourab)y.Z
"he fourth dec)aration of su&&ort was secured on 1 ,anuary 1000, i##ediate)y after ,argen Dybo
*ndersenCs visit to 4ri Lanka. "he actua) content is s)ight)y different a)though the #essage is the sa#e.
=nder &oint five the /anish &har#aceutica) co#&any wrote that three of the &sychiatrists were
wi))ing verba))y to back the &roduct if they are asked to do so, and gave their na#es.
Point 7 out)ined a nu#ber of reasons why &sychiatrists shou)d use /eanxit in the treat#ent of
&atients showing sy#&to#s of anxiety and de&ression. *#ong other things, it said that the drugCs
effect is we)) docu#ented. "he )etter conc)uded: G2n this )ight we are confident that you wi)) su&&ort
the registration of our &roduct.Z 2t was signed by Pna#e withhe)dQ, LundbeckCs agent in 4ri Lanka. 2t
was received and sta#&ed by the 4ri Lankan /rug +egu)atory *uthority on > ,anuary.
"here exist two versions of that )etter fro# Lundbeck. "hough their content is co#&)ete)y identica),
one of the# has no )etterhead. "he other carries the )etterhead of the )oca) agent, and this is the one
that was forwarded to the authorities. *ccording to an e#&)oyee of the )oca) fir#, his boss in 4ri
Lanka wrote the )etter. Lundbeck says the )etter was a co;o&erative effort between the office in
/en#ark and the )oca) agent. Lundbeck<s /anish office a)so said that ten 4ri Lankan &sychiatrists had
been invited to the #eeting but that they on)y #ention seven in the )etter because on)y those seven
reco##ended the &roduct.
(ive days )ater, /eanxit was registered and a&&roved for sa)e in 4ri Lanka. "his ti#e, the 4ri Lankan
/rug +egu)atory *uthority didn<t send the a&&)ication to the /rugs 8va)uation 4ub;co##ittee, as is
nor#a) &ractice every ti#e the *uthority receives an a&&)ication or re;a&&)ication.
'ne day, /r. Weerasuriya sudden)y saw /eanxit on sa)e in 4ri Lanka. GWe fe)t cheated. We had, on a
we));founded, scientific basis decided not to reco##end /eanxit. Dow they had gone behind our
backs and achieved registration anyway,Z he said. He had no doubt that the dec)arations of the seven
&sychiatrists had changed the o&inion of the 4ri Lankan /rug +egu)atory *uthority.
&ri %anka4 )e'ember 2881
,ust outside the centre of %o)o#bo, behind the .ore))a %e#etery in a &eacefu), beautifu) setting and
surrounded by a go)f course, )ies 4ahanaya, a day care and counse)ing centre for the #enta))y i)).
"he head of the centre, /r. Da)aka Mendis, &oints to the go)fers. G"hey didn<t want us here to begin
with. "hey wrote to the President of 4ri Lanka and asked hi# to chuck us out. S2t<s u& to the# whether
they )eave L 2 cannot force the# out,< was his re&)y. 4o here we are, and now they have got used to us.
"hey have discovered that we are &erfect)y hu#an.Z
Da)aka Mendis he)&ed set u& 4ahanaya in 10: as a free service for &eo&)e with #enta) &rob)e#s
brought on by de&ression and a)coho) abuse. 4ahanaya is a)so used as a research and teaching faci)ity
for doctors and nurses. 2t is &rivate)y funded. "he Lundbeck (oundation has &rovided su&&ort in the
for# of free #edicine and assistance in the &roduction of brochures. *)) the staff work without &ay L
inc)uding Da)aka Mendis, who teaches &sychiatry at %o)o#bo =niversity.
Da)aka Mendis was at the to& of Lundbeck<s )ist of doctors who took &art in the #eeting at the Hote)
"a6 4a#udra in ,anuary 1000, and who )ater a&&eared in the )etter fro# Lundbeck to the 4ri Lankan
1>3
authorities.
He invited #e into his office on the first f)oor. "he windows were o&en and a cei)ing fan he)&ed the
air to circu)ate. 4#a)) birds sang, interru&ted fro# ti#e to ti#e by the cawing of crows.
G2 donCt think 2 was &resent at that #eeting. Eery few &eo&)e were invited[ 2 know that Lundbeck
was very keen to introduce /eanxit, but as far as 2 know they had a few &rob)e#s getting it a&&roved.
2 donCt know the detai)s. 2 have never &rescribed /eanxit,Z said Da)aka Mendis.
Why not9
G.ecause nor#a))y 2 donCt )ike co#bination tab)ets. 2 donCt know /eanxit L and no one has been ab)e
to convince #e that it he)&s.Z He said: G2f anyone had asked #e 2 wou)d have re&)ied that 2 did not
know the &roduct. 2t<s as si#&)e as that.Z
2 read a)oud fro# the Lundbeck )etter: G"he reaction of the above &sychiatrists was extre#e)y
&ositive and encouraging, and they agreed that a co#bination such as the above Ithe co#bination
tab)et /eanxit, ed.J wou)d be extre#e)y usefu) in the treat#ent of &atients with #i)d to #oderate
#enta) disorders.Z He was )isted a#ong the &sychiatrists.
He interru&ted #e: G"hat is not true. Do, no. 2 wou)d never #ake such a state#ent. 2 don<t know the
&roduct. How cou)d 2 ever reco##end so#ething 2 do not know9 2t<s not true, si#&)e as that.H
"ea was served and 2 was shown round the day centre. "here was a s#a)) kitchen, worksho&s and a
)ibrary donated by the ,a&anese. "he s#e)) of food &er#eated the air, and the chi)i gradua))y caused
#y eyes to s#art. * grou& of wo#en &)aced f)owers in a bow) of water as a s&ecia) gesture to their
visitor. "he day &atients gathered around the dining tab)es set u& in the shade of big trees.
Da)aka Mendis was c)ear)y shaken by seeing his na#e used by Lundbeck to get /eanxit registered
in 4ri Lanka. GWhen &har#aceutica) co#&anies a&&roach #e with a view to getting #y a&&rova) a
s&ecific &roduct 2 ask the# to sub#it an a&&)ication to the authorities, because it is they who decide
whether or not a &roduct shou)d be a&&roved,H he said. G2 wou)d never ex&ress #y o&inion about a
&roduct 2 do not know.Z
"he fourth &sychiatrist on LundbeckCs )ist was /r. -. ,. M. P. (ernando. 4he had a s#a)) c)inic at her
ho#e in Dego#bo, a good !> ki)o#etres north of %o)o#bo. Her house was ca))ed Madonna, and /r
(ernando was known as the G"he Lady /octor.H 4he was a friend)y, s#i)ing e)der)y )ady with )ong
education and ex&erience as a &sychiatrist. (or #any years she had &racticed in 8ng)and, but in the
10:>s she returned to 4ri Lanka.
G2 often get visits fro# Lundbeck re&resentatives, who want #e to &rescribe /eanxit. 2 have
&rescribed it a few ti#es, but feedback fro# #y &atients has been negative. "hey did not be)ieve they
cou)d fee) any change in their condition,H she said.
/r (ernando had first been visited by a Lundbeck re&resentative a few years ago. 4ince then they
had &assed by ZMadonnaZ six ti#es. *)together she had been visited by three different re&resentatives
fro# the /anish &har#aceutica) co#&any.
Z"hey wanted #e to #arket /eanxit,H she said. G"hey te)) #e that #y co))eagues in %o)o#bo have
good ex&eriences with the tab)et. "he )ast ti#e they ca#e by, they asked #e to try /eanxit for at )east
a #onth before #aking any &ronounce#ent on its effect, so that is what 2C# doing right now. "o be
Buite honest with you 2 donCt )ike /eanxit, but 2 fee) that Lundbeck are &ressuring #e.Z
4he said, G*)) the &har#aceutica) co#&anies behave )ike that. "hey invite you to dinners, )unches,
etc. Lundbeck is no exce&tion.H
/r (ernando took her g)asses fro# her desk drawer and read the )etter fro# Lundbeck, which she
had never seen before, either. *t the sight of her na#e a#ong attendees at the #eeting, she said: GDo,
1>7
2 did not attend that #eeting. "hey invited #e but 2 cou)dnCt go.H 4he read on.
Z"hey have inc)uded #y na#e, and say that the reaction of the above &sychiatrists was extre#e)y
&ositive and encouraging and that they agreed that.... but 2 wasnCt there. "hatCs not right. "hat si#&)y
isnCt true,Z said /r (ernando. 4he read on.
G4o Lundbeck had its a&&)ication for /eanxit re6ected twice by the 4ri Lankan /rug +egu)atory
*uthority. "hatCs news to #e, too,H she said
/r 1. 4. 1nanasingha# was a)so on Lundbeck<s )ist. He received &atients at a &rivate hos&ita)
Medicare, not far fro# the centra) hos&ita) in %o)o#bo. He re#e#bered the #eeting: G2t was about
/eanxit[ 2 have &rescribed it a few ti#es and the resu)ts were #ixed. 4o#e &atients benefited fro#
the tab)et, others didn<t.H
He said he Gdidn<t rea)i@eH that /eanxit GisnCt avai)ab)e in /en#ark.H
He added: G2f 2 a# to)d the &roduct has been tested and is effective, then 2 don<t ob6ect to using it,
but the fact that it was &revious)y re6ected in 4ri Lanka is news to #e.Z
/r P. -u)anayaga#, another &sychiatrist on Lundbeck<s su&&orter )ist, sounded very friend)y on the
&hone. 'h yes, he said, he is &erfect)y fa#i)iar with /eanxit and Lundbeck. He used to be one of
%o)o#bo<s best;known &sychiatrists. He was now retired, a)though he saw &atients once in awhi)e at
the *sha %entra) Hos&ita), a &rivate c)inic in the res&ectab)e, ex&ensive end of %o)o#bo.
We arranged to #eet at his office a few days )ater. He arrived a Buarter of an hour )ate. * nurse #ade
use of the wait to switch on the air conditioning, and find a stethosco&e and so#e instru#ents, which
she )aid on the desk. 4he had #istaken #e for a &atient.
Z*nd you are fro# Lundbeck9Z the doctor asked a#iab)y after he had arranged hi#se)f behind his
desk.
2 shook #y head. 2 had ex&)ained c)ear)y and carefu))y to hi# on the &hone that 2 was fro# "he
Durse and that 2 was writing a story about /eanxit and how it got introduced to the 4ri Lankan #arket.
He sudden)y changed fro# very friend)y to very angry: G2 a# not a))owed to ta)k about /eanxit
without &er#ission fro# Lundbeck. "hey wi)) sue #e if 2 do, so you are wasting #y ti#e. 2 nor#a))y
take #y siesta at this ti#e of day.
GHowever, since you are here, yes, 2 re#e#ber the #eeting with Lundbeck. 2 have not reco##ended
/eanxit or endorsed it. 2 did not know that the &roduct had been re6ected twice by the 4ri Lanka /rug
+egu)atory *uthority. .ut so )ong as the &roduct is not dangerous 2 do not ob6ect to using it.H
*s 2 got u& to go he asked for #y visiting card. "he fo))owing day 2 got a ca)) fro# LundbeckCs
re&resentative in 4ri Lanka.
He Pna#e withhe)dQ was studying &har#aco)ogy whi)e working for Lundbeck. * good, we));&aid
6ob, which is re)evant to his studies. 'n the &hone he sounded nervous. G/r. -u)anayaga# gave #e
your na#e. %an we #eet9H he asked.
He changed the a&&oint#ent a few ti#es before we #et at #y hote). G'n neutra) groundH, as he &ut
it. "he sun was about to di& beneath the hori@on, and the s#a)) tab)es on the veranda of the hote)Cs bar
were &retty &acked.
He wanted to know what 2 was doing. He tried to convince #e that there was nothing unusua) about
LundbeckCs a&&roach. He ex&)ained that the &sychiatrists had been s&ecia))y se)ected on the basis of
their ex&ertise and know)edge of /eanxit. He a)so said it wou)d be best that 2 s&eak to his su&erior.
"he fo))owing day he ca))ed #e back to ex&)ain that his su&erior was busy with the annua) accounts
and therefore did not have ti#e to see #e.
1>$
.ut he ke&t in contact. He ca))ed #e every day to ask where 2 was, who# 2 had s&oken to, and
where 2 got #y infor#ation fro#. *)though he got the sa#e answer every day, he never gave u&. "he
)ast ti#e we s&oke was a few hours before 2 returned to /en#ark.
Z2 know who# youCve s&oken to,Z he says triu#&hant)y. Z5ou<ve s&oken to a)) the &sychiatrists
na#ed in the )etter.Z
Z8xce&t one,Z 2 re&)ied.
Z5es, you have not s&oken to Mrs. (ernando,Z he said.
2n fact, /r. Wi#a) /e *)wis was the )ast &sychiatrist #entioned in the )etter fro# Lundbeck. When 2
ca))ed hi#, he hung u& on #e. 2f he had attended the Lundbeck #eeting, it #eant that of the seven
&sychiatrists )ater cited as &resent and enthusiastic, five had been there. 2f not, the nu#ber was four.
Persona non grata
/r He#a#a)i Perera, a &rofessor of &sychiatry, was a)so the on)y &sychiatrist attached to the /rug
8va)uation 4ub;co##ittee of the 4L /+*. *t her office at the centra) hos&ita), a &i)e of a&&)ications
for registration of &sycho&har#aco)ogica) drugs was waiting to be scrutini@ed.
G2 investigate the &rice of the &roduct, whether it is safe to use, and whether we need to use it at a)),H
said He#a#a)i Perera. 2t was her eva)uation of /eanxit that for#ed the basis of the second re6ection
sent to Lundbeck on 4 4e&te#ber 100:.
G%o#bination tab)ets genera))y have a bad re&utation,H she said. G"hey are difficu)t to ad#inister
and if side;effects arise, they can be due either to one or the other co#&onent. 2 a)so re#e#ber that
#ost of the docu#entation Lundbeck sent a)ong with its a&&)ication had never been &ub)ished, so it
was #y conc)usion that we do not know enough about the &roduct. *&art fro# that we a)ready had
&sycho&har#aco)ogica) drugs for the treat#ent of de&ression and anxiety.H
4hort)y afterwards /r. Perera went on sabbatica) abroad. When she returned she discovered that
/eanxit had been registered. G2 contacted the authorities to hear how the re6ected &roduct cou)d
sudden)y a&&ear on the #arket. 2 was to)d that /eanxit was on the )ist of &roducts that have been given
te#&orary a&&rova). 2n other words they are on)y registered for one year at a ti#e.H
4o far, /eanxit has had its a&&rova) extended three ti#es by the 4ri Lankan authorities.
2 showed her the )etter fro# Lundbeck and to)d her about the #eeting with the seven &sychiatrists.
G"hat is co#&)ete)y unacce&tab)e,H she said, visib)y shocked. G"hey shou)d not behave )ike that.
4ee, that is &recise)y what ha&&ens in the "hird Wor)d. "he )arge &har#aceutica) co#&anies be)ieve
they can take the )iberty of doing whatever they )ike to get their &roducts registered when it co#es to
&oor countries. "o the# we 6ust don<t count, and that is not right.H
4he added, G*)) &sychiatrists here read scientific 6ourna)s, a)) are extre#e)y we)) educated, and none
of us wou)d acce&t a &roduct without further ado si#&)y because a &har#aceutica) co#&any says it is
effective. *s a "hird Wor)d country we have access to )arge databases of know)edge;based #edicine,
and 2 a# &roud that we do so #uch to investigate #edicine before it is registered. .ecause as soon as
a #edicine is on the #arket, &har#aceutica) co#&anies wi)) do everything to encourage doctors to
&rescribe the &roduct.H
4he said she wou)d take u& the #atter with the 4ri Lankan /rug +egu)atory*uthority.
.ack in /en#ark, in (ebruary >> 2 ca))ed ,argen Dybo *nderson of Lundbeck. He was very
friend)y on the &hone and said he wou)d )ike to #eet #e to ta)k about /eanxit and 4ri Lanka, but that
a)) &ress contact #ust go through the co##unications de&art#ent.
1>:
2 contacted the co##unications #anager. He see#ed irritated and asked what 2 found sur&rising
about /eanxit and 4ri Lanka. 2 ex&)ained that it sur&rised #e that Lundbeck cou)d c)ai# that seven
&sychiatrists &artici&ated in its #eeting when at )east two of the# were not &resent. 2 said 2 didn<t
understand how they cou)d write that /eanxit was registered in /en#ark when Lundbeck had never
a&&)ied here.
* few days )ater 2 was contacted by another Lundbeck e#&)oyee. He wanted an infor#a) #eeting at
which he wou)d brief #e on the case. *fter that 2 wou)d be ab)e to consider whether 2 sti)) thought 2
had a story. We #et on (riday 13 (ebruary at LundbeckCs head office in Ea)by, %o&enhagen. *t )east
one hour had been set aside for our conversation.
"he Lundbeck e#&)oyee ex&)ained, a#ong other things, that /eanxit is #ost)y &rescribed by
genera) &ractitioners. He denied that Lundbeck had atte#&ted to hide anything by not inviting
re&resentatives of the 4ri Lankan /rug +egu)atory *uthority and the /rug 8va)uation 4ub;co##ittee
to the #eeting with ,argen Dybo *ndersen in ,anuary 1000. He a)so denied that the &har#aceutica)
co#&any had tried to cover u& the fact that /eanxit had twice been re6ected by the 4ri Lankan
authorities and that /eanxit was not registered in /en#ark. He did not be)ieve that there was anything
extraordinary in a &har#aceutica) co#&any continuing its efforts to get a &roduct registered after it has
been re6ected.
*fter the briefing, 2 reiterated #y reBuest for an interview with Lundbeck regarding /eanxit and 4ri
Lanka. He re&)ied that Lundbeck did not trust #y facts and did not wish to take &art if 2 #aintained
#y ang)e on the story. G2s this the story about the &har#aceutica) co#&any trying to ex&)oit the "hird
Wor)d youCre trying to write9H he asked.
G"hatCs what 2C# asking you,H 2 re&)ied.
1>0
%fterword by %nne 3ea 3andsted
"he story began with ,ohn )e %arrN<s nove) about a &har#aceutica)s scanda) in *frica, 'he
2onstant Dardener. 2ns&ired by the book, 2 started investigating /anish &har#aceutica)
co#&anies. * &hysician fro# /octors without .orders reca))ed that about a year ear)ier he had
received an e#ai) fro# a 4ri Lankan &rofessor of &har#aco)ogyK since he never de)eted his
#ai)s he was sure it was sti)) there. 2t was &ure coincidence. "he &rofessor was wondering how
the Lundbeck drug, /eanxit, that he had re6ected twice for sa)e in 4ri Lanka cou)d end u& being
so)d in drugstores there.
2 searched the 2nternet for infor#ation about /eanxit and Lundbeck L using the Gway back
#achineH Isee htt&:MMweb.archive.orgMJ to find hidden docu#ents. 2 s&oke with the /anish drug
authorities, &sychiatrists and the 4ri Lankan &rofessor of &har#aco)ogy, who at this &oint fe)t
cheated. Lundbeck did not want to be interviewed. We have a freedo# of infor#ation )aw in
/en#ark, but 2 did not use it this ti#e. 2nstead 2 got access to a)) docu#ents concerning
Lundbeck, /eanxit and 4ri Lanka through #y sources.
"he #ain story was in the docu#ents 2 found through #y hu#an sources. * )etter fro#
Lundbeck to 4L /+* Ithe 4ri Lankan /rug *uthorityJ referred to a #eeting between Lundbeck
and seven of 4ri Lanka<s )eading &sychiatrists. "he #eeting was he)d six #onth after 4L /+*
had re6ected /eanxit for the second ti#e. "he )etter stated that seven of 4ri Lanka<s )eading
&sychiatrists reco##ended that the drug shou)d be registered for sa)e in 4ri Lanka. 2t wasn<t
true.
"rave)ing to 4ri Lanka a))owed #e to add a )itt)e dra#a to the story, but such tri&s are cost)y.
(ortunate)y 2 had two editors, one fro# 4yge&)e6ersken I"he DurseJ and one fro# radio, who
be)ieve in investigative 6ourna)is# and #e. "he Durse &aid for the tri& and shared #y sa)ary
with the radio, which #eant that 2 did not )ose #oney on this &ro6ect.
Dobody exce&t the &rofessor of &har#aco)ogy knew that 2 was co#ing to 4ri Lanka. 2 was
afraid that Lundbeck wou)d find out and &ersuade the &sychiatrists not to s&eak with #e. 2 was
right. When the )oca) Lundbeck re&resentatives found out about #e being in 4ri Lanka, they
tried to &ersuade #e to dro& #y story. .y then 2 had a)ready s&oken with #ost of the
&sychiatrists. 2t was &ure )uck that a guy fro# Lundbeck asked #e, in an ironic way, if 2 was
doing a story about the shady #isdoings of &har#aceutica) co#&aniesK that gave #e #y ending.
*)ong the way 2 used 8xce) and a ho#e#ade ti#e)ine to organi@e #y sources and nu#erous
docu#ents. "hese &)us 1oog)e #a&s are si#&)e, exce))ent too)s for organising #ateria). 2 #ade
an out)ine using #y ti#e)ine, and that he)&ed #e stay focused. 2 a)ways say that if you have a
so)id story the writing &art is easy.
However, this story was a )itt)e technica) and it was very i#&ortant for #e to get #y facts
straight. "he &har#aceutica) co#&anies are very hard to dea) with, and they do not hesitate to
sue. "herefore 2 had #y story )ega))y screened by three inde&endent )awyers before &ub)ication.
G"he Letter fro# LundbeckH was &ub)ished as an artic)e and broadcast as a radio docu#entary. 2
contacted radio and te)evision news and the #a6or news&a&ers. 2t worked. "he story was wide)y
Buoted. 2n a news&a&er interview, Lundbeck<s to& #anager, 8rik 4&runk;,ansen, ca))ed the
events a scanda), took res&onsibi)ity and ordered an investigation. * few #onths )ater, Lundbeck
a&o)ogised to the three &sychiatrists whose a&&rova) the fir# had fa)se)y c)ai#ed, and offered to
withdraw it and other drugs fro# the 4ri Lankan #arket. 4hort)y after that, the 4L /+* decided
to withdraw Lundbeck<s )icense to se)) /eanxit in 4ri Lanka. "he affair had no conseBuences for
the e#&)oyees of Lundbeck. 2t a)) turned out #uch better than 2 had dared ho&e for.
11>
111
+. /,orting an /idemi'
"uman Toll !eaches Millions as %sbestos Industry )pands :orldwide
By &im MorrisM International 2onsortium of In%estigati%e &ournalists
$na $%ila in Me3ico 2ity -an 4ttinger in 0ashington -.2. 2arlos 4duardo Huertas in
Bogota Murali /rishnan in (ew -elhi +oman Shleyno% in Moscow and Marcelo Soares in
Sao )aulo contributed to this report.
Introduction. 5ew health!related issues ha%e recei%ed more co%erage than asbestos. $ common
building material for most of the 9:th century its catastrophic effects on human health were
recognised long ago but were contested denied or suppressed by a powerful industry and its
political and medical allies. 0hen the death tolls began to rise the story began to come out
dri%en by associations of %ictims and their lawyers. $sbestos was e%entually banned in most
de%eloped countries. Like most people I thought the story had effecti%ely ended thereA I
e3pected only that there would be news breaks from time to time as groups of %ictims won their
cases. I did not e3pect to learn as this story taught me that asbestos ne%er went away. 'he
industry simply mo%ed to countries where its products had not yet been banned and sought
regulatory appro%al for certain uses backed by industry!financed studies. 'his pattern has been
seen before most recently in the tobacco industry. But if the pattern is known pro%ing that it
has appeared in a gi%en sector is hardly simple. )ro%ing that it is happening in do@ens of
countries at once is e%en harder. 'he the International 2onsortium of In%estigati%e &ournalists
which produced this report with its sister organisation the 2enter for )ublic Integrity 61S7 can
fairly be called the pathbreakers and the standard for such in%estigations on a global scale. 0e
ha%e included only the o%er%iew of their in%estigation a self!contained article from a suite of
pieces that were published by the 2)I at http#MMwww.publicintegrity.orgMin%estigationsMasbestosM.
$t least on a short!term basis such projects are beyond the means of indi%idual reportersA they
re"uire recruiting and managing teams of reporters editors and graphic designers. 'his one
e3tended into an alliance with the BB2 that greatly magnified its reach. But e%en indi%iduals
can learn from the scope of projects like E-angers in the -ust.F $s journalists we typically
work from the trees to the forest. It can be %ery useful to look at the whole picture first and to
keep it in mind as you catalogue pieces of it. It is also absolutely certain that project teams will
be increasingly necessary to e3pose transnational health and industrial scandals from both a
production and a marketing standpoint. 'hose teams need not be transnational# $ uni%ersity!
le%el class in reporting 6not only Ein%estigati%e reportingF7 can enable a group of students ot do
serious work on an issue that matters to them. Incidentally &im Morris does not mention it in
his afterword but the project won numerous major journalism awards including the *akes
$ward for 4n%ironmental +eporting and the In%estigati%e +eporters and 4ditors $ward.
5irst published by the 2enter for )ublic Integrity 60ashington -27 on &uly 9< 9:<:
2n 'sasco, .ra@i), an industria) city on the western f)ank of 4ao Pau)o, the &ast is buried beneath a
Wa);Mart 4u&ercenter and a 4a#Cs %)ub at the intersection of *venida Maria%a#&os and *venida dos
*utono#istas. Here the 8ternit asbestos ce#ent factory was shuttered in 100! and de#o)ished in 1003
after 34 years of o&eration. Here three generations of workers L &ouring asbestos into giant #ixers
with ce#ent, ce))u)ose and water, e#&tying bags, c)eaning #achinery L were i##ersed in fiber;rich
white dust, setting the#se)ves u& for diseases that wou)d debi)itate #any of the# in retire#ent and ki))
so#e of the# in excruciating fashion.
4cores have died since the #id;100>s, at )east 1> of #esothe)io#a, a rare #a)ignancy that eats into
11
the chest wa)) and dis&atches its victi#s swift)y. *)do Eincentin succu#bed at age 77 in ,u)y >>:,
on)y three #onths after his diagnosis. G"hey knew about the dangers of the #ateria)s and they didn<t
&rotect #y husband,H his widow, 1ise)ia 1o#es Eincentin, says of 8ternit. G2 think #any &eo&)e wi))
sti)) die.H
.acked by a g)oba) network of trade grou&s and scientists, the #u)tibi))ion;do))ar asbestos industry
has stayed af)oat by de&icting 'sasco and si#i)ar tragedies as re#nants of a darker ti#e, when dust
)eve)s were high, exotic varieties of the fire;resistant #inera) were used, and workers had )itt)e, if any,
&rotection fro# the toxic fibers. "here is evidence that dangers &ersist: Peri)ous conditions have been
docu#ented fro# Mexico %ity to *h#edabad, 2ndia. *nd yet, des&ite waves of asbestos;re)ated
disease in Dorth *#erica, 8uro&e, and *ustra)ia, bans or restrictions in 3 countries, &i)es of
incri#inating studies, and &redictions of u& to 1> #i))ion asbestos;re)ated cancer deaths wor)dwide by
>!>, the asbestos trade re#ains a)ive and we)).
*sbestos is banned in the 8uro&ean =nion. 2n the =nited 4tates it is )ega) but the industry has &aid
out X$> bi))ion in da#ages and )itigation costs, and asbestos use is )i#ited to auto#obi)e and aircraft
brakes, gaskets and a few other &roducts. "he industry has found new #arkets in the deve)o&ing
wor)d, however, where de#and for chea& bui)ding #ateria)s is brisk. More than two #i))ion #etric
tons of asbestos were #ined wor)dwide in >>0 L )ed by +ussia, %hina, and .ra@i) L #ost)y to be
turned into asbestos ce#ent for corrugated roofing and water &i&es. More than ha)f that a#ount was
ex&orted to deve)o&ing countries )ike 2ndia and Mexico.
Hea)th officia)s warn that wides&read asbestos ex&osures, #uch as they did in the West, wi)) resu)t in
e&ide#ics of #esothe)io#a, )ung cancer, and asbestosis in the deve)o&ing wor)d. "he Wor)d Hea)th
'rgani@ation IWH'J says that 13 #i))ion &eo&)e encounter asbestos in the work&)ace, and the
2nternationa) Labor 'rgani@ation I2L'J esti#ates that 1>>,>>> workers die each year fro# asbestos;
re)ated diseases. "housands #ore &erish fro# environ#enta) ex&osures. /r. ,a#es Leigh, retired
director of the %entre for 'ccu&ationa) and 8nviron#enta) Hea)th at the 4ydney 4choo) of Pub)ic
Hea)th in *ustra)ia, has forecast a tota) of 3 #i))ion to 1> #i))ion deaths fro# asbestos;re)ated cancers
by >!>. "he esti#ate is Gconservative,H Leigh says. G2f ex&osures in deve)o&ing countries )ead to
e&ide#ics extending further in ti#e, the nu#bers wou)d be greater.H Leigh<s ca)cu)ation does not
inc)ude deaths fro# asbestosis, a non;cancerous, chronic )ung disease. *nother study, by two
researchers in Dew /e)hi, suggests that by >>, deaths fro# asbestos;re)ated cancers cou)d exceed 1
#i))ion in deve)o&ing nations.
11!
.ehind the industry<s growth is a #arketing ca#&aign invo)ving a diverse set of co#&anies,
organi@ed under a do@en trade associations and institutes. .acking the# are interests ranging fro#
#ining co#&anies )ike .ra@i)<s 4*M* to #anufacturers of asbestos ce#ent sheets )ike 2ndia<s Eisaka
2ndustries. "he )arge)y uncharted industry ca#&aign is coordinated, in &art, by a govern#ent;backed
institute in Montrea) and reaches fro# Dew /e)hi to Mexico %ity to the a&t)y na#ed city of *sbest in
+ussia<s =ra) Mountains.
*n ana)ysis by the 2nternationa) %onsortiu# of 2nvestigative ,ourna)ists has tracked near)y X1>>
#i))ion in &ub)ic and &rivate #oney s&ent by these grou&s since the #id;10:>s in three countries a)one
L %anada, 2ndia and .ra@i) L to kee& asbestos in co##erce. "heir strategy, critics say, is one borrowed
fro# the tobacco industry: create doubt, contest )itigation, and de)ay regu)ation. G2t<s tota))y
unethica),H says ,ukka "aka)a, director of the 8uro&ean *gency for 4afety and Hea)th at Work and a
for#er 2L' officia). G2t<s a)#ost cri#ina). *sbestos cannot be used safe)y. 2t is c)ear)y a carcinogen. 2t
ki))s &eo&)e.H
2ndustry;funded researchers have #ounted a &ro)ific res&onse, &)acing into the scientific )iterature
hundreds of artic)es c)ai#ing that asbestos can be used safe)y. "heir argu#ent is that chrysoti)e, or
white, asbestos L the on)y kind so)d today L is orders of #agnitude )ess ha@ardous than brown or b)ue
asbestos, which the industry sto&&ed #ining in the 100>s. G2t<s an extre#e)y va)uab)e #ateria),H
argues /r. ,. %orbett Mc/ona)d, an e#eritus &rofessor of e&ide#io)ogy at Mc1i)) =niversity in
Montrea) who began studying chrysoti)e;ex&osed workers in the #id;107>s with the su&&ort of the
Uuebec *sbestos Mining *ssociation. G2t<s very chea&. 2f they try to rebui)d Haiti and use no asbestos
it wi)) cost the# #uch #ore. *ny hea)th effects Pfro# chrysoti)eQ wi)) be trivia), if any.H
Hea)th and )abor officia)s recoi) at such state#ents. GDo ex&osure to asbestos is without risk,H the
%o))egiu# +a#a@@ini, an internationa) society of scho)ars on occu&ationa) and environ#enta) hea)th,
said in a recent &a&er. G*sbestos cancer victi#s die &ainfu), )ingering deaths. "hese deaths are a)#ost
entire)y &reventab)e.H
Last fa)), the *#erican Pub)ic Hea)th *ssociation 6oined the %o))egiu#, the Wor)d (ederation of
Pub)ic Hea)th 'rgani@ations, the 2nternationa) %o##ission on 'ccu&ationa) Hea)th, and the
2nternationa) "rade =nion %onfederation in ca))ing for a g)oba) asbestos ban. 2n >>0, a &ane) of $
ex&erts convened by the WH'<s 2nternationa) *gency for +esearch on %ancer re&orted,
G8&ide#io)ogica) evidence has increasing)y shown an association of a)) for#s of asbestos [ with an
increased risk of )ung cancer and #esothe)io#a.H "he &ane) a)so found there was new evidence that
asbestos causes cancer of the )arynx and the ovary.
.ut the asbestos industry has signa)ed that it wi)) not go away Buiet)y. Pro#otion of &ro;industry
studies is 6oined by ca#&aigns of &o)itica) )obbying and ad buying to ensure that asbestos is free)y
#arketed in fast;growing countries. %onsider so#e of the events 6ust this year: 2n a March 17 )etter,
the head of the *sociacibn %o)o#biana de (ibras, a chrysoti)e trade grou& in .ogotc, %o)o#bia, asked
Wor)d .ank &resident +obert Toe))ick to Gsoften your &ositionH on the co#&ound, arguing that
&ro6ections of 1>>,>>> asbestos;re)ated deaths a year were based on Go)d data.H I"he bank announced
)ast year that it ex&ects borrowers to use asbestos a)ternatives whenever feasib)e.J 2n docu#ents
obtained in %o)o#bia by 2%2,, the association boasts of creating a s&inoff in 8cuador to try to sha&e
govern#ent regu)ations and decries the e#ergence of the Ginternationa) &rohibitionist #ove#entH
against asbestos. GWe have to start a wide ca#&aign a#ong a)) the chrysoti)e associations in the wor)d
to counteract Pthe #ove#entQ, sending co##unications to the directors of the Wor)d Hea)th
'rgani@ation and 2nternationa) Labor 'rgani@ation,H state the #inutes of a >>: board #eeting.
2n a ,an. $ )etter, a )awyer for 2ndia<s *sbestos %e#ent Products Manufacturers *ssociation sco)ded
/r. ".-. ,oshi, an occu&ationa) #edicine s&ecia)ist in Dew /e)hi, for #aking Gbase)essH a))egations
against chrysoti)e and frightening workers. "he )awyer de#anded that ,oshi retract his Gye))ow
re&ortingH or, he i#&)ied, face )ega) action. * few weeks ear)ier, the association had &)aced an ad in
"he "i#es of 2ndia, that nation<s )eading 8ng)ish dai)y, head)ined, G.)ast "hose Myths *bout *sbestos
114
%e#ent.H "he ad c)ai#ed, a#ong other things, that the cancer scourge in the West had co#e during a
G&eriod of ignorance,H when care)ess hand)ing of asbestos insu)ation resu)ted in excessive ex&osures.
4uch ex&osures are )ong gone, the ad said, noting that asbestos ce#ent &roducts are Gstrong, durab)e,
econo#ica), energy efficient and eco;friend)y.H
A Troub"ed History
(ire; and heat;resistant, strong and inex&ensive, asbestos L a natura))y occurring, fibrous #inera) L
was once seen as a construction #ateria) with near;#agica) &ro&erties. (or decades, industria)i@ed
countries fro# the =nited 4tates to *ustra)ia re)ied on it for count)ess &roducts, inc)uding &i&e and
cei)ing insu)ation, shi&;bui)ding #ateria)s, brake shoes and &ads, bricks, roofing, and f)ooring.
Hundreds of former mechanics e3posed to chrysotile or white asbestos dust from brake linings
ha%e sued auto and parts manufacturers alleging the to3ic fibers ga%e them mesothelioma a %irulent
form of cancer. 62redit# 5lickr user $sbestorama7
'#inous re&orts about the hea)th effects of asbestos began a&&earing in 8uro&e in the )ate 10th
century. .y 101:, *#erican and %anadian insurance co#&anies were refusing to cover asbestos
workers because of ra#&ant )ung disease. 2n 10!>, the 2L' issued a warning: G*)) PasbestosQ
&rocesses fro# extraction onwards unBuestionab)y invo)ve a considerab)e ha@ard.H 2n 107>, a 4outh
*frican &atho)ogist confir#ed a direct )ink between asbestos ex&osure and #esothe)io#a. *nd yet,
uncontro))ed use of asbestos on)y grew, &eaking in the =nited 4tates in 10$!. .y one esti#ate, 1>>
#i))ion *#ericans were occu&ationa))y ex&osed to asbestos during the >th century.
"he first asbestos )awsuit against an asbestos insu)ation #anufacturer in the =nited 4tates was fi)ed
in 1077. 2nterna) docu#ents showing cor&orate know)edge of the #inera)<s )ung;ravaging &ro&erties
began to surface, and by 10:1 #ore than >> co#&anies and insurers had been sued. "he fo))owing
year, the nation<s biggest #aker of asbestos &roducts L ,ohns Manvi))e %or&. L and two other
defendants fi)ed for bankru&tcy &rotection in an effort to ho)d off the tide of )itigation. (ro# the 107>s
through >>, #ore than $!>,>>> &eo&)e fi)ed asbestos c)ai#s, resu)ting in da#age &ay#ents and
)itigation costs of X$> bi))ion, according to a >>3 study by the +*D/ %or&. 'f this, X!> bi))ion
actua))y went to c)ai#ants.
*s the evidence against asbestos accu#u)ated in the 10:>s, the 4candinavian countries began to
i#&ose bans. .ut the biggest b)ow for chrysoti)e ca#e in 1000, when the 8uro&ean %o##ission
decreed that &roducts #ade of white asbestos wou)d be out)awed as of ,an. 1, >>3. "he 8=<s decision
to ban was re&)icated by %hi)e, *ustra)ia, ,a&an, and 8gy&t, a#ong other countries. Most f)at)y forbid
113
use of asbestos, though a few sti)) a))ow it in brakes and gaskets. (ifty;two countries eventua))y
s)a&&ed restrictions on its use, inc)uding #ost of the deve)o&ed wor)d. Less ha@ardous but genera))y
#ore ex&ensive substitutes such as &o)y&ro&y)ene fiber ce#ent, a)u#inu# roof ti)es, and stee);
reinforced concrete &i&e have gained favor.
5et chrysoti)e continues to be #ined and used heavi)y in so#e &arts of the wor)dK in >>:, raw fiber
ex&orts wor)dwide were va)ued by the =nited Dations at near)y X4>> #i))ion. +ussia is the wor)d<s
biggest &roducer, %hina the biggest consu#er. .ut %anada L which uses a)#ost no asbestos within its
borders but sti)) shi&s it abroad L is the &ri#ary booster, a ro)e it assu#ed in the 107>s when the
country<s #ining industry in Uuebec was threatened by studies tying the #inera) to cancer. "he federa)
and &rovincia) govern#ents together have given %X!3 #i))ion over the &ast Buarter;century to the
Montrea);based %hrysoti)e 2nstitute, a non&rofit grou& that &ro#otes the Gcontro))edH use of asbestos
in construction and #anufacturing.
%ontro))ed use is e)usive in deve)o&ing nations. 2%2, inBuiries in a ha)f;do@en countries, inc)uding
on;site visits and interviews with )oca) hea)th officia)s and worker advocates, found s&otty &rotection
#easures and wides&read ex&osure to asbestos dust. "his wi)) )ike)y &roduce outbreaks of
occu&ationa) disease for years to co#e in &)aces )ike 2ndia, %hina, and Mexico, ex&erts say. G*nybody
who ta)ks about contro))ed asbestos use is either a )iar or a foo),H says .arry %ast)e#an, an
environ#enta) consu)tant based near Washington, /.%., who advises the WH' on asbestos #atters. G2f
they can<t have contro))ed use in 4weden, they can<t have contro))ed use in 4wa@i)and.H
The +hrysoti"e 1nstitutes
*t the center of the debate is the %anadian govern#ent;backed %hrysoti)e 2nstitute. "he institute<s
&resident, %)e#ent 1odbout, insists that his organi@ation<s #essage has been #isinter&reted. GWe
never said that chrysoti)e was not dangerous,H he says. GWe said that chrysoti)e is a &roduct with
&otentia) risk and it has to be contro))ed. 2t<s not so#ething that you &ut in your coffee every
#orning.H
"he institute is a &urveyor of infor#ation, 1odbout e#&hasi@es, not an internationa) &o)ice agency.
GWe don<t have the &ower to interfere in any countries that have their own &owers, their own
sovereignty,H he says. GWe don<t have the resources to trave) the wor)d every day.H 1odbout says he is
convinced that )arge asbestos ce#ent factories in 2ndian cities have good dust contro)s and #edica)
survei))ance, though he acknow)edges that there #ight be s#a))er o&erations Gwhere the ru)es are not
rea))y fo))owed. .ut it<s not an accurate &icture of the industry. 2f you have so#eone on a highway in
the =.4. driving at >> #i)es &er hour, it doesnCt #ean everybody<s doing it.H
"he %hrysoti)e 2nstitute has received X1 #i))ion fro# the asbestos industry over the &ast five years,
according to 1odbout, who says he doesn<t know how #uch was contributed in the &revious >,
before he beca#e chair#an. /ocu#ents obtained under %anada<s *ccess to 2nfor#ation *ct by
'ttawa researcher -en +ubin indicate that the industry gave #ore than X1: #i))ion to the institute
fro# 10:4 through >>1, #eaning its tota) contribution to 1odbout<s grou& is &robab)y around X>
#i))ion.
"he institute offers what it describes as Gtechnica) and financia) aidH to a do@en sister organi@ations
around the wor)d. "hese organi@ations, in turn, seek to inf)uence science and &o)icy in their own
countries and regions. %onsider the situation in Mexico, which in >>$ used 1> ti#es as #uch
asbestos as its neighbor, the =nited 4tates. Pro#oting chrysoti)e use is Luis %e6udo *)va, who has
overseen the 2nstituto Mexicano de (ibro 2ndustrias I2M(2J for 4> years. %e6udo says he is in regu)ar
contact with the %hrysoti)e 2nstitute and re)ated grou&s in +ussia and .ra@i), and gives &resentations
inside and outside of Mexico on the &rudent hand)ing of chrysoti)e. G2f 2 knew that our industry ki))s
&eo&)e, that our &roducts affect the &o&u)ation, 2 wou)dn<t be here ta)king to you,H %e6udo says. G2 a#
here because 2 have rea)i@ed that #any asbestos detractors exist, es&ecia))y in 8uro&e.H 2n the 100>s,
he notes, 2M(2 #e#bers, a)ong with their %anadian and *#erican counter&arts, agreed to sto& se))ing
117
asbestos to factories without adeBuate safety #easuresK this )ed to so#e &)ant c)osures. GWe work hard
with the govern#ent Hea)th and Labor #inistry re&resentatives to create the regu)ations and to #ake
constant visits to &rove that the factories are fo))owing these regu)ations,H %e6udo says.
* #ore ske&tica) &ers&ective co#es fro# /r. 1uada)u&e *gui)ar Madrid, a &hysician and researcher
at the Mexican 4ocia) 4ecurity 2nstitute, which oversees &ub)ic hea)th under the federa) 4ecretariat of
Hea)th. *gui)ar #aintains that the 2M(2 exists not to &ro#ote safety but to &reserve the chrysoti)e
#arket in Mexico. 2t has insinuated itse)f into both the Labor and Hea)th secretariats, she said, and has
had a Gvery bigH inf)uence over work&)ace and environ#enta) ru)es. GWhen asbestos was banned in
industria)i@ed countries and P&roducersQ started to )ose #oney, they ca#e to the deve)o&ing countries
to recover their invest#ents,H *gui)ar says. G*fter so#e 4outh *#erican countries banned asbestos,
they focused on Mexico as their #ain #anufacturer.H
2hildren gather at a food cart across the street from the $merican +oll asbestos brake factory
6right7. +esidents of the Me3ico 2ity suburb of I@tapalapa ha%e complained repeatedly about
emissions from the plant but say they,%e gotten little help from regulators. 62redit# &ose 2orea7
Mexico ra#&ed u& i#&orts of %anadian chrysoti)e in the 10$>s, and its weak worker;&rotection )aws
have a))owed dangerous conditions to &ro)iferate, *gui)ar says. *bout $> factories in and around
Mexico %ity #anufacture asbestos ce#ent, and an indeter#inate nu#ber #ake asbestos brakes,
boi)ers, and other &roducts, according to *gui)ar. *)) to)d, she esti#ates that 1>,>>> Mexicans work
with asbestos at any one ti#e, #any without &ro&er &rotection. *s a resu)t,Mexico can ex&ect an
e&ide#ic of #esothe)io#a in co#ing years, *gui)ar says. Her research shows that the nu#ber of
deaths is rising steadi)y, as wou)d be ex&ected given the !>; to 4>;year )atency &eriod co##on)y
associated with the disease. 2nc)uding #esothe)io#a and )ung cancer, Gwe cou)d be ta)king about
!,>>> to 3,>>> deaths fro# diseases re)ated to asbestos every year,H the doctor says. 4he ca))s
%anada<s chrysoti)e ex&orts Gde&)orab)e.H
*nother sister organi@ation is the .ra@i)ian %hrysoti)e 2nstitute, based in the state of 1oics, site of
the country<s on)y asbestos #ine. * &rosecutor in the state is seeking disso)ution of the institute, a se)f;
described &ub)ic interest grou& with tax;exe#&t status. "he &rosecutor charges in a court &)eading that
the institute is a &oor)y disguised shi)) for the .ra@i)ian asbestos industry, which &rovides virtua))y a))
its budget. *#ong other things, the grou& he)&ed the .ra@i)ian govern#ent fund studies rigged to
benefit the industry, the &rosecutor a))eges. Having inf)icted Gsocia) da#age ste##ing fro# PitsQ
i))ega) &ractices,H the institute shou)d &ay one #i))ion reais Iabout X33>,>>>J in da#ages and a fine of
3,>>> reais IX,:>>J for every day it re#ains o&en, the &)eading says. 2n a state#ent to 2%2,, a
s&okes#an for the institute denied the a))egations, saying the grou& Gensures the hea)th and security of
workers and users, &rotection of the environ#ent and P&rovidesQ infor#ation to society.H Pub)ic
records show that the institute has taken in #ore than X: #i))ion fro# asbestos co#&anies since >>7.
11$
"hat a .ra@i)ian &rosecutor is even atte#&ting to shut down the institute is unusua). Most if not a)) of
the &ro;chrysoti)e grou&s have friend)y re)ationshi&s with their host govern#ents and a&&ear to easi)y
over&ower &ub)ic hea)th advocates. 2n +ussia,which &roduced one #i))ion #etric tons of chrysoti)e in
>>:, #ore than any country by far, Pri#e Minister E)adi#ir Putin &)edged to assist the industry after
a &)ea for he)& fro# a trade union chief. Putin G&ro#ised to su&&ort +ussian &roducers of chrysoti)e,
es&ecia))y in situations where we find ourse)ves under &o)itica) &ressure at the internationa) )eve),H
*ndrei -ho)@akov, chair#an of the union that re&resents workers at one of the country<s )argest
asbestos co#&anies, =ra)asbest, said in an *&ri) >>0 &ress re)ease.
Perha&s nowhere is the industry as strong as in 2ndia, the wor)d<s second;)argest consu#er of
asbestos, after %hina. "here are #ore than 4>> asbestos ce#ent factories in the 2ndian state of 1u6arat
a)one, concentrated in the city of *h#edabad, and the nationa) #arket is growing at the rate of !>
&ercent a year, due #ain)y to construction in &oor, rura) areas, where asbestos sheet is standard cover
for ho#es."he *sbestos %e#ent Products Manufacturers *ssociation en6oys a Gtight re)ationshi&H
with federa) and state &o)iticians, says activist Madhu#ita /utta. "he state in which she )ives, "a#i)
Dadu, owns an asbestos roofing #ateria)s &)ant, /utta says, and there are si#i)ar arrange#ents in
other states. G"hings are a bit b)eak,H she wrote in an e;#ai) to 2%2,. G"he industry has grown and is
ex&anding, their &o)itica) c)out getting stronger, their direct interventions in the govern#ent decision;
#aking #ore a&&arent Ithrough funding govern#ent studiesJ, their &ro&aganda #ore aggressive.H
1overn#ent sources to)d 2%2, that the #anufacturers< association has received about X3> #i))ion fro#
the industry since 10:3, with annua) a))ot#ents rising as anti;asbestos senti#ent esca)ated. 'ne of the
grou&<s s&ecia)ties is Gadvertoria)sH L faux news artic)es that exto) the safety and va)ue of asbestos
&roducts. "he association<s annua) budget now ranges fro# X: #i))ion to X1! #i))ion, according to
one #e#ber.
"he *%PM* says on its website that the use of chrysoti)e in #anufacturing Gis safe for the workers,
environ#ent and the genera) &ub)ic.H 8ar)ier this year, however, authorities brought four cri#ina)
cases against owners of a 4:;year;o)d asbestos ce#ent factory in *h#edabad, 1u6arat %o#&osite Ltd.,
a))eging egregious hea)th vio)ations. *t )east $3 e#&)oyees of the co#&any have deve)o&ed )ung
cancer over the &ast decade.
"hough there are #any uncertainties, researchers say that %hina a&&ears &oised for an ex&)osion of
asbestos;re)ated i))ness in the not;too;distant future. .ased on a for#u)a deve)o&ed by *ntti
"ossavainen with the (innish 2nstitute of 'ccu&ationa) Hea)th L that one #esothe)io#a case occurs for
every 1$> tons of asbestos &roduced and consu#ed L at )east !,$>> cases of the disease can be
ex&ected each year, not to #ention thousands of cases of )ung cancer, asbestosis, and sto#ach cancer.
%hina has yet to see the )eve) of disease ex&erienced in 8uro&e, the =.4. and other industria)i@ed &arts
of the wor)d, ex&erts say, because &er ca&ita consu#&tion of asbestos re#ained )ow into the 10$>s.
"hatCs no )onger true, as %hina is now the wor)d<s biggest user of the #inera). "aka)a, director of the
8uro&ean *gency for 4afety and Hea)th at Work, esti#ates that 1>,>>> to 13,>>> %hinese wi)) die of
asbestos;re)ated ai)#ents each year by >!3. "he country has about 1,>>> asbestos #ines and
&roduction faci)ities, one #i))ion asbestos workers, and annua) consu#&tion of #ore than 7>>,>>>
#etric tons of chrysoti)e.
11:
+anada9s +ontroversia" !o"e
Do country has defended chrysoti)e as vigorous)y, and for as )ong, as %anada. When the =.4.
8nviron#enta) Protection *gency issued a ru)e banning asbestos in 10:0, the govern#ent of
%anada&artici&ated inan industry )awsuit that overturned the ru)e. When (rance banned asbestos a
decade )ater, %anada tea#ed u& with .ra@i) in an unsuccessfu) Wor)d "rade 'rgani@ation cha))enge.
*nd when a =nited Dations che#ica) review co##ittee reco##ended in >>: that chrysoti)e be
)isted under *nnex 222 of the +otterda# %onvention L a treaty that reBuires ex&orters of ha@ardous
substances to use c)ear )abe)ing and warn i#&orters of any restrictions or bans L %anada, 2ndia, and a
few other nations ke&t the reco##endation fro# winning the unani#ous su&&ort it needed to &ass.
2t was the fourth ti#e since >>4 that chrysoti)e had co#e u& for consideration and the fourth ti#e it
had fai)ed to #ake *nnex 222. 2t &robab)y won<t co#e u& again unti) >11 at the ear)iest. GWe knew it
was not going to go through s#ooth)y and uno&&osed,H says 4hei)a Logan with the =nited Dations
8nviron#ent Progra##e, who was in the thick of negotiations on chrysoti)e in >>7. *nnex 222,
Logan ex&)ains, is a Gse#i;b)ack)ist, though there are #any substances on there that #any countries
wi)) continue to i#&ort. "he fear Pa#ong ex&orters and usersQ is that countries wi)) 6ust take a b)anket
a&&roach and say, SDo, 2<# not i#&orting anything that<s inc)uded in the convention.<H Logan says she
be)ieves that chrysoti)e shou)d be )isted, even if L as so#e scientists c)ai# L it is )ess carcinogenic than
b)ue or brown asbestos, both of which be)ong to a fa#i)y known as a#&hibo)es. 4he draws an
ana)ogy: G*n O;ray #ay be )ess dangerous than a ga##a;ray burst, but 2<# not going to stand in front
of either of the#. "hat<s #y &ersona) choice.H
%anada today is the wor)d<s fifth )argest &roducer of asbestos and its fourth )argest ex&orter, shi&&ing
X0$ #i))ion of raw fiber overseas in >>:. *)) this co#es fro# 6ust two #ines, both )ocated in Uuebec.
110
$n Indian worker with a bag of asbestos
at a milling unit in 1daipur +ajasthan.
Health officials say many such workers
are poorly protected from the lung!
ra%aging fibers.
62redit# Sonumadha%an7
"he %hrysoti)e 2nstitute says the industry accounts for about $>> direct and ,>>> indirect 6obs L
hard)y an econo#ic 6uggernaut. .ut it survives des&ite #ounting criticis#: .oth the federa) and
&rovincia) govern#ents have been besieged by )etters fro# &ro#inent acade#ics, &hysicians, and
others &rotesting %anada<s ex&ort of chrysoti)e. 2n a state#ent to 2%2,, the Uuebec Ministry of Datura)
+esources #ade its case: G"here are no va)id reasons to ha)t chrysoti)e ex&ort since it can be used
safe)y. P/Qeve)o&ing countries are in great need of this kind of #ateria) Ias we were so#e years agoJ
to bui)d good infrastructures. (urther#ore, substitutes to chrysoti)e have not yet been &roven to be
safer.H
2n addition to funding the %hrysoti)e 2nstitute, the #inistry has given %X$4:,>>> since >>4 to the
4ociNtN Dationa)e de )<*#iante, an asbestos research grou&. Do )onger active, the grou& re)ocated its
office to the #inistry, which is in the &rocess of sett)ing its G&ast co##it#ents and res&onsibi)ities,H a
govern#ent s&okes#an said.
%hristian Paradis, natura) resources #inister in %anada<s conservative govern#ent, is si#i)ar)y
su&&ortive of the industry. *native of the town of "hetford Mines, Uuebec,Paradis once served as
&resident of the*sbestos %ha#ber of %o##erce and 2ndustry. G4ince 10$0, the 1overn#ent of
%anada has &ro#oted the safe and contro))ed use of chrysoti)e, PandQ our &osition re#ains the sa#e,H
Paradis said in a state#ent to 2%2,. G.anning chrysoti)e is neither necessary nor a&&ro&riate. [ *))
recent scientific studies show that chrysoti)e fibers, the on)y asbestos fiber that is &roduced and
ex&orted fro# %anada, can be used safe)y under contro))ed conditions.H
(ine for ex&ort, &erha&s, but not for do#estic use. 2n >>0, %anada sent near)y 13!,>>> #etric tons
of chrysoti)e abroad. More than ha)f went to 2ndiaK the rest went to 2ndonesia, "hai)and, Mexico, 4ri
Lanka, Pakistan, and the =nited *rab 8#irates. *t ho#e it was a different story: %anada used on)y
7,>>> tons do#estica))y in >>7, the )ast year for which data are avai)ab)e. %anadian officia)s see#
deter#ined to boost &roduction: "he Uuebec Ministry of 8cono#ic /eve)o&#ent, 2nnovation and
8x&ort "rade is considering a %X3: #i))ion )oan guarantee to save the f)oundering ,effrey Mine. "he
#ine<s owner has announced &)ans to shi& >>,>>> tons of chrysoti)e &er year to *sia if the #oney
co#es through.
*#ir *ttaran, an associate &rofessor of )aw and #edicine at the =niversity of 'ttawa, says he is
asha#ed of the nation<s stance. G2t<s abso)ute)y c)ear that PPri#e MinisterQ 4te&hen Har&er and his
govern#ent have acce&ted the rea)ity that the &resent course of action ki))s &eo&)e, and they find that
to)erab)e,H *ttaran says. G%anada<s certain)y aware that countries which &urchase chrysoti)e do so in
the absence of correct regu)ation.H
The &'ientists
'n March 1>, /avid .ernstein ste&&ed u& to the &odiu# at the 4ociety of "oxico)ogy<s annua)
#eeting in 4a)t Lake %ity, =tah, and announced the resu)ts of his )atest study. *n *#erican;born
toxico)ogist based in 1eneva, .ernstein began researching chrysoti)e in the )ate 100>s at the behest of
a #ine o&erator in .ra@i). He was now re&orting that rats ex&osed to chrysoti)e asbestos for five days,
six hours a day, had shown no i)) effects whatsoever. +ats ex&osed to brown a#osite, a ty&e of
a#&hibo)e, hadn<t fared so we)). "he chrysoti)e fibers were c)eared Buick)y fro# the ani#a)s< )ungs
and caused Gno &atho)ogica) res&onse at any &oint,H even though the ex&osure )eve) was 3> &ercent
higher than that for a#osite, .ernstein said. "he fibers have very different a&&earances under
#agnification. %hrysoti)e fibers )ook )ike u)trathin, ro))ed sheetsK a#osite and other a#&hibo)es )ook
)ike so)id rods.
"he s&onsor of the as;yet un&ub)ished study was 1eorgia;Pacific %or&. of *t)anta, which once #ade
a ready;#ix 6oint co#&ound L a gooey white substance used to sea) 6oints between sheets of drywa)) L
that contained 3 &ercent chrysoti)e. 1eorgia;Pacific has been sued in the =nited 4tates by a nu#ber of
#esothe)io#a victi#s who c)ai# they were ex&osed to asbestos whi)e sanding the dried co#&ound.
.ernstein<s )atest study, done in con6unction with 1eorgia;Pacific<s chief toxico)ogist, 4tewart Ho)#,
1>
cou)d be good news for the co#&any.
.ernstein is the #ost active of a do@en or so industry;backed scientists who have he)&ed fue) the
asbestos trade by &roducing &a&ers, )ecturing, and testifying on the re)ative safety of chrysoti)e. "he
industry has s&ent tens of #i))ions of do))ars funding their studies, which have been cited so#e 3,>>>
ti#es in the #edica) )iterature as we)) as by )obby grou&s fro# 2ndia to %anada. .ernstein<s work
a)one has been cited 47> ti#es. He has been Buoted or #entioned in Ti#babwe<s (inancia) 1a@ette,
Hong -ong<s 4outh %hina Morning Post and other &ub)ications around the wor)d. His curricu)u#
vitae suggests that he<s been a one;#an road show for chrysoti)e, giving ta)ks in 10 countries since
1000. *#ong his sto&s: .ra@i), %hina, %o)o#bia, 2ndia, 2ndonesia, -orea, Mexico, +ussia, 4outh
*frica, "hai)and, and Eietna#. "he industry &aid for a)) of his trave), .ernstein to)d 2%2, in an
interview.
2ndeed, a)) of .ernstein<s work on asbestos has been underwritten by the industry, and he has
beco#e its &rinci&a) defender at scientific #eetings and in other venues. .ernstein says he has no idea
how #uch a)) his studies have cost and e#&hasi@es that, in any case, #ost of the #oney goes to the
)aboratory in .ase), 4wit@er)and, where the ani#a) ex&eri#ents are &erfor#ed. %ourt docu#ents show
that one s&onsor, =nion %arbide, &aid X4>>,7! for work by .ernstein in >>! and >>3.
2n an interview in his hote) )obby the day before his &resentation in 4a)t Lake %ity, .ernstein said
that 1eorgia;Pacific in no way inf)uenced his chrysoti)e research, nor have any of his other cor&orate
s&onsors. G2 wou)d work for any grou&,H .ernstein ex&)ained. G2 have no )i#itations. =nfortunate)y,
the grou&s that don<t )ike this work don<t ask #e.H He decried the hy&erbo)e surrounding chrysoti)e L
G2t<s a hysterica) thingK it doesn<t co#e fro# scienceH L and said he doesn<t be)ieve the fragi)e white
fibers cause #esothe)io#a. "hey cou)d cause )ung cancer, he said, if ex&osures were extre#e)y high.
"he re)evance of .ernstein<s rat ex&eri#ents to hu#ans is contested by fe))ow researchers. (or
exa#&)e, an ex&ert &ane) asse#b)ed by the =.4. *gency for "oxic 4ubstances and /isease +egistry
conc)uded that rodents c)ear short asbestos fibers fro# their )ungs about 1> ti#es faster than do
&eo&)e. .ernstein<s ani#a)s, #oreover, were ex&osed over a re)ative)y brief &eriod of ti#e. Many
workers inha)e asbestos over #onths or years, not days. GDot everyone ex&osed, even heavi)y, wi))
necessari)y deve)o& disease, but data in the scientific )iterature show that as )itt)e as one day of
ex&osure in #an and ani#a)s can )ead to #esothe)io#a, and a #onth or )ess of ex&osure in #an
doub)es the risk of )ung cancer,H says /r. *rthur (rank, a &hysician and &rofessor at the /rexe)
=niversity 4choo) of Pub)ic Hea)th in Phi)ade)&hia.
2f .ernstein is chrysoti)e<s scientific a#bassador, then 0;year;o)d ,. %orbett Mc/ona)d is its
)ongest;tenured cha#&ion. He is the author of three do@en scientific &a&ers on chrysoti)e, and his work
has been cited in the #edica) )iterature near)y 1,3>> ti#es. 2n a te)e&hone interview, Mc/ona)d said he
was a&&roached by the %anadian govern#ent in 1074to study asbestos #iners and #i))ersin UuebecK
he, in turn, a&&ea)ed to the Uuebec *sbestos Mining *ssociation for funding, which it agreed to
&rovide. "he i#&etus for the research, Mc/ona)d said, was a &a&er by /r. 2rving 4e)ikoff of Dew
5ork<s Mount 4inai 4choo) of Medicine re&orting that insu)ation workers with re)ative)y )ight
ex&osures to asbestos were dying of #esothe)io#a and other cancers at striking)y high rates.
A %esson from Toba''o:
Minutes of the #ining association<s Dove#ber 1073 #eeting, obtained by )awyers for asbestos
victi#s, suggest that the grou& saw the tobacco industry as a &aradig#: G"he consensus of o&inion
see#ed to &oint out that the U*M* shou)d take into its hands the ways and #eans to conduct the
necessary research instead of doing it through universities or )etting it fa)) in the hands of the
1overn#ent. *s an exa#&)e, it was reca))ed that the tobacco industry )aunched its own &rogra# and it
now knows where it stands. 2ndustry is a)ways we)) advised to )ook after its own &rob)e#s.H
(orty;five years )ater, Mc/ona)d re#ains reso)ute in his defense of asbestos. He says there is Gvery
11
strong evidenceH that conta#inants in chrysoti)e, and not the chrysoti)e itse)f, caused excesses of
#esothe)io#a a#ong the Uuebec workers. "he toxic agent, he sus&ects, was tre#o)ite, a ty&e of
a#&hibo)e. Mc/ona)d insists that his work was never inf)uenced by the asbestos industry. 2ndeed, he
wasn<t sure how #uch its )eaders even cared about his work. G2t used to worry us a bit that they took
so )itt)e interest in the resu)ts,H he says.
Mc/ona)d<s tre#o)ite theory L rebutted by studies of texti)e workers ex&osed to a)#ost &ure
chrysoti)e, and 6ust this year, a study of workers at a brake;)ining factory L fo))ows a &attern that /r.
/avid 8gi)#an, a &hysician and c)inica) associate &rofessor at .rown =niversity in Providence, +hode
2s)and, ca))s *.%: anything but chrysoti)e. 2n fact, so#e researchers and defense )awyers have argued
that #esothe)io#a cou)d be triggered by a &o)io vaccine conta#inated with a #onkey virus. GLike the
tobacco industry, they<ve been successfu) at #ani&u)ating scientific theories to confuse the &ub)ic
about the rea) risks of using asbestos,H says 8gi)#an, who, )ike (rank and %ast)e#an, testifies on
beha)f of &)aintiffs in asbestos )awsuits.
.ernstein<s and Mc/ona)d<s studies have &roved he)&fu) to an industry under growing &ressure to
disband. *#&hibo)es such as the viru)ent b)ue crocido)ite, which ki))ed #iners in 4outh *frica for
near)y two centuries before the nation i#&osed a ban in >>:, are virtua))y never encountered today.
"here are obvious econo#ic incentives, ske&tics say, to b)a#e #ost of the asbestos disease in the &ast
3> years on obscure ty&es of the #inera) and i#&)y that chrysoti)e, which accounts for 03 &ercent of
a)) the asbestos ever used, is re)ative)y benign.
G2s there a )egiti#ate scientific Buestion as to whether white asbestos is )ess dangerous Pthan b)ue or
brownQ9 5es,H (rank says. G.ut is it safe9 Do.H
4evera) key criticis#s have been )eve)ed at the researchers who defend chrysoti)e. "hey tend, for
exa#&)e, to focus on #esothe)io#a L the disease that co#es u& #ost often in )itigation because it is
considered a#arker of asbestos ex&osure L and ignore )ung cancer, which occurs #ore freBuent)y.
H%hrysoti)e is 6ust as &otent Pas a#&hibo)esQ in ter#s of )ung cancer, and it #ight even be #ore
&otent,H says Peter 2nfante, for#er director of the 'ffice of 4tandards +eview at the =.4. 'ccu&ationa)
4afety and Hea)th *d#inistration. "hey fixate on the a#ount of ti#e chrysoti)e fibers s&end in the
)ungs, fai)ing to acknow)edge that the fibers can do a figurative hit;and;run on ce))s, da#aging /D*
and &reci&itating cancer. *nd they buy into what WH' consu)tant %ast)e#an ca))s the fa))acy of
contro))ed use L the idea that e#&)oyers in the deve)o&ing wor)d are serious about dust su&&ression
and venti)ation.
%ast)e#an has been researching asbestos ce#ent substitutes L roofing and &i&es #ade with ce))u)ose
fibers, ducti)e iron and fiberg)ass, for exa#&)e L for the WH' and has deter#ined that, at #ost, they
cost 1> to 13 &ercent #ore to &roduce. .y his reckoning, asbestos is not #uch of a bargain.
G'bvious)y, the cost of death and disease and the eventua) cost of even ha)fway &ro&er)y #anaging
asbestos ce#ent structures wi&es out any short;ter# savings of 1> to 13 &ercent,H %ast)e#an says. *s
for another industry c)ai# L that substitute &roducts #ay be #ore dangerous than chrysoti)e L he
notes, G"hey do not re)ease carcinogenic dust whenever they are sawed, dri))ed, and de#o)ished.H
/es&ite the reassuring studies and the #i))ion;do))ar #arketing efforts, the asbestos industry faces
stiffening headwinds. "he nu#ber of countries i#&osing bans or restrictions continues to c)i#b, and
grou&s of hea)th and )abor activists have s&rung u& in %hina, .ra@i), 2ndia, and other high;use
countries. "he govern#ent of %anada, )ong considered a )eader on environ#enta) and hea)th #atters,
has co#e under withering attack for &ushing ex&orts.
(or his &art, scientist .ernstein contends that his conc)usion is the correct one: White asbestos can
be used safe)y around the wor)d. "hat the WH', the 8uro&ean =nion, and do@ens of nationa)
govern#ents disagree doesn<t bother hi#. G2t<s not in #y interest whether it<s the #inority view or
not,H .ernstein says. G2<ve a)ways fe)t that science wi)) &revai) at the end.H
1
%fterword by ;im Morris
"he &ro6ect that beca#e G/angers in the /ustH originated with a ti& fro# two )ongti#e sources
of #ine in the &ub)ic hea)th arena. 2 had asked, GWhat<s the biggest story no one knows about9H
.oth to)d #e 2 shou)d )ook into the #arketing of asbestos L ki))er of count)ess &eo&)e in Dorth
*#erica and 8uro&e in recent decades L in deve)o&ing nations such as 2ndia and %hina.
2 began with hu#an sources L conducting face;to;face and te)e&hone interviews L and then
acBuired docu#ents. 2 have no s&ecific syste# of organi@ing #y #ateria)s. 2 began #y fie)d
work by trave)ing to .ra@i) to fo))ow a federa) )abor ins&ector who had been fighting the
asbestos industry in that country for a Buarter;century.
"he =.4. has a (reedo# of 2nfor#ation *ct but it was of )i#ited use in this &ro6ect, which
focused on the #arketing of asbestos in other nations. We #ade )arge use of )itigation
docu#ents L de&ositions, interrogatories, etc. L to su&&)e#ent the Gofficia)H record on co#&)ex,
controversia) issues.
We sought and obtained )obbying records in countries such as %anada, .ra@i), %o)o#bia and
2ndia. 4o#e of these records were inco#&)ete, however, and there were no records avai)ab)e in
countries such as Mexico and %hina. "herefore, our esti#ate of the a#ount of #oney the
asbestos industry had s&ent wor)dwide to &ro#ote its &roducts ;; X1>> #i))ion since the #id;
10:>s L a)#ost certain)y was )ow.
2 can<t think of a sing)e G)ucky break.H "he &ro6ect #ere)y ref)ects nine #onths of hard work by
the tea#.
2 can<t adeBuate)y describe #y #ethod of writing. "he #ost cha))enging as&ect of the &ro6ect
was coordinating its #any &ieces L writing #y own stories whi)e editing the stories of
contributors for who# 8ng)ish is not their native )anguage, etc.
"he &ro6ect ex&anded significant)y after the ..% decided to &artner with us. 'ur 6oint,
#u)ti#edia series in ,u)y >1> inc)uded a ..% Wor)d "E docu#entary, a do@en radio stories on
..% Wor)d 4ervice, a seven;&art on)ine series by the 2nternationa) %onsortiu# of 2nvestigative
,ourna)ists and stories in #a6or news out)ets in .ra@i), Mexico, 2ndia, %hina and the =nited
4tates. "he &ro6ect reached tens of #i))ions of &eo&)e in #ore than 13> countries, receiving
coverage by so#e 4>> news out)ets, b)ogs and websites in at )east > )anguages. 2n short, the
&artici&ation of the ..% great)y enhanced the reach of the &ro6ect.
"he res&onse to it exceeded #y ex&ectations.Pub)ic hea)th activists used the &ro6ect<s key
findings on the #u)tinationa) asbestos )obby to argue for asbestos bans in countries such as
.ra@i), 2ndia, and Mexico. "he &ro6ect has had &articu)ar i#&act in to& &roducer %anada, which
ex&orts the fiber to 2ndia, where worker and &ub)ic &rotections are weak. 2n res&onse to the
series, %anada<s o&&osition )eader, Libera) Party MP Michae) 2gnatieff, ca))ed for an end to his
country<s ex&orts, and an 2nternet ca#&aign resu)ted in #ore than $,>>> )etters being sent to
%anadian officia)s, ca))ing for an ex&ort ban. "he %anadian Press wire service referred to the
&ro6ect as a G&ub)ic;re)ations tsuna#iH for the asbestos industry. %anadians a)so used the series
to &ressure the govern#ent of Uuebec not to &rovide a )oan guarantee to reo&en the &rovince<s
on)y re#aining asbestos #ine. *t this writing a decision on the guarantee is ex&ected soon.
1!
Chapter Six. Following the Money: Frauds
and offshore funds
A. &tate aided suse't in huge swind"e
#lorida regulators 7 over ob,ections by the state$s top banking lawyer 7 gave sweeping
powers to banker %llen Stanford, accused of swindling investors of <. billion.
By Lucy /omisar Michael Sallah and +ob Barry
Introduction 4%eryone has heard of Bernie Madoff and how he got away with ruining
thousands of people and stealing billions of dollars while the $merican authorities looked the
other way. 'he story below is in some ways e%en more shocking because it describes a multi!
billion dollar international fraud that state authorities in the 1S effecti%ely aided and abetted.
'he originating authorLucy /omisar is one of a %ery few reporters who understand offshore
banking and follow it regularly. 'he main reason that more reporters dont work in this field as
a 0all Street &ournal editor once said to me is this# EBusiness writing is not rocket science.
Money laundering is rocket science.F /omisar brought a first draft to the Miami Herald her
disco%eries were then fleshed out with local colour and sources by reporters from the
newspaper. (ote how they succeeded in making the piece awfully human piling in emotional
and physical detail that helps you feel the story. *n another le%el the line by line style of news
writing sets out a complicated scheme step by step. 4%ery one of those steps deli%ers a surprise
or more e3actly something you would not ha%e thought possible. 'he authors are not immune to
that sensationA try reading the first part of the story aloud and you will hear their astonishment.
$ broad cast of characters dri%es the story forward deli%ering their testimony in "uotes that are
sometimes unintentionally hilarious 6as in# E1pon reflection would I ha%e liked to ha%e done it
differentlyC 0ould I ha%e liked to stop them from doing what they currently didC Bes of
course.F7. If you e%er doubted that a regulatory %oid had something to do with the financial
crisis this story will cure you.
5rom "he Mia#i Hera)d &uly J 9::=
5ears before his banking e#&ire was shut down in a #assive fraud case, *))en 4tanford swe&t into
()orida with a bo)d &)an: entice Latin *#ericans to &our #i))ions into his ventures L in secrecy.
(ro# a bayfront office in Mia#i in 100:, he &)anned to se)) invest#ents to custo#ers and send their
#oney to *ntigua.
.ut to &u)) it off, he needed un&recedented he)& fro# an un)ike)y a))y: "he state of ()orida wou)d
have to grant hi# the right to #ove vast a#ounts of #oney offshore L without re&orting a &enny to
regu)ators.
He got it.
'ver ob6ections by the state<s chief banking )awyer L inc)uding concerns that 4tanford was
)aundering #oney L regu)ators granted swee&ing &owers never given to a &rivate co#&any.
14
"he new co#&any was a)so a))owed to se)) hundreds of #i))ions in bank notes without a))owing
regu)ators to check for fraud.
'ver the next decade, the Mia#i office was a#ong 4tanford<s busiest in the sa)e of controversia)
invest#ents now at the heart of the federa) govern#ent<s swee&ing fraud case against 4tanford and his
)ieutenants.
H"here was no )awfu) way that office shou)d have been o&ened,H said +ichard /one)an, the state<s
chief banking counse) who o&&osed the dea).
/one)an said he argued that the 4tanford &)an vio)ated state )aw, and that there were concerns about
#oney )aundering in the %aribbean and Gwhether 4tanford<s bank was in confor#ance with the )aw.H
Taking advantage
+e&resented by a &owerfu) ()orida )aw fir#, 4tanford got a&&rova) to create the first co#&any of its
kind: a foreign trust office that cou)d by&ass regu)ators, according to records obtained by "he Mia#i
Hera)d.
"he ()orida banking director who signed the agree#ent, *rt 4i#on, now ad#its he #ade a #istake.
G=&on ref)ection, wou)d 2 have )iked to have done it different)y9 Wou)d 2 have )iked to sto& the#
fro# doing what they current)y did9 5es, of course.H
"he state<s decision a))owed 4tanford to ex&and his banking network by offering his &ri@e
invest#ents L certificates of de&osit L without re&orting the &urchases, according to state and court
records.
2n the first six years, the office L known as 4tanford (iduciary 2nvestor 4ervices L took in X7>>
#i))ion fro# custo#ers, state records show.
Dow, with 4tanford indicted on swee&ing fraud charges )ast #onth, the Mia#i office &oses serious
cha))enges for federa) agents trying to find assets fro# the de#ise of his vast banking fortune, )ega)
ex&erts say.
2n a)), &rosecutors say 4tanford diverted near)y X$ bi))ion fro# custo#ers who &urchased his %/s,
)ong touted for their high returns.
4o#e of the #i))ions went to su&&ort 4tanford<s )avish )ifesty)e, inc)uding &rivate 6ets, ex&ensive
cars and #ansions, inc)uding a X1>.3 #i))ion ho#e in 1ab)es 8states that he has since torn down,
records show.
2nvestors who f)ocked to the )uxury offices on the 1st f)oor of the Mia#i %enter to buy the %/s are
c)a#oring for their #oney, saying they were f)eeced of #i))ions.
H2t<s not fair that so #uch #oney has gone down the drain,H said Margie Morinaga, whose :4;year;
o)d father )ost X4>>,>>>.
(or#er custo#ers are sending )etters to the court receiver, &)eading for he)&K others are angri)y
organi@ing to &ress for the recovery of their #oney.
*t )east ,1>> custo#er accounts were set u& at the Mia#i office in the first six years, state records
show.
=n)ike other 4tanford co#&anies around the country, the Mia#i office was exe#&t fro# re&orting
the a#ounts of #oney sent overseas L by&assing anti;)aundering )aws.
2n fact, e#&)oyees shredded records of the trust agree#ents and %/ &urchases once the origina)
docu#ents were sent to *ntigua, state records show.
13
$ew rote'tions
(or years, the high;rise offices L adorned with #arb)e f)oors, 'rienta) rugs and ex&ensive artwork L
&rovided &rivacy for investors, but few &rotections.
.ecause trust officers weren<t reBuired to kee& records, investigators wi)) have to re)y on investors
and the *ntiguan bank to trace the #oney that #oved through the office, say )awyers for custo#ers.
()orida 'ffice of (inancia) +egu)ation'fficia)s for the ()orida 'ffice of (inancia) +egu)ation are
now reviewing the decision #ade a decade ago, but they refuse to co##ent.
H*)) 2 can te)) you is that there was no one that s&ecifica))y regu)ated the office,H said Linda %harity,
director of the state<s /ivision of (inancia) 2nstitutions.
4i#on, the ()orida banking director who a&&roved the agree#ent, says he shou)d have banned the
office fro# hand)ing #oney.
H2t raised serious Buestions in #y #ind after the fact as to whether we shou)d have had tighter
&rovisions,H said 4i#on, a for#er state re&resentative who he)&ed draft #uch of ()orida<s #odern
banking )egis)ation.
"he office was on)y su&&osed to &rovide infor#ation for &eo&)e interested in the offshore trust<s
services L not offer %/s and acce&t #oney, he said.
.ut in c)ear )anguage, the agree#ent reached between 4tanford and state regu)ators a))ows #oney to
f)ow to and fro# the center.
4i#on, 7!, now retired fro# state govern#ent, said he didn<t reca)) the )anguage unti) he was e;
#ai)ed a co&y by "he Mia#i Hera)d.
.ut severa) )awyers who reviewed the docu#ents for "he Hera)d said #uch of the res&onsibi)ity
rests with 4i#on. H2n this case, he was res&onsib)e for having an effective syste# of enforce#ent,H
said ,effrey 4onn, a (ort Lauderda)e securities attorney. G"he state didn<t do the kind of reviews it
needed to do.H
Mia#i banking )awyer ,ose 4irven said the state #ay have been ab)e to a&&rove the office, but
Buestioned the state<s decision to )et e#&)oyees transfer #oney.
/one)an, the state<s chief banking counse), said he did not be)ieve 4tanford had the right to o&en the
sate))ite office in the first &)ace.
G2t was not an *#erican financia) institution. 2 had ex&ressed that o&inion. "here was no regu)ation.
2t was as if they had an office that cou)d be se))ing shoes or ice crea#.H
+on'erns raised
Dow an attorney with ()orida<s /e&art#ent of (inancia) 4ervices, /one)an, 3:, said he had other
worries. G"here were regu)atory issues about the ro)e that Mr. 4tanford was &)aying as far as the
circu)ation of #oney in the %aribbean.H
4even years ear)ier, 4tanford had run into &rob)e#s whi)e owning a bank on the 2s)and of
Montserrat, vo)untari)y giving u& his )icense during a .ritish #oney )aundering investigation.
.ut during negotiations with the state, )awyers for 4tanford argued there was nothing in ()orida )aw
that banned the kind of co#&any 4tanford wanted to create.
"hey a)so said the new co#&any wou)d abide by an agree#ent with the state, inc)uding the right to
transfer #oney for c)ients, but not o&erate as a bank.
17
"he agree#ent a)so barred e#&)oyees fro# giving financia) advice to custo#ers.
%ar)os Lou#iet, a for#er 1reenberg "raurig )awyer who he)&ed draft the dea), dec)ined to co##ent,
citing ethica) concerns.
2n the end, the Mia#i co#&any was a))owed to o&en under a uniBue category: a foreign trust
re&resentative office L the on)y one in ()orida.
Whi)e the state a))ows out;of;state trust co#&anies to set u& sate))ite offices in ()orida L catering to
snow birds )oya) to their ho#etown banks L there are no &rovisions in ()orida )aw for si#i)ar foreign
offices.
4tanford<s negotiation with the state wasn<t the first ti#e the f)a#boyant tycoon tried to o&en a )oca)
office to serve his offshore venture.
8ar)ier, he went to Mia#i attorney .ow#an .rown, who said he dec)ined to re&resent 4tanford. *
)ongti#e banking )awyer, .rown said there were severa) e)e#ents that didn<t see# right about
4tanford<s &)an.
HHe wanted to set u& an office in Mia#i to serve a business o&eration in the %aribbean,H said
.rown. G"he idea was to attract a Latin *#erican c)iente)e as a &)atfor# to se)) securities.H
.ut .rown said 4tanford Gwas not interested in undergoing any substantive banking regu)ations or
sub#itting to govern#ent exa#iners.H
*t the ti#e, the %aribbean basin had a Hbad re&utation as a &irate banking 6urisdiction, and 2 6ust
wasn<t interested in taking &art in this,H .rown said.
The business grows
.y the ti#e the state a&&roved the trust office in /ece#ber 100:, 4tanford was a)ready hawking his
to& &roduct: certificates of de&osit.
'ne of the attractions of the %/s were the co#&etitive)y higher yie)ds than other banks L often by
two &oints.
"he Mia#i office was a big draw for foreigners 6etting to Mia#i, said %har)es Ha@)ett, a stockbroker
who worked for another 4tanford fir# L a brokerage L on the sa#e f)oor.
H"he trust office was one of the busiest in the 4tanford o&eration,H said Ha@)ett. G%o#&ared to us,
they were a big office, !> to 4> &eo&)e, everyone se))ing %/s.H
Ha@)ett said the 4tanford stockbrokers were a)so &ushed to se)) the co#&any<s signature &roduct.
+osa Me6ia says word of the Mia#i office s&read throughout the he#is&here. 4he reca))s escorting
her father to the Mia#i office four years ago.
4ara#into Pere@ business card"heir trust re&resentative, 4ara#inta Pere@, offered a five;year,
X!>>,>>> %/ at higher returns than #ost banks, said Me6ia.
Her father, 70, a retired banker fro# the /o#inican +e&ub)ic, signed a trust agree#ent and a check.
"he #oney was to go to 4tanford<s bank in *ntigua, which issued the %/s.
HWe thought the #oney wou)d be safe,H Me6ia said.
Pere@ referred Buestions to her )awyer, saying her career was cut short by 4tanford<s co))a&se.
Mia#i attorney ,effrey "ew said trust officers didn<t know #oney for the %/s was a))eged)y being
sto)en by 4tanford and others. H"here were &eo&)e Pin the Mia#i trust officeQ #anaging X1>>;#i))ion;
1$
do))ar &ortfo)ios,H he said. G"hey thought they were he)&ing their c)ients.H
However, Ha@)ett says he raised concerns in >> about the )egiti#acy of the %/s with the Mia#i
office<s executive director, De)son +a#ire@.
H2 re#e#ber very c)ear)y saying the #ath didn<t add u&, that 2 needed #ore infor#ation on the
background of these %/s,H said Ha@)ett, who &ressed the issue with 4tanford su&ervisors during a
co#&ensation suit in >>4.
+a#ire@, who )eft 4tanford three years )ater, did not return &hone #essages.
=)ti#ate)y, Ha@)ett said he was given infor#ation about the *ntiguan bank<s invest#ents L the
foundation of the %/s L but the data was so #ini#a) Hit #ade #e even #ore sus&icious,H he said.
(edera) agents now say the bank<s invest#ents were vast)y overva)ued and, in #any cases,
fabricated.
*fter the Mia#i trust office was created, 4tanford )awyers a&&roached "exas to o&en a si#i)ar office
there. 2n >>1, the state agreed, but with a key difference: "he "exas office wasn<t &er#itted to hand)e
#oney.
H.asica))y, a)) they cou)d do was #arket,H said /eborah Loo#is, assistant genera) counse) for the
"exas /e&art#ent of .anking.
.ut the Mia#i office was busy taking in #oney fro# custo#ers L and growing, fro# 1: e#&)oyees
in >>1 to 47 by >>3.
;Huge red f"ags9
Whi)e the state agree#ent barred the office fro# giving financia) advice to c)ients, severa) ex&erts
said the state shou)d have been #onitoring the sa)e of 4tanford<s %/s.
H2 can te)) you that %/s are securities and are su&&osed to be regu)ated,H said 4onn, a securities
attorney. 4onn a)so cautioned the high yie)ds offered by 4tanford<s %/s were Hhuge red f)agsH that
shou)d have &ro#&ted state investigators to cha))enge c)ai#s the &roducts were rooted in )egiti#ate
invest#ents.
*ndrew 4to)t#ann, an ad6unct &rofessor of securities at Dorthwestern =niversity, said the state
fai)ed by not &erfor#ing routine exa#inations.
H5ou have to &ut yourse)f in a &osition to at )east try to catch &eo&)e co##itting fraud,H said
4to)t#ann, who &ractices securities )aw in %hicago.
+ecords show that state exa#iners visited the office three ti#es over the &ast 1> years, but on)y to
ensure that the 100: agree#ent was ke&t.
/uring one of those visits in >>1, state agents noted that office e#&)oyees routine)y wou)d send
&urchase records to *ntigua and then destroy the )oca) docu#ents.
2t wasn<t unti) (ebruary that the office was fina))y shut down L a)ong with 4tanford<s bank network L
when the =.4. 4ecurities and 8xchange %o##ission fi)ed fraud charges against 4tanford and his to&
officers.
"he office furnishings, inc)uding cherry;wood desks and co#&any creden@a, are now for sa)e.
+osa Me6ia, whose father )ost X4>>,>>> in worth)ess %/s fro# the Mia#i office, said investors were
i#&ressed by the staff and offices on the 1st f)oor. H8verything was first c)ass,H she said. GWe thought
our #oney was safe.H
1:
%fterwords
3ucy =omisar, independent ,ournalist: 'he story began with a tip from a source I,d worked
with before on issues relating to offshore banks and corporate secrecy. He said he,d heard there
was a document indicating that $llen Stanford had an agreement with the 5lorida Banking
-epartment allowing him to set up an office to mo%e money offshore.
'hats how it worked this time but e%ery story is different. Sometimes people pro%ide me with
documents sometimes documents lead me to people. My first luck was getting the tip. 'he
second luck was when one of the people who had worked at the Banking -epartment told me
that the -epartments lawyer had opposed the deal. But I got to that second NtipsterN only by
tracking down and calling e%eryone I could find that had anything to do with the Banking
-epartment more than ten years earlier.
1sing the 5reedom of Information $ct I asked the 5lorida Banking -epartment to send me any
documents that discussed $llen Stanford,s attempt to get an office in 5lorida to mo%e money
offshore. 5lorida has a good 5*I$ law and I got documents within days of my emailed re"uests.
4%entually I obtained#
<. the Banking -epartment memo of understanding with StanfordA
9. an internal memo discussing the issue and relating the opposition of the Banking
-epartment lawyer who said the proposed agreement was illegalA and
?. a memorandum filed by Stanford,s lawyers with the Banking -epartment arguing the
legality of his setting up the office.
I usually list the people I need to talk to keeping all names on a NcontactsN list and using a Nto
doN list for the people I still need to reach. Its a good idea to keep a data base of contacts and
sources. I use 2ardscan which costs about O<:: and connects to a computer. Bou feed in
business cards and it transfers the data into contact pages which can be marked by category
6i.e. lawyer human rights acti%ist finance oil P gas etc.7. Bou can also type in names and
drag them from web articles. *ne could also use 43cel or other data base programs.
$fter the story begins to take shape I write a running chronology of the e%ents which is
changed as I get new information. If my computer folder on the subject is loaded with too many
documents I make a separate folder for documents that back up points in the story so that they
are easy to find and send to editors or fact!checkers.
In inter%iews I try to get as much as I can on email or %oice recorder ; in other words to ha%e
a %erbatim physical record. 0ith a speaker phone you can run a %oice recorder as you type or
write notes. 6-o be sure to check the legality of running a phone recorder in your country.7
I use the running chronology of e%ents "uotes and e3planations or a running draft di%ided into
subject sections as the basis of the final story e%en though the material may end up in a
different order. 'hat way I don,t forget key elements I may ha%e learned earlier. $nd the
chronology prompts me to get confirmations or follow leads based on what people ha%e told me.
I had no financial support while doing the story and had to continue with other projects at the
same time. (obody tried to pre%ent me from doing the story. Many media places 6mainstream
and alternati%e7 did not want to publish the story. Most ne%er e%en responded to "ueries or to
the finished article. I think that was due to editors, poor judgment rather than to political or
other pressure. 'he Miami Herald was disposed to run it because the Stanford office was in
Miami and because the paper has a good history of doing in%estigati%e reporting.
10
Michael Sallah, The Miami "erald: Lucy had already gathered key documents showing the
agreement reached between the state and Stanfords lawyers in <==8 ; a decade before his
entire banking empire was shut down by the 1.S. federal go%ernment in a massi%e fraud case. In
addition Lucy had reached the lone person in 5lorida state go%ernment who had opposed the
deal saying it was downright illegal. She also reached the states former director of banking
who signed the agreement !! making it all possible for Stanford to set up the unregistered
bankMsecurities office in downtown Miami. In short Lucy laid out the guts of the story.
But in order to publish such a piece on the front page of 'he Miami Herald it had to be fleshed
out with our own reporting to show the conse"uences and sweeping impact of the states
decision. 0e also had to call the same people to confirm her tip. How did this unregistered
office in downtown Miami really workC How much money did the office actually send to
Stanfords operations in the 2aribbeanC 0ho were the real %ictimsC 0e also needed to show
how this office fit into the entire OG billion )on@i scheme ; its real significance.
$t first the state tried to say that any additional documents were e3empt from disclosure
because the case was now under in%estigation 6in light of the ongoing federal probe.7 0e told
the state that any records that were generated separate and apart from an in%estigation cannot
be concealed under 5lorida public records law. 'he state e%entually turned o%er the reports
which turned out to be a damning indictment of its complicity in the fraud case.
'he ne3t challenge was reaching the people who purchased the bogus securities in the Miami
office. 0e went onto some of the Stanford in%estor websites and blogs and managed to reach
se%eral angry people who bought the bogus 2-s and who shared their e3periences with us.
'hey said they thought the Miami office was legal and that they were buying legal securities.
'hey e%en fa3ed us the sales documents to pro%e their purchases.
-ont be afraid of seeking out e3perts who can help you e3plain whats contained in documents
especially if they are financial or medical records. In addition to records take the time to track
down real li%e people who can substantiate whats in the documents.0e tracked down a Miami
banking lawyer who was first hired by Stanford to arrange the deal with the state but who
backed out because he grew suspicious that Stanford was trying to do something illegal. 0e
managed to con%ince a janitor in the waterfront office tower to let us get a peek at the centre
which featured ornate artwork cherry!wood furnishings leather couches ; all the trappings of
a legitimate upscale brokerage.
0e set out to tell a crime story not a business story. 0e wanted to complete all of the reporting
and research before we sat down to write. 'his was a %ery comple3 story. *ne of the best ways
to e3plain a piece like this to e%eryday readers is to master the material which means creating a
detailed outline before writing. 0e knew the elements of the narrati%e. 'he real challenge was
breaking down comple3 concepts like banking and securities regulations to get readers to really
understand what took place and the outrage of the states poor decisions.
3ucy =omisar: I didn,t act to increase the impact. 'he Herald also ran an editorial and some
follow!up stories. 'hat got the attention of the state legislature. Howe%er the story was ne%er
reported by major $merican media including the (B 'imes 0ashington )ost and 0all Street
&ournal which apparently belie%e that a story doesn,t happen unless they e3pose it themsel%es.
'here were no lawsuits against the story and no corrections were re"uired. $ single local
5lorida blogger ran repeated attacks on the story but nobody paid attention.
In 9:<: the story won se%eral pri@es# 'he Derald Loeb award for business and financial
journalism by medium P small newspapersA the (ational )ress 2lub award for (ewspaper
1!>
2onsumer &ournalismA a Sigma -elta 2hi award for (on!-eadline +eportingA a (ational
Headliner $ward and a Sunshine State $ward.
Michael Sallah: $s a direct result of our work 5lorida lawmakers passed legislation in 9::=
that banned any such arrangements from e%er taking place again. 5rom now on all financial
centers in 5lorida ha%e to be open for inspection and regulation.
1!1
#. <ffshore +rime4 1n'.
By the *rganised 2rime and 2orruption +eporting )roject.
+4)*+'4+S# Mihai Munteanu 6+omania7 Beth /ampschror 61nited States7 Stanimir
Qagleno%6Bulgaria7 Qlad La%ro% 61kraine7 'amas Bodoky 6Hungary7 SteQan -ojcino%ic
6Serbia7 and 2aitlin Dinley 61nited States ; International 2onsortium of In%estigati%e
&ournalists7
4-I'*+S# -rew Sulli%an +osemary $rmao 2oordinator# )aul 2ristian +adu
Introduction. $ reporter who co%ers criminal acti%ity learns to spot patterns ; the modus
operandi that lawbreakers rely on and which are tailored to specific forms of crime. But
journalistic in%estigations into entire criminal systems are rare. 5or one thing they in%ol%e
physical danger and the threat of libel prosecution for reporters. 5or another they re"uire deep
resources especially time. $ landmark in the field was &onathan /witnys Qicious 2ircles# 'he
Mafia in the Marketplace 6<=G=7 which focused on the business acti%ities of a mafia financier
and a policemen who tried to oppose him and e3posed a slew of strategies ranging from using
unions for e3tortion to cheating suppliers of ephemeral industrial operations. In the era of
globalisation heroic feats like /witnys are e%ol%ing into team efforts. 'hese teams share
se%eral characteristics# 'hey are transnational their physical locations are distributed and
connected by information technology and their sources of funding are independent of any
national media market. 'he *22+) is a model of such teams with strong talent in its editing
research and de%elopment and writing functions. 4diting is always a key function in publishing
and there are fewer good in%estigati%e editors than in%estigati%e reportersA but the function is
e%en more %ital when working with reporters of different nationalities professional standards
6because standards are also rooted in cultures7 languages and skill le%els. (ot enough has been
done to date to codify and transmit this skill set which only a handful of organisations in the
world fully possess.
'he *22+),s series on offshore companies a centrepiece of what they call the Ecriminal
ser%icesF industry relies on both underco%er work and con%entional reporting methods. In
general I am against underco%er reporting e%en though many %iewers and readers lo%e it. It
can be an in%itation to la@inessA the reporter gets bogged down in hiding the new identity and
has little energy or opportunity for the hard work of finding proof. It,s also a bad trade!off most
of the time. 'he only class of people who are generally granted the right to ask any "uestion of
anyone any time is reporters. 'hey may not get an answer but most people recognise their
right to ask. In general asking for information gets you more of it than ea%esdropping while
pretending to look the other way just as searching a library for documents gets you more than
sneaking into a file cabinet for a few minutes. Moreo%er if a reporter is caught playing a role
the conse"uences can be absolutely hideous 6a Bra@ilian journalist working underco%er was
recently shot through the feet to pre%ent him running away then tortured and killed.7 $ reporter
who declares his or her true identity may be told to lea%e but that is the worst that usually
happens.
'hat said the *22+),s work e3emplifies three conditions that justify underco%er reporting#
they do it to complete their stories and not to ha%e a story in the first place 6to put it another
way the story is not about the role!playing7A if they had not taken the risk they could not ha%e
unco%ered information of %ital 6and in some cases mortal7 importance to the publicA and if they
had not gone underco%er their physical safety might be in e%en greater danger as they pursued
the story.
1!
Such projects often go beyond what law enforcement agencies ha%e achie%ed not least because
reporters can cooperate across borders more easily and swiftly than police. 'he key threat to
these projects lies in libel tourism. $t this writing the facility and fre"uency with which libel
tourism is practiced in the 1/ at a moment when law!abiding ta3payers bear a crushing
burden that offshore companies help criminals to a%oid can only be called appalling. 'he full
*22+) series of a do@en stories plus supporting documents is a%ailable at
http#MMwww.reportingproject.netMoffshoreM.
Part One. Crime Goes Offshore
By the *22+) team
8ast 8uro&ean cri#ina)s and corru&t &o)iticians have found in offshore havens a too) so &erfect that
it has &er#anent)y changed how business is done in the region. .y using offshore )aws that stress
secrecy over everything e)se inc)uding cri#e &revention, they have been ab)e to set u& networks of
offshore co#&anies where they can hide their assets fro# &o)ice, )aunder their #oney and evade taxes
a)) at the sa#e ti#e.
"hey have )earned the arcane business art of for#ing offshore co#&anies L fir#s registered in
another county by a non;resident L then hiding behind &roxies and co#&)icated nested business
structures that stretch across continents.
%ri#ina)s in the .a)kans have used offshore co#&anies as fronts for drug trafficking, #oney
)aundering, wea&on s#ugg)ing, #ono&o)i@ing industries, &rivati@ation fraud and corru&ting &o)iticians
and govern#ent officia)s. Wor)dwide, they are used by Mexican drug )ords to )aunder #oney,
terroris# grou&s to wage war, 2ran and Dorth -orea to evade sanctions and run guns and a host of
other cri#ina) acts yet undiscovered.
*ccording to the "ax ,ustice Detwork, #ore than X3> bi))ion is )ost each year in tax revenues fro#
wea)thy individua)s and cri#ina)s who hide their #oney in offshore accounts. "hat is #oney that by
rights shou)d be going toward better education, hea)th care and infrastructure. 'n to& of that, around
X1 tri))ion L often #oney that corru&t )eaders have sto)en L f)ows out of deve)o&ing countries into
offshore accounts and wea)thy banking centers.
GWhether it was )ogging, or dia#onds, or oi), we rea)i@ed it was a #issing )ink L in every sing)e
dirty dea) we ever )ooked at, there was a bank and a front co#&any in a secrecy 6urisdiction, or #ore
than one,H said *nthea Lawson, head of the -)e&tocracy "ea# at the London;based D1', 1)oba)
Witness.
Law enforce#ent does not do we)) in catching and charging those who use offshore havens to
co##it cri#e. "heir hands, they say, are tied by business;friend)y )aws in offshore havens that
guarantee secrecy and are see#ing)y designed to evade taxes.
The +rimina" &ervi'es 1ndustry
G2 don<t know a sing)e big business in =kraine, which is owned trans&arent)y, without using non;
resident co#&anies,H said 5aros)av Lo#akin, who started Honest R .right, a Moscow consu)ting fir#.
Lo#akin hi#se)f has been in the business of registering offshore co#&anies.
*ccording to the =kraine<s 4tate "ax *d#inistration, trade with offshore )ocations grew 34 &ercent
to X1.7 bi))ion in the first ha)f of >1>. "hree Buarters of that trade was with the .ritish Eirgin 2s)ands,
which accounted for a)#ost 3 &ercent of a)) =kraine<s ex&orts.
=kraine is ty&ica) of countries in 8astern 8uro&e and the .a)kans, where a tea# of six re&orters
fro# the 'rgani@ed %ri#e and %orru&tion Pro6ect I'%%+PJ found hundreds of )arge co#&anies
registered in offshore )ocations. 8ach country has a robust industry that se))s offshore services to
1!!
businesses and individua)s. 2t is a #undane industry fi))ed with accountants, co#&any for#ation
agents and )awyers who s&end their ti#e devising co#&)ex sche#es for hiding the rea) ownershi& of
co#&anies or assets.
"he rea) &roduct of this industry is a sinister secrecy. "he workers of this offshore registry business
arrange for the &roxies or the bearer shares used to hide the rea) owners. "hey care )itt)e who they are
working for, and are carefu) not to ask.
%aw enfor'ement e,erts 'a"" it the +rimina" &ervi'es 1ndustry.
G* co#&any is basica))y an a)ternative identity. 2f you for# a co#&any for one or two thousand
do))ars[ it can<t be )inked back to anything or anyone,H said Professor ,ason 4har#an, an ex&ert on
offshore havens for the %enter for 1overnance and Pub)ic Po)icy at 1riffith =niversity in *ustra)ia.
G2t<s very handy to )aunder #oney, evade tax, take a big bribe, or even finance a terrorist
organi@ation.H
2ndustry insiders defend what they do, saying there are )egiti#ate business reasons for the services
they &rovide, and that 6ust a few bad a&&)es a#ong the #any honest &eo&)e they serve have tainted
their re&utation.
"hat is not what '%%+P found during a six;#onth investigation of offshore registries in 8astern
8uro&e. Posing undercover as business#en, the re&orters received, through re&eated consu)tations,
sa)es #eetings and on)ine a&&)ications, detai)ed advice about how to cheat on taxes and not get caught.
'ne re&orter was even asked for a cut of his &robab)y i))ega) &rofits.
Las@)o -iss, the agent who asked for a cut, o&erates one of the region<s )argest offshore registry
agents ca))ed La#ark "ax P)anning %onsu)t 4+L in .ucharest. -iss was arrested by +o#anian &o)ice
weeks after he #et with an '%%+P re&orter working undercover, on charges re)ated to his offshore
business, inc)uding tax evasion and #oney )aundering.
'%%+P found not a few bad a&&)es, but an entire industry wi))ing to he)& organi@ed cri#e )aunder
i))ega) earnings, avoid taxes and hide fro# )aw enforce#ent. "hat regiona) industry is &art of a
network of off;shore agents who, working wor)dwide, &rovide services to &eo&)e engaged in
transnationa) cri#es, u& to and inc)uding wea&ons s#ugg)ing between Dorth -orea and 2ran.
The #usiness Mode"
'ffshore registry fir#s are one;sto& sho&s that, for a fee, wi)) do everything fro# fi)ing tax and
annua) re&orts to acting as the director of a c)ient<s co#&any. "hey often work with a registration fir#
in the offshore country, with connections to )oca) govern#ent officia)s. "hey #ay &rovide &roxies to
serve as directors. "hey wi)) he)& a c)ient issue shares and can find &roxy shareho)ders. "hey #ight set
u& bank accounts. 2f )aw enforce#ent or 6ourna)ists co#e sniffing around, the trai) often ends with
the#.
"hey wi)) a)so he)& set u& co#&anies in other countries, that wi)) own, be owned by or work with the
c)ient<s co#&any. 2n this way they set u& a network of co#&anies that are see#ing)y inde&endent L but
owned by the sa#e &erson. "his confusing arrange#ent #ore thorough)y hides ownershi& and thwarts
accountabi)ity. "hey usua))y do this over the 2nternet, within a #atter of hours or days and without a
Buestion. 2f they ask for identification, they wi)) a)#ost never verify the infor#ation they are given.
<ffshore or 6e,t )oor
Whi)e tax dodges are &robab)y as o)d as taxes the#se)ves, #odern offshore tax havens date fro# the
10>s and !>s when .er#uda and Liechtenstein &assed )aws for offshore co#&anies and trusts. *fter
Wor)d War 1, #any 8uro&ean countries raised taxes to rebui)d their shattered countries and #oney
soon f)owed into )ow;tax countries )ike 4wit@er)and which had suffered no war da#age. Many
countries eventua))y discovered the advantages of )ow taxes in attracting #oney or businesses to their
1!4
banks.
4ecrecy )aws a)so he)&ed, es&ecia))y in s#a)) countries which found that the fees for such services
cou)d &ro& u& their econo#ies.
"oday, 8ng)and, the =4 and so#e 8uro&ean countries are re&)acing the #ore exotic %aribbean or
2ndian 'cean 2s)ands as the tax havens of choice. 'n the "ax 4ecrecy index, the =4 state of /e)aware
is )isted as the Du#ber 'ne offender by the "ax ,ustice Detwork. /e)aware earns X$>> #i))ion &er
year in co#&any registration fees, a significant &art of its budget.
G"he situation Iin the =4J isn<t as awfu) as it was three years ago, but it<s sti)) &retty bad L even
worse that the &)aces you see in thri))er #ovies )ike the %ay#an 2s)ands or the .aha#as. "he =4 has
been &retty robust in #aking sure that other countries )ive u& to these standards, but they have been
)ax about a&&)ying the sa#e degree of rigor to the#se)ves,H said Professor 4har#an.
Dobody knows how #any offshore co#&anies there are wor)dwide, and #ore than a third of
countries wor)dwide have been used for offshore &ur&oses. "he 2nternet gives any #o# and &o& store
anywhere in the wor)d the ca&abi)ity to set u& offshore banking and ho)ding co#&anies.
%aw /nfor'ement Troub"es
%ri#ina)s si#&)y do not fear a )ega) crackdown. Ha#&ered by offshore secrecy, )aw enforce#ent,
es&ecia))y in 8astern 8uro&e, has no ta)ent working across internationa) boundaries figuring out the
rea) owners of co#&anies c)oaked in &roxies.
1overn#ents scrutini@e the offshore industry and b)a#e it for aiding cri#ina)s, but do )itt)e about
fixing the &rob)e#. 'rgani@ed cri#e has found co##on cause with business organi@ations to sBuash
any efforts to radica))y change offshore )aws. 4o#e countries on)y &ay )i& service to efforts to &rovide
greater trans&arency. 4o#e kee& on &ro#ising i#&ortant actions, and nothing e)se ha&&ens.
)efending the #usiness
"he offshore industry has said it is &ri#ari)y used by )egiti#ate businesses. *s (ide)ity 4ervices, an
offshore registry agent in the 4eyche))es says: GMany high;taxing, high;s&ending govern#ents wou)d
)ike everyone to be)ieve that offshore co#&anies are on)y used by fraudsters, terrorists and crooks.
"hatds co#&)ete)y un6ustified. Whi)e there is a)ways a rotten a&&)e in any box, 00 &ercent of a))
business transacted through offshore co#&anies is co#&)ete)y )egiti#ate.H
2n #eetings, registry agents said their wea)thy c)ients need to she)ter their assets fro# extortionists,
crooked business#en and corru&t govern#ents.
4o#e registry agents free)y ad#it that they don<t care who uses the#. GWe are on)y se))ing the
instru#ents to the c)ients. Whether they wou)d &)ay correct)y, or use the# for i))ega) &ur&ose, is their
own business. We don<t see and we don<t want to see this,H said 2vanna Py)y&iuk, #anaging &artner
with 2nternationa) %onsu)ting 1rou& I2%1J, a co#&any that &ro#otes offshore accounts for Gtax
#ini#a)isationH.
4har#an &artia))y agrees: G2t<s a good;faith effort to #ake it as easy as &ossib)e for s#a)) businesses
to register co#&anies with a #ini#u# of &a&erwork, a #ini#u# of hass)e, and a #ini#u# of
ex&ense,H the &rofessor said. Whi)e he understands the desire for deregu)ation, G#aking it as easy as
&ossib)e for businesses a)so #akes it easy for cri#ina)s.H
Dobody knows how #uch of the offshore trade is )egiti#ate and how #uch is cri#ina), but &art of
that de&ends on what &eo&)e consider )egiti#ate.
G2 rea))y don<t know any )egiti#ate reason Ifor offshoresJ. "he co#&anies wi)) te)) you that a
)egiti#ate reason is reducing their taxes and that<s )egiti#ate. 2 think that cheating on your taxes is not
)egiti#ate,H said Lucy -o#isar, a writer who s&ecia)i@es in financia) cri#e, offshores and organi@sed
cri#e.
1!3
-o#isar a)so takes issue with the argu#ent that wea)thy individua)s need to hide their #oney
offshore to avoid being kidna&&ed or extorted. G"he account being avai)ab)e to )aw enforce#ent is not
the sa#e thing as being o&en and avai)ab)e for &ub)ic ins&ection. [ 'r the other exa#&)e they use is
the o&&osition &erson in the re&ressive country, who doesn<t want the govern#ent to take his #oney.
2n a re&ressive country, the ones who have #oney tend to be the ones in govern#ent.H
"o sto& the use of offshore havens by cri#ina)s reBuires giving u& )oo&ho)es, so#ething business
organisations have worked hard to &revent.
G"he sa#e #echanis#s a))ow tax evasion, tax avoidance, corru&tion, and organi@ed cri#e #oney to
f)ow L it<s a)) the sa#e. Whi)e we<ve )eft these )oo&ho)es o&en because it<s beneficia) to #u)tinationa)s
and to the rich, to be ab)e to structure their #oney to #ini#i@e tax, we )et a he)) of a )ot #ore go on
under this,H said Lawson of the -)e&tocracy "ea#.
Part Two. aszlo !iss" the Offshore #aster
By Mihai Munteanu
2n a s#a)), we));a&&ointed boardroo# 6ust ste&s fro# the +o#anian 1overn#ent .ui)ding, Las@)o
1yorgy -iss sketches on a sheet of &a&er for the benefit of an undercover re&orter. "he re&orter fro#
the 'rgani@ed %ri#e and %orru&tion +e&orting Pro6ect I'%%+PJ has to)d -iss he wants to hide his
ownershi& in a )arge oi) dea).
-iss )ooks exact)y )ike you<d ex&ect an accountant to )ook L #ediu# height, going a )itt)e ba)d, in a
neat grey suit, s&eaking in a )ow, even, tone, without any inf)ections. .ut what he is out)ining isn<t du))
accounting at a)). He is ex&)aining how the re&orter can use offshore co#&anies to Go&ti#iseH #i))ions
of do))ars in +o#anian taxes and custo#s fees.
He draws a )ine fro# a dot on the sheet re&resenting the 4eyche))es 2s)ands off the coast of *frica to
other for#s re&resenting %y&rus and Digeria. "hen a )ine to a -iss co#&any in .u)garia and fina))y to
the key )ocation L the =4 state of /e)aware.
GWhat you need is a triangu)ation,H -iss says in his &atient, teaching tone. He shows the sheet to the
re&orter and added: HG"his is the #echanis# 2 &ro&ose to you.H He ca))s it tax o&ti#i@ation.
When re&orters showed the sheet to authorities )ater they ca))ed it so#ething e)se: fraud.
The #usiness of Making #usinesses
Like -iss, who o&erates La#ark "ax P)anning %onsu)t 4+L, do@ens of other accountants, )awyers
and business#en in 8astern 8uro&e, and thousands #ore around the wor)d, are in the business of
he)&ing &eo&)e set u& offshore co#&anies.
What #any actua))y are doing is he)&ing organi@ed cri#e, &o)iticians and crooked business#en
)aunder #oney, hide co#&any ownershi&, avoid taxes, and skirt #ono&o)y )aws. "heir industry is
#aking organi@ed cri#e and corru&t &o)iticians wea)thier and he)&ing the# get away with it.
Within weeks of -iss<s )esson to '%%+P, +o#anian &o)ice arrested hi#. -iss is one of the few
registry agents '%%+P cou)d find who were ever arrested for he)&ing evade taxes. '%%+P found
there shou)d be a )ot #ore.
(our '%%+P re&orters ta)ked with #ore than two do@en co#&anies that advertised the registration
of offshore co#&anies, and #any were to)d the sa#e thing. 8ach &ro#ised to he)& the re&orters avoid
taxes or hide assets. Dobody asked where the re&orters got the #oney or why they were trying to hide
assets or ownershi&.
1!7
Too"s of the Trade
.ack in the boardroo#, -iss advises the re&orter that the key to o&ti#ising taxes is )owering the
&rice of the &roduct. "he Ii#aginaryJ &roduct, in our case, is 1,3>> tons of industria) oi) that is to be
i#&orted fro# Digeria into the 8uro&ean =nion I8=J.
GHere, in Digeria, you &urchase the #erchandise through an offshore co#&any fro# 4eyche))es or
fro# /e)aware,H he ex&)ains. G"he offshore co#&any then sub;invoices the i#&orts to a +o#anian
co#&any. (ro# this &oint, we #ake the triangu)ation. We i##ediate)y de)iver the #erchandise to a
%y&riot co#&any. 2t, in turn, re;se))s it to a co#&any in .u)garia, and fro# there it returns back to
+o#ania.H
-iss ca))s his &)an Gsub;invoicing,H another of the du)) eu&he#is#s co##on in the industry. *t each
sa)e, the &rice changes, but the changes are for tax &ur&oses on)y, because the re&orter wi)) own a)) of
the co#&anies invo)ved.
(or exa#&)e, an offshore co#&any in /e)aware buys the oi) in Digeria for e1>>. 2t se))s it to a
+o#anian co#&any for e1. "he +o#anian co#&any then se))s it to a %y&rus co#&any for e1.1. "he
re&orter then &ays taxes in %y&rus on the reduced &rice.
.ut that is i))ega), said 4orin .)e6nar, &resident of the +o#anian Dationa) *gency for (isca)
*d#inistration I*D*(J.
G*ny o&eration of this kind, which invo)ves sub;invoicing or changing figures, is ca))ed either PtaxQ
evasion or #oney )aundering,H said .)e6nar.
*nother ex&ert agreed. GWhen you rese)) the sa#e goods we)) be)ow #arket &rices, under;
eva)uating it, you are gui)ty of severa) cri#es. 2t is c)ear that the network you are describing to #e is a
ty&ica) #oney;)aundering network,H said 2one) .)fncu)escu, for#er #inister;de)egate of the +o#anian
Dationa) %ontro) *uthority.
-iss ex&)ains that the +e&ub)ic of %y&rus is the key strategic )ocation for i#&ort;ex&ort businesses
in 8uro&e. "he is)and country has had the )owest tax rate in the 8= since it 6oined in May of >>4, and
it is the #ost co##on)y used offshore haven "he #axi#u# E*" rate on i#&orts is 13 &ercent and
there is no tax for goods heading to other 8= countries. "here are no custo# fees for severa) ty&es of
*frican #inera) oi)s. %or&orate tax rates for co#&anies are 6ust 1> &ercent and excise taxes are )ow.
G2t is c)ear that those invo)ved do not want to &ay the E*" and their custo#s duties. "hen, the goods
can circu)ate unhindered in the 8=. Without Buestion, the underva)uation is not right at a)). Peo&)e
actua))y change the a#ounts in the transaction docu#ents,H .)e6nar said.
The #u"garian +onne'tion
.ut %y&rus is 6ust the first sto& in the Gtriangu)ationH. "he second is .u)garia.
'nce the goods are i#&orted into %y&rus, they are i##ediate)y reso)d to a .u)garian co#&any, but
at a &rice near the #arket &rice of e>>. "he &rofit re#ains in an offshore account of the co#&any in
Dicosia, %y&rus. "he .u)garian ste& obscures the &ath of the goods.
G5ou do not need to find a co#&any in .u)garia: we have one,H -iss says. H.ut here the goods have
to &hysica))y circu)ate. We do not necessari)y need to store it L we can &ass it through .u)garia in a
sing)e day.H
Whi)e there are no taxes between 8= countries, co#&anies #ust have the &a&erwork to &rove the
goods were actua))y shi&&ed.
'nce in +o#ania, everything can co#e out in the o&en and the *frican industria) oi) can enter the
nor#a) #arket. "he .u)garian co#&any se))s to a +o#anian co#&any for a &rice that a)so inc)udes a
fee for -iss.
G2t wi)) cost you at #ost 1 &ercent of the business. Maxi#u# 1 &ercent. "hat wou)d be our fee,H -iss
1!$
te))s the re&orter.
Hiding the <wnershi
*nother key e)e#ent of the &rocess is hiding the rea) owners. /es&ite the =4 govern#ent<s
outs&oken criticis# of offshore co#&anies, /e)aware is the )ocation #any offshore services
co#&anies. -iss even &ub)ished a book on how to avoid +o#anian taxes ca))ed G=nited 4tates, "ax
Heaven L =nc)e 4a# Wi)) (ight 5our "axesVH
GWe have a)ready booked co#&anies in /e)aware,H says -iss. He said he a)#ost has a factory in
/e)aware &roducing co#&anies. *ctua))y, it is a /e)aware based co#&any registry fir#.
-iss says that as )ong at it does not do business in the =nited 4tates, an offshore co#&any wi)) not
re&ort to the =4 tax co))ection authorities. 2t does not have to &ay taxes and it needs )itt)e accounting.
-iss ex&)ains that ownershi& is easi)y hidden. Proxies, or &eo&)e wi))ing to a))ow their na#e to be
used as an owner in exchange for #oney, sign the co#&any registration docu#ents. Lawyers,
registration agents, or so#eone off the street can a)) do this. "he rea) beneficiaries are ca#ouf)aged
behind a dec)aration of trust, a )ega) docu#ent that states the &roxy is ho)ding the &ro&erty for another
&arty. 4o#eti#es the rea) owner ho)ds undated resignations of the &roxies that he can use at any ti#e.
"hese docu#ents are usua))y ke&t secret.
%aundering Money
"he re&orter te))s -iss he has recent)y co#e into a )arge a#ount of #oney and needs to hide it. -iss
asks no Buestions but i##ediate)y sketches out another offshore sche#e.
-iss reco##ends the tiny 4eyche))es 2s)ands in the 2ndian 'cean this ti#e. "he generic;sounding
na#e of a &reregistered co#&any is chosen: M 2nte))igence Ltd I4eyche))esJ. "he co#&any wi)) be
ca&ita)ised with the re&orter<s #ystery #oney. "he co#&any wi)) se)) shares of itse)f to investors, who
thus own it.
=sing another too) in the offshore kit, -iss reco##ends that the co#&any use bearer shares. .earer
shares are stock shares owned by whoever has &ossession of the#. "here is no registry of owners ke&t.
* series of &roxies wi)) buy the initia) shares in grou&s and then transfer the# to the re&orter. 'nce the
shares are transferred, they are untraceab)e.
"he 4eyche))es co#&any, now owned by the re&orter through his bearer shares, wi)) be a shareho)der
in an Ginvest#entH co#&any. *gain, -iss has a)ready set one u& L a #atching /e)aware co#&any
na#ed M 2nvest#ents LL%. Money fro# the 4eyche))es co#&any wi)) fund the /e)aware co#&any,
which wi)) then #ake )ega) invest#ents. "he #oney is thereby )aundered.
-iss<s bi)) for the four offshore co#&anies is e1,>>> &)us 1 &ercent of the take. "he invoice is
issued by La#ark "ax P)anning %onsu)t 4+L fro# .ucharest, where the re&orter #et -iss. .ehind
this +o#anian 4+L )ies, natura))y, a web of offshore co#&anies that s&read )ike a s&ider<s web to a))
continents.

Part Three. $ %eporter &orms an Offshore
By Mihai Munteanu

+e&orters fro# the 'rgani@ed %ri#e and %orru&tion +e&orting Pro6ect I'%%+PJ set out to find how
easy it is to set u& an offshore co#&any.
"hey i#agined a co#&any in a re#ote )ocation with good &rivacy )aws. "hey decided their
1!:
i#aginary co#&any needed to have &roxies for both the shareho)ders using bearer shares and for the
director of the co#&any.
"hey asked 4eyche))es;based (ide)ity %or&orate 4ervices, an on)ine register of offshore co#&anies
that has been used in the region. (ide)ity advertises such services on their website. (or exa#&)e, it
offers Gno#ineeH directors or &roxies. G* third;&arty %o#&any Manager IDo#ineeJ wou)d effective)y
shie)d the co#&any owner fro# any &ub)ic)y obvious re)ation to the offshore co#&any,H the site says.
(or shareho)ders it says Gin order to shie)d his direct )ink to the co#&any, a co#&any owner #ay
invo)ve services of a no#inee shareho)der.H
(ide)ity boasts on this site that Gsince 100: we have &rovided thousands of offshore incor&orations
for &rofessiona) and individua) c)ients wor)dwide.H (ide)ity a)so &rovides services in the .ritish Eirgin
2s)and and .e)i@e and has offices in +iga, Latvia.
What (ide)ity does is not i))ega) in the 4eyche))es. However, using their services to avoid taxes can
be i))ega) in #any countries.
When '%%+P e#ai)ed (ide)ity staff, they were very acco##odating, asked no Buestions and never
discussed whether the activities cou)d be i))ega) exce&t to say where the c)ients cou)d s&end #ore
#oney to he)& avoid getting caught for tax evasion. "he &rice tag: X1,73$.
'%%+P re&orters &)aced an on)ine order for an offshore co#&any. *fter fi))ing out for#s on
(ide)ity<s website, they received a &ro#&t e#ai) #essage signed by 4te))a %onstance, the (ide)ity
%or&orate 4ervices< #anaging director. "he #essage indicated the next ste&s: the re&orters needed to
send a notari@ed co&y of the beneficiary<s &ass&ort, a bi)) that wou)d show the beneficiary<s &er#anent
address and the standard contract needed to estab)ish an offshore, signed, scanned and e#ai)ed to the
4eyche))es. 2t is not c)ear if or how (ide)ity wou)d verify whether the infor#ation sent was rea).
"o dis&e) our concerns about &rotecting our identity, 4te))a ex&)ained that G.y )aw Pthe 4eyche))es
2nternationa) %or&orate 4ervice Providers *ctQ, we are ob)iged to verify the identities of our c)ients.
"his infor#ation is for our interna) fi)e on)y and D'" for any &ub)ic registryV *)) )icensed registered
agents in 4eyche))es are sub6ect to the sa#e regu)ations.H
"he &rice inc)uding the designated shareho)der and director I&roxiesJ &rovided by (ide)ity. *fter the
order has been &)aced, the docu#ents wou)d be sent to 8uro&e via a fast #ai) courier and the offshore
co#&any shou)d be o&erationa) in three weeks.
*nother (ide)ity e#&)oyee, %ynthia %hehab, ex&)ained by e#ai) how the &roxy syste# worked. "he
rea) owner can contro) the offshore co#&any by #eans of two docu#ents: * G1enera) Power of
*ttorneyH Icost: X3J or G4&ecia) Power of *ttorneyH IX3>J. "he first o&tion gives the rea) owner
fu)) contro) over the co#&any for an un)i#ited &eriod of ti#e. However, (ide)ity )awyers do not
reco##end it, she said. %hehab warned the re&orter in the e#ai) that Gthis is the new c)i#ate, the
issuance of 1enera) Power of *ttorney Ithe ones issued )ast yearJ can be extre#e)y dangerous for the
c)ient. P)ease note that a 1enera) I&ower of attorneyJ can cause do#estic tax )iabi)ity for the c)ient and
it is a direct written evidence that the &erson runs an offshore co#&any fro# his own ho#e and this
wi)) #ake the &erson tax;)iab)e in his own country, for the revenues of that offshore co#&any, through
what is ca))ed a &er#anent estab)ish#ent.H
2nstead, %hehab reco##ended the fir#<s #ore ex&ensive .usiness *d#inistrative 4ervice
co#bined with a G4&ecia) %usto#i@ed Power of *ttorney.H 4he a)so so)d the re&orter on the
co#&any<s #ore ex&ensive director &roxy service because Gyou need the &rofessiona) directorshi&
service to avoid being seen as direct)y #anaging and contro))ing an offshore co#&any.H
(ide)ity<s website offers us an individua) director who wou)d do the work for X1,>>> &er year. "he
registered agent infor#ed the re&orter that he can a)so use the cor&orate directorshi& service, which
#eans that for X3> your director cou)d be L what e)se9 L another offshore 4eyche))es cor&oration.
1!0
%fterwords
rew !ullivan" Editor# "here was a tea# of re&orters on different &arts of the story. 'n the
dee&est &art, we assigned Mihai to gather a)) the infor#ation fro# his co))eagues and do the
writing. 2tCs so#eti#es better to have one &erson get the who)e thing in their head. 2t takes
)onger but gives a greater continuity.
.ecause such stories are rather intense, we a)ways do two )ayers of editing. *t each &oint, Pau)
+adu or Mihai or Pau) and #e discussed the story structures and we ca#e to a genera)
agree#ent. Pau) did the first edit. "he origina) stories were )ong so Pau) broke the# u& as
needed into sidebars, and did so#e restructuring and co&y editing. 2t then went to #e for fact
checking and a fina) edit. .ecause 8ng)ish is not the first )anguage of our re&orters, there is
so#e rewriting and tightening that needs to be done, but if the re&orting was done right, a)) the
#ateria) is there. 2n this case, the story was we)) re&orted. Dear the &ro6ect end, 2 added another
cou&)e of stories fro# other re&orters to fi)) in the series and give greater context. "hese are
standa)one stories. "he who)e &rocess takes a whi)e L u&wards of a #onth.
Mihai Munteanu" lead re$orter# We were fa#i)iar with the issue of the offshore industry fro#
our &revious investigations, so we knew the #ain offshore agencies in the region. .ut we didn<t
know exact)y how a cross;border offshore network works. *nd we did not ex&ect to find so
#any connections.
.asica))y, 2 co))ect a)) the infor#ation 2 can before 2 write the story. (irst ste&: 2 access
infor#ation fro# databases.
2n offshore 6urisdictions, on)ine databases of co#&anies are very &oor in infor#ation. "hey
identify on)y a &articu)ar co#&any or a registrar agent. 4o we crossed the offshore databases
with those of the .a)kan countries. 2n #any cases we found out who set u& offshore co#&anies
and who re&resents the#. With that infor#ation, o&aBue co##ercia) 6urisdictions a&&ear in the
on)ine databases. (reedo# of infor#ation )aws in .osnia he)&ed us to obtain re)evant docu#ents
on three cri#ina) cases &ending in court.
4econd ste&: trying to identify hu#an sources. .ut identifying the# is not enoughK they have to
ta)k.
"he third ste& is finding a way to &rove what 2 found. "o succeed at this &oint, where it<s
necessary and where 2 can, 2 gather infor#ation fro# inside as an incognito re&orter,
undercover. 2n this case 2 identified a hu#an source who he)&ed #e enter incognito into the
offshore industry. "hat was )uck, though 2 did study the industry beforehand to be #ore
&ersuasive.
"he fourth ste&: 'nce 2 can see the who)e &icture, on)y then can 2 structure #y narrative.
%hrono)ogy and descri&tive e)e#ents are the two #ethods that he)& #e to structure a story. 2
a)so #ade two re)evant gra&hics. 2 think the story shou)d be viewed whi)e it is read.
*s far as 2 know, 2 had no &rob)e#s with the accuracy of the story. Dobody de#anded or offered
c)arification and nobody threatened #e with a )awsuit. 'ur stories had very good ex&osure,
which is satisfying for #e. (urther thanks are unnecessary, because we have on)y re&orted a
fact. When 2 start working on a story 2 on)y intend to ex&ose an unfair situation. 'ther &eo&)e
are ab)e to change it. 2n retros&ect, 2 think that our stories about the offshore industry have
inhibited a subt)e #echanis# of organi@ed cri#e in the region. 2 a# &artia))y satisfied.
14>
Chapter Seven. Traffickers and Tyrants
A. %atvian #rides
By &amie Smyth and $leksandra &olkina
Introduction. Human trafficking began to take a new form in 4urope at the beginning of the
<=8:s as global networks of recruiters transporters and pimps took shape. )olice generally
regarded the %ictims nearly all women as willing accomplices in their own ensla%ement
entrapped by their desire for easy money. Bet the tactics of traffickers formed a clear pattern
repeated with local %ariations that made official complacency seem increasingly
incomprehensible if not disgusting. 0omen from $frica and $sia were recruited through
ad%ertisements promising better!paid employment in the 0est than was a%ailable at home. 0hen
they showed up for work their passports were taken away and they became prostitutes in
brothels or nightclubs. If they complained they were beaten or sold to other pimps. &ournalists
played a key role in fighting that traffic ; in particular 2hris de Stoop then of the weekly /nack
in Belgium whose groundbreaking in%estigation of the traffic led to a se%ere crackdown in the
mid!<==:s. But it ne%er went away entirely and ne%er will. 'raffickers simply change locale and
focus looking for new sectors where %ictims and clients can be found. 'he story is always there
to be done and e%ery time it is done someone may be sa%ed from %ictimisation.
In the two articles below e3tracted from a longer series and made possible by a grant from the
4uropean 5und for In%estigati%e &ournalism 6www.journalismfund.eu7 Smyth and &olkina go
beyond the recurrent rumours of Ewhite marriagesF between immigrants and nati%es to
document a criminal enterprise,s true e3tent and practices and then to propose solutions. 'hey
make cle%er use of official data and sparing use of (D* sources who fre"uently dominate
reporters looking into such subjects. 'he reporters also formed a cross!border team to follow
the traffic from beginning to end. 'hough not all the women in this scheme appear as %ictims ;
the reporters take the time to draw their portraits ; they nonetheless come across as %ery naR%e
and often %ery much in danger. 'he story originally ran as a three!part series including two
reports and an editorial and we,%e used two parts of it. I would argue that if news media want
to ma3imise the benefit from in%estigation there are two things they should do immediately# +un
the stories as series and propose solutions. $ third idea would be to report on whether anything
happens with the proposals. It can be argued that this is not the role of a news media. It can
also be argued that when news media accepted such a role in their crusading days they
sometimes did more good than harm and some of them also had a bigger public. 'he task of
formulating and lobbying for solutions has lately de%ol%ed to (D*s which ; along with the fact
that some of them are in%esting in in%estigati%e reports ; may help e3plain why they are a
growing sector while news media are in crisis.
5rom "he 2rish "i#es *ctober =!<< 9:<:
Part One. 'reland(s sham marria)e scam
By &amie Smyth
2" 24 *LM'4" a year since *nna arrived at /ub)in air&ort, a bright;eyed 1:;year;o)d Latvian
141
schoo)gir) on a two;week ho)iday. Her tri& to 2re)and was not your ty&ica) ha)f;ter# break. 2t was
financed by a 4;year;o)d Pakistani #an na#ed Muha##ad and arranged by a friend )iving in her
town who &ro#ised her #oney if she trave))ed to 2re)and to #eet the Pakistani and consider getting
#arried to hi#.
GMy friend to)d #e she had been to 2re)and and had good friends there. 4he said the Pakistani guy
wou)d buy #e everything 2 wanted. 4he to)d #e 2 wou)dn<t even have to #arry hi# if 2 didn<t want to,
but cou)d 6ust s&end a few weeks in 2re)and with hi#,H says *nna, who chain;s#okes as she recounts a
tri& that very near)y ended in disaster.
*nna is one of a growing nu#ber of Latvian wo#en L #any of who# are young, naive and &oor L
res&onding to offers of sha# #arriages with &eo&)e fro# outside the 8=.
"he sca# ex&)oits an 8= directive on free #ove#ent that &rovides residency rights for non;8=
citi@ens who #arry 8= nationa)s Ia)though #arriage to an 2rish citi@en wou)d not &rovide these
residency rights.J 4ince the directive beca#e )aw, in >>7, the nu#ber of &eo&)e a&&)ying for
residency rights based on #arriage to an 8= citi@en in 2re)and has increased steadi)y, reaching ,10 in
>>0, u& fro# 1,>$ in >>7. "his u&ward trend is continuing: 1,1: non;8= nationa)s a&&)ied for
residency based on #arriage in the first six #onths of >1>.
Most of these unions are genuine, but the Minister for ,ustice, /er#ot *hern, has said the )arge
nu#bers of unusua) nationa)ity #atches suggest #any are sha#s. 2n ,anuary *hern to)d his 8=
co))eagues at a #eeting in 4&ain: G"here is growing evidence of abuse of 8= i##igration )aws, and
2re)and<s ex&erience is that the )ove affair between Pakistan and .a)tic states shows no signs of
abating.H
/e&art#ent of ,ustice figures show 77 s&ousa) a&&)ications were #ade by Pakistanis u& unti) the
end of *ugust, by far the )argest nu#ber sub#itted by any nationa)ity. More than a third of these
a&&)ications L 113 L are based on #arriages to Latvian wo#en. 2ndians, .ang)adeshis and Digerians
have a)so #ade a )arge nu#ber of a&&)ications for residency in the +e&ub)ic based on #arriages
#ain)y to eastern 8uro&ean wo#en.
"he &heno#enon is now so wides&read that one of the country<s #ost senior #arriage registrars
warned in *ugust that u& to 13 &er cent of civi) cere#onies in 2re)and cou)d be bogus. /ennis Prior,
su&erintendent registrar for the Hea)th 4ervice 8xecutive eastern registration area, described
witnessing #arriage cere#onies where the bride and groo# needed inter&reters because they cou)dn<t
understand one another.
2 M88" *DD* in a cafe in her ho#etown in Latvia, about :>k# fro# +iga. We have been
introduced by *)eksandra ,o)kina, a Latvian 6ourna)ist who has written extensive)y in her ho#e
country on the sha#;#arriage industry between 2re)and and Latvia. Her research has inc)uded
interviews with wo#en who suffered ra&e and sexua) abuse, as we)) as undercover work in which she
created a fa)se internet identity as a Latvian wo#an seeking a G&a&er #arriageH. (or the &ur&oses of
this investigation "he Irish 'imes tea#ed u& with ,o)kina and shared contacts.
*nna was one of these. 4he says she never intended to #arry Muha##ad but went to /ub)in
anyway because she wanted to have a good ti#e and go sho&&ing. 4he didn<t think about the risks of
trave))ing to a foreign country and staying with a stranger.
G2 didn<t have #uch #oney, because 2 didn<t work, and #y #other didn<t have #uch #oney either.
My fa#i)y was )iving on about 3> )ats Pe!>>Q &er #onth,H she says. G2 f)ew to 2re)and in 'ctober )ast
year and was #et by two Pakistanis, who brought #e to #eet #y &otentia) husband. "he brother of the
groo# )ived in the house too, with his fa#i)y. My &otentia) husband was Buite nice, but he didn<t
s&eak #uch,H says *nna.
G2 was brought to get a PP4 P&ersona) &ub)ic serviceQ nu#ber because he said he had got a 6ob in a
14
cafe for #e. He a)so asked #e if 2 had #y birth certificate with #e, because 2 needed this to register to
get #arried. He wanted to bring #e to a register office in 1a)way. 2 )ied to hi# and said 2 didn<t have
#y birth certificate with #e. 2 then to)d hi# 2 didn<t want to #arry,H she says. GHe got angry and to)d
#e the on)y way 2 wou)d be a))owed to go ho#e was if the #arriage organiser wou)d &ay back the
#oney he<d s&ent on #e. 2 think it was about e,>>>. He )ocked #e in the house for two days and 2
was not a))owed out,H she says.
G2 thought they wou)d do anything to #e, even ra&e #e. 2 &retended everything was okay but 2
began to try to esca&e,H she says.
4he was ab)e to get access to the #an<s co#&uter and sent an e;#ai) to a Latvian 6ourna)ist based in
/ub)in with the address of the house she was in. Within three hours the 1arda arrived. "he Latvian
e#bassy contacted her #other, and she was f)own ho#e.
4evera) other young Latvian wo#en have not been so fortunate and have been i#&risoned, ra&ed
and abused by &eo&)e invo)ved in #arriage sca#s. "he 1arda Dationa) 2##igration .ureau is
investigating such cases.
Last year a 10;year;o)d wo#an and two other wo#en in their 4>s fro# Latvia were i#&risoned in a
house outside /ub)in by a grou& of #en fro# the 2ndian subcontinent, according to a worker at an
2rish D1' that he)&ed the three wo#en.
G"he wo#en were )ocked in a roo# that had no heating and given food 6ust once a day. "hey were
terrified and hungry,H says the worker, who does not want to be na#ed in case it he)&s the &er&etrators
track down the wo#en. G* Latvian #an and wo#an had &ro#ised the# #oney and a 6ob if they
#arried a non;8= citi@en. When they esca&ed they f)agged a car down and #ade it to /ub)in. "hey
were robbed when s)ee&ing rough in .uscras before they ca#e to our office,H she says.
"he abuse didn<t end there. "he wo#en received threatening text #essages fro# the organisers,
#aking the two o)der wo#en fear for the safety of their chi)dren back in Latvia.
*rturs Eais)a, head of the Latvian &o)ice<s hu#an;trafficking unit, says they began to receive
infor#ation about 2rish #arriage sca#s in >>7, and contacted the 1arda about the e#ergence of
cri#ina) networks invo)ving &eo&)e of Pakistani, 2ndian and .ang)adeshi origin in 2re)and. "wo grou&s
in &articu)ar found recruiters in Latvia and began to search wide)y for brides, he says.
Eais)a<s unit is investigating severa) cases of a))eged hu#an trafficking, ty&ica))y when wo#en were
tricked into co#ing to 2re)and with the &ro#ise of a 6ob and then sexua))y abused by grou&s who tried
to force the# into #arriage.
4o#e wo#en enter wi))ing)y into such arrange#ents, attracted by the )arge su#s of #oney on offer,
but are naive about the conseBuences. Eais)a says the #oney on offer for gir)s who are wi))ing to get
#arried is a &owerfu) draw. G2n >>7 they offered gir)s e1>,>>>, which is huge #oney for Latvian
gir)s, &ossib)y severa) years< inco#e. 2n >>0 the &rices fe)) dra#atica))y, to e,>>>,H he says.
"he econo#ic crisis in Latvia is a big factor in enticing wo#en to trave) to 2re)and to get #arried for
#oney. 'ver the &ast two years une#&)oy#ent has surged to &er cent, and a Buarter of the
&o&u)ation )ive at risk of &overty L the highest rate within the 8=.
Liene, who# "he Irish 'imes #eets in Latvia through our )oca) 6ourna)ist contact *)eksandra
,o)kina, says it wasn<t 6ust the #oney that #ade her consider a sha# #arriage. G2 was to)d 2<d get
e!,>>> by the Latvian organiser, and 2<# a &erson who )ikes adventure,H says Liene, who f)ew to
/ub)in to #eet a Pakistani student ca))ed Tubar. G2 stayed for one and a ha)f #onths in his house and
had #y own roo#. "hey &aid for everything, and 2 was ab)e to co#e and go as 2 wanted. 2 )iked 2rish
discos,H says the !3;year;o)d #other of three. G"hey brought #e to a #arriage registrar a )ong way
outside /ub)in. 2 brought #y birth certificate, &ass&ort and PP4 nu#ber. "here was no interview, but
they asked a few si#&)e things )ike if 2<d been #arried before. 2t was very easy.H
14!
=nder the %ivi) +egistration *ct, a)) #arriages #ust be notified to a registrar three #onths before a
cere#ony can take &)ace, necessitating Liene<s tri& out of /ub)in.
* few weeks )ater Liene decided not to go ahead with the #arriage to Tubar and returned ho#e. .ut
she says she knows other wo#en who have #arried in 2re)and.
"H8 '+1*D248+4 of sha# #arriages use different ways of recruiting wo#en, says *)eksandra
,o)kina, the Latvian 6ourna)ist contact, who is writing a book on the &heno#enon and has infi)trated
so#e of the cri#ina) networks &rocuring Latvian brides.
G4o#eti#es they #eet Latvian wo#en working in 2re)and and for# genuine re)ationshi&s where no
#oney changes handsK on #any occasions the Latvian wo#en find out after the event that their
husband rea))y on)y wanted the# to get a visa,H she says.
G=sua))y if they source wo#en direct)y fro# Latvia it is a sha#. "he wo#an can either stay on in
2re)and and wait the #andatory three #onths for the wedding or return to Latvia and co#e back a few
days before the wedding.H
Wo#en are a)so recruited through 6ob advertise#ents &)aced in the Latvian #edia, and through the
Latvian socia);networking website (ry&e.co#.
When researching her book, ,o)kina set u& fake internet &rofi)es &osing as Latvian wo#en seeking
6obs abroad. 4he was contacted by #ore than > &eo&)e via the internet, who &aid for 1: air)ine tickets
to f)y her fro# +iga to /ub)in to take &art in a sha# #arriage.
Her #ost recent case invo)ved an 2ndian #an )iving in 2re)and who ca))ed hi#se)f GEicky 4inghH on
the internet. /uring an on)ine chat he offered severa) thousand euros if she wou)d agree to a G&a&er
#arriageH and find two Latvian brides for 2ndian friends )iving in 2re)and.
Most of the Pakistanis, 2ndians and .ang)adeshis organising the sca#s co#e to 2re)and as students
on te#&orary visas that restrict their working hours and trave) o&&ortunities within the 8=. Many of
the *fricans who have taken &art in sha# #arriages are asy)u# seekers, so#e of who# have a)ready
had their c)ai# for asy)u# re6ected by the 4tate.
8= treaty rights are the Ggo)d card of i##igrationH rights, says %hief 4u&t ,ohn '</risco)) of the
1arda Dationa) 2##igration .ureau, who is co;ordinating '&eration %harity, which targets the
growing sca#. "he bureau has )odged 3$ ob6ections with registrars since )ast Dove#ber about civi)
cere#onies schedu)ed nationwide, and has arrested 17 &eo&)e as a resu)t of its investigations into
i))ega) activity connected with the sca#. He says his unit is investigating severa) cases of a))eged ra&e
and hu#an trafficking, a)though none has so far gone to court.
*nyone has the right to ob6ect to a #arriage during the three;#onth notice &eriod before the
cere#ony takes &)ace. 2f an ob6ection is )odged, the registrar #ust investigate the #arriage before it
can &roceed. .ut it re#ains unc)ear if registrars have the necessary )ega) &owers to b)ock the
#arriages, and there are fears they cou)d be sued by cou&)es.
* G#arriage of convenienceH for #oney or to circu#vent 2rish i##igration )aw is not i))ega) in
2re)and. Deither is it &ossib)e to &revent so#eone getting #arried because they are i))ega))y resident in
the 4tate, which #akes efforts to b)ock the sca# difficu)t.
* Latvian;8ng)ish inter&reter who has worked at 1> #arriages over the &ast two years says he has
never seen a registrar b)ock a #arriage. GMost of these were sha# #arriages, and it<s easy to te)).
8veryone is dressed casua))y, usua))y in 6eans and ";shirts, and it<s not a ce)ebration. "here is no
rece&tion and no friends with the gir). "here are usua))y two witnesses with the groo#,H says the
inter&reter, who s&oke on the condition of anony#ity.
He has worked at weddings in /rogheda, "i&&erary and /onega). /ub)in is not a ty&ica) venue,
because of de)ays of u& to five #onths in arranging a cere#ony, co#&ared with the standard three;
144
#onth wait at register offices outside the ca&ita).
*n address in 2re)and and a 6ob L &roving the 8= citi@en can su&&ort the non;8= s&ouse L is
reBuired before the /e&art#ent of ,ustice wi)) sanction any residency rights for the non;8= citi@en. "o
get around this &rob)e# organisers often set u& fake co#&anies to su&&)y their Latvian brides with the
necessary &a&erwork. 'ne /ub)in co#&any, estab)ished by a Pakistani, su&&)ied a)#ost 3> wo#en
with work docu#ents to su&&ort their husbands< a&&)ication for residency rights. .ut when gardag
ca))ed at its &re#ises in the city centre, they found no one working there.
"he growing &rob)e# of sha# #arriages is causing grave concern in Latvia. 2ts govern#ent has
begun ca#&aigns in schoo)s and is training its consu)ar staff at e#bassies to try to &ersuade wo#en
not to go ahead with bogus #arriages.
4vet)ana .iseniece, a senior officia) at the consu)ar assistance division of the Latvian Ministry of
(oreign *ffairs who worked in the country<s e#bassy in /ub)in unti) #id;>>0, says wo#en turn u&
at the Latvian e#bassy in /ub)in asking for co&ies of their birth certificate to enab)e the# to get
#arried. G'ften they are acco#&anied by two or three #en, usua))y fro# Pakistan, 2ndia or
.ang)adesh. We try to se&arate the wo#an by bringing the# into a &rivate roo# and ta)king to the#
&rivate)y about the &otentia) conseBuences, such as the difficu)ty of getting divorced,H .iseniece says.
G"wo out of every 1> wo#en don<t go ahead with a #arriage after this consu)tation,H she says.
"here is a great dea) of frustration at the &erceived )ack of res&onse fro# the 2rish authorities. GWe
Pthe #inistry of foreign affairs of LatviaQ have re&eated)y asked your 1overn#ent to introduce si#&)e
#easures to tack)e the &rob)e#,H says .iseniece. G"hey cou)d ask a)) foreign nationa)s to &roduce
freedo#;to;#arry certificates fro# their e#bassies. "his wou)d direct a)) Latvian wo#en to the
e#bassy in /ub)in and enab)e us to ta)k to the#. "hey cou)d a)so #ake it #andatory that you can
&rove )engthy residency in the country. "hey cou)d a)so ask wo#en to get birth certificates trans)ated
and sta#&ed by the e#bassy, which again wou)d force the# to co#e to us,H she says.
G2n s&ite of a)) the efforts of the Latvian and other 8=;state e#bassies in /ub)in, the feedback fro#
the 2rish co#&etent authorities is #ini#a),H says .iseniece.
How the s'am works
"he G&a&er #arriageH ex&)oits an 8= directive on free #ove#ent that &rovides residency rights for
non;8= citi@ens who #arry 8= nationa)s. Marriages to 2rish citi@ens do not &rovide these residency
rights.
4o#e 8= countries have )aws against G#arriages of convenienceH, but 2re)and does not, #aking it a
target for fake #arriages. 4ince the directive beca#e )aw, in >>7, the nu#ber of &eo&)e a&&)ying for
residency rights based on #arriage to an 8= citi@en in 2re)and has increased steadi)y, reaching ,10 in
>>0.
Most of the Pakistanis, 2ndians and .ang)adeshis organising the sca#s co#e to 2re)and as students
on te#&orary visas that restrict their working hours and trave) o&&ortunities within the 8=. Many of
the *fricans who have taken &art in sha# #arriages are asy)u# seekers. When non;8=;nationa)s
#arry an 8= nationa) they are entit)ed to fu)) residency rights, which under the 8= directive are a )ot
stronger than the rights en6oyed by non;8= nationa)s #arrying an 2rish &erson in 2re)and Ior a (rench
&erson in (rance, and so onJ.
143
Part *. 'reland must ta+e action to stop sham marria)es
Money may not buy you love but it can buy you a marriage in Ireland between 3atvian women
and >akistani men
by $leksandra &olkina
2+8L*D/ H*4 beco#e the #ain destination for young and vu)nerab)e Latvian wo#en, )ured by
the &ro#ise of 6ust one or two thousand euro to #arry a Pakistani or an 2ndian #an, a)so &oor and
wanting to re)ocate to an 8ng)ish;s&eaking 8uro&ean =nion state. * Latvian bride brings with her the
tanta)ising &ros&ect of 8= citi@enshi&.
Why 2re)and9 "he key to this Gcash Sn< #arryH &rob)e# is a )ack of )aws or serious checks against
such disingenuous weddings.
2re)and is a &articu)ar draw for #en fro# the 2ndian sub;continent who s&eak 8ng)ish. "he wo#en
are genera))y fro# Latvia, one of the &oorest #e#bers of the 8=, and a significant nu#ber are
destitute.
"he so)ution is as co#&)icated as the &rob)e#. Poverty is the driving force for both bride and groo#
and the #arriage &resents the &ro#ise of an esca&e fro# a &erceived he)) of &oor )iving.
(or the bride, the &ro#ise is often unde)ivered. 2n so#e rare cases, bride and groo# stay together
and a sha# #arriage beco#es a rea) one. .ut #ore )ike)y, her on)y &ur&ose is to say G2 doH and then
go back ho#e. Worse, she #ay be tricked, get no #oney, and face abuse and even ra&e.
"he *sian groo#, once in &ossession of a va)id 8= #arriage certificate, is free to work in 8uro&e
under the free #ove#ent directive and a&&)y for 2rish citi@enshi& in five years.
.ehind a)) this is so#ething #ore sinister L the sha# #arriage brokers who for# &art of an
organised cri#ina) network.
*nd so#ething yet #ore #enacing #ay a)so be at work: the use of sha# #arriages to enab)e
cri#ina)s or even extre#ist 2s)a#ic terrorists to infi)trate first 2re)and and then the 8=.
(or #y book on this issue, 2 &osed as a fake bride and in a short ti#e, 2 #anaged to get access to
around a do@en organised cri#e gangs &rocuring fa)se #arriages in 2re)and.
2 #ade contact with nu#erous &otentia) Ggroo#sH of Pakistani or 2ndian origin, offering #oney in
exchange for #arriage to #e.
"o address this &rob)e# a change to the )aw is needed, in 2re)and and the 8=.
2t is not i))ega) in 2re)and to enter into a Gsha#H #arriage or even to organise one for financia) gain.
Dew &ro&osed i##igration )egis)ation sad)y avoids tack)ing the issue. 2n other countries L inc)uding
1er#any, (rance, .e)giu# L the &rob)e# is tack)ed both before and after the wedding.
%ivi) registrars in these countries have the &ower to &ost&one or cance) a wedding if there are
sus&icions of a sha#. "his can arise, for exa#&)e, if the bride and groo# don<t understand each other
or if one of the &artners has &recarious residence status.
2n 1er#any registrars can contact the i##igration service, who then carry out an investigation into
a sus&icious #arriage.
"hey usua))y interview bride and groo#, se&arate)y and intensive)y, and co#&are the answers. "he
sa#e cou)d a)so ha&&en after the wedding L &eo&)e )iving under the sa#e roof know, for exa#&)e, if a
&artner s)ee&s on the right or )eft side of the bed, or drinks his coffee with or without #i)k and sugar.
147
2nvestigators can a)so ask to show docu#entary evidence of re)ationshi&, such as wedding &hotos,
6oint )eases and uti)ity bi))s.
"hey wi)) often si#&)y ring the door be)) and see if the cou&)e rea))y )ive together.
2n .e)giu# a foreign s&ouse found gui)ty of being invo)ved in a sca# can )ose his residence &er#it
and be de&orted, as we)) as be forced to &ay a fine. "he 8= s&ouse can a)so be forced to &ay a fine
and, in so#e cases, even go to 6ai). Me#bers of a cri#ina) gang invo)ved #ay s&end u& to 1> years in
6ai).
Here the 1arda 4gochcna can on)y tack)e the &rob)e# indirect)y, by targeting other offences such as
biga#y, fa)se docu#entation or being in the 4tate i))ega))y.
'rganisers can be &unished on)y in cases where they trick a bride into co#ing to 2re)and with the
&ro#ise of a 6ob, and then try to force her into #arriage. However, these are rather rare cases as #ost
wo#en know where they are going to.
2re)and and Latvia are not a)one in this. 4ha# wedding be))s ring )oud in the =-, %y&rus, /en#ark,
4weden and other countries, whi)e non;8= groo#s order brides fro# Po)and, Lithuania, 8stonia,
4)ovakia and the %@ech +e&ub)ic. 4o what has the 8= done so far to so)ve the 8uro&e;wide &rob)e#9
Dot #uch. 2t has &assed two non;binding docu#ents defining sha# #arriages, )isting &ossib)e
indicators and a))owing #e#ber states to curb the fraud in a way they want to. .ut the free #ove#ent
directive &rohibits syste#atic checks, so every Pakistani groo# and Latvian bride a&&earing at the
#arriage office cannot be checked.
"wo #a6or o&tions are &ossib)e: a#end the directive, or )eave it as it is and ado&t a binding )aw
Ifra#ework decision in 8=;s&eakJ across #e#ber states.
2n the first case, we cou)d take the =4 ex&erience as an exa#&)e. "here #arriage resu)ts in a two;
year &eriod of conditiona) residence un)ess the #arriage is #ore than 4 #onths o)d. * five;year
residence &er#it wou)d be granted on)y after that &eriod.
.efore the a&&)ications are a&&roved, cou&)es cou)d be asked to show docu#entary evidence of
genuine re)ationshi&. 2f there are sus&icions, investigation shou)d be carried out. 2f the directive is not
a#ended the 8=;wide binding )aw shou)d reBuire registrars to &ass a sus&icious case to authorities for
dee&er investigation. +egistrars shou)d be given a )ist of indicators L as syste#atic checks are
&rohibited, they #ay re)y on severa) indicators. "his a&&roach is #ore resource;intensive, however.
2rres&ective of the so)ution chosen, the 8=;wide binding )aw #ust reBuire #e#ber states to
introduce sanctions for GhusbandsH, GwivesH and organisers.
* wedding cere#ony 6ust to gain residency status #akes a #ockery of #arriage and i##igration
)aws. 2n the )ong ter#, the &rob)e# #ay di#inish as the standard of )iving in Latvia and other #e#ber
states increases.
2n the short ter#, however, urgent action is needed to c)ose the )ega) )oo&ho)e. "hat can on)y #ean
two things: a change in the )aw and #uch #ore carefu) #onitoring by our enforce#ent agencies.
14$
Afterword by %amie !myth
"he investigation began in ,u)y >1> when 2 was contacted by a 6ourna)ist friend in .russe)s,
who to)d #e a Latvian 6ourna)ist wanted to conduct a cross border investigation into the
&heno#ena of Latvian wo#en trave))ing to #arry *sian #en in 2re)and and .ritain.
4he had been ti&&ed off about the story whi)e working at a news&a&er in Latvia and had
interviewed so#e wo#en invo)ved in the sha# #arriage trade. 2 had a)ready worked on the
sha#e #arriage story in .russe)s covering a new 8= directive &roviding the right of residency
to the s&ouses of 8= citi@ens.
2 contacted *)eksandra ,o)kina, who was a)ready working on a book about Latvian sha#
#arriages, and we agreed to coo&erate together by sharing contacts, sources and infor#ation in
each of our countries.
Working together rea))y he)&ed us get dee&er into the story as we had both sides of the story
covered. *)eksandra he)&ed #e to #eet contacts and access infor#ation in Latvia and 2 did the
sa#e for her in 2re)and.
"o get docu#entary evidence 2 #ade a reBuest to the 2rish /e&art#ent of ,ustice to &rovide the
#ost recent statistics on residency a&&)ications by non;8= nationa)s based on #arriage,
inc)uding a breakdown by nationa)ity of each s&ouse.
"his showed a huge increase in the nu#ber of residency a&&)ications between >>7 and >1>
based on the 8= treaty rights &rovided by the new 8= directive. 2t a)so showed a very )arge
nu#ber of Pakistani #en had a&&)ied for residency based on #arriages to Latvian wo#en.
4tatistica))y this was #uch higher than any other nationa)ity, suggested what we had sus&ected
a)ready; that a )arge nu#ber of sha# #arriages were taking &)ace to take advantage of the new
8= directive.
"he next stage of the investigation invo)ved working out how the #arriages were being arranged
and how they were being conducted.
*)eksandra trave))ed to 2re)and for a week of research and was ab)e to attend interviews that 2
schedu)ed with senior &o)ice investigators, 6ustice officia)s and a senior #arriage registrar.
"he interviews &rovided very detai)ed on and off the record infor#ation for the investigation.
Whi)e in 2re)and *)eksandra set u& a fake internet &rofi)e on the Latvian eBuiva)ent of (acebook,
on which she &osed as a Latvian wo#en seeking a 6ob in 2re)and. 4he had a)ready used this
undercover techniBue whi)e in Latvia to s&eak to organisers of sha# #arriages.
Within 4: hours she was offered a 6ob in 2re)and and ,>>> euro in return for a Z&a&er #arriageZ.
4evera) other contacts were #ade with other *sian #en, who a)so were interested in Z&a&er
#arriagesZ.
"his &rovided va)uab)e infor#ation about how the sha# #arriage trade was organised.
(or the second &art of the investigation 2 trave))ed to Latvia to #eet *)eksandra. We interviewed
two wo#en who trave))ed to 2re)and as &art of a Zsha# #arriageZ sche#e. We visited the
&overty stricken vi))ages were #any of the wo#en )ive who take &art in the sca#.
We visited an D1', which he)&s so#e of the wo#en who are tricked into taking &art in the
sca#; so#e of who a))ege they have been sexua))y abused and i#&risoned.
14:
We a)so interviewed senior &o)ice and 1overn#ent figures, who ex&ressed their anger at the
2rish 1overn#entCs inaction on cracking down on the trade.
When 2 returned to 2re)and 2 continued the investigation by tracking down an inter&reter, who
he)&ed at 1> sha# weddings. *nd a Latvian 6ourna)ist )iving in 2re)and who had he)&ed one of
the Latvian wo#en we interviewed esca&e fro# her ex&ectant husband. "his interview was
i#&ortant to he)& corroborate the origina) interview with the wo#an.
2 a)so reBuested an interview with the Minister for ,ustice. "his was refused as it had a)ready
beco#e a&&arent that the Latvian authorities had co#&)ained about the )ack of action by the
2rish 1overn#ent.
.ut by then we had a very interesting story, which has continued to run in 2re)and with a
docu#entary due to be broadcast this year.
140
#. $ie"ds of Terror: the 6ew &"ave Trade in the Heart of /uroe
>oor people are being lured from astern urope to the 68ech !epublic for forced
labour? Some of the worst gangsters are now on trial, but there is no sign of this evil
trade coming to an end.
By $drian Mogos in Holland and 1kraine )etru Loltan -oru 2obu@ in 2@ech +epublic and
+omania Qitalie 2SlugSreanu in Moldo%a 'ransnistria and 1kraine and Qlad La%ro% in
1kraine
Introduction. In the award!winning article below $drian Mogos and his team ; se%eral of
whom like Qlad La%ro% are award!winning reporters in their own right ; unco%ered and
dissected a surprising new aspect of the traffic. 'his time the focus isnt se3 its the food on your
plate. 'he article takes the reader from fields culti%ated by sla%es to the restaurants and shops
where their products are sold and consumed. It lea%es open the possibility that some of the
people who worked with the traffickers did not know what was going on further down the %alue
chain. 'hat ignorance is one reason that this is a horror story. $nother is that the %ictims,
accounts of their e3ploiters spill into nightmare territory at a couple of points when you realise
that there may be no limits on how bad the situation can get. 'he story is told with anger yet the
narrati%e ne%er conceals the %ictims and the %ictims get the last word ; a de%ice that can sa%e a
lot of useless effort. 0hy try to say it better than someone who li%ed itC 'his project in%ol%ing
reporters from se%eral countries was supported by the 4uropean 5und for In%estigati%e
&ournalism and the -anish organisation Scoop. &ournalism scholars would do well to team up
with organisational analysts to see what best practices can be e3tracted from these e3periments.
Initially published by the Balkan In%estigati%e +eporting (etwork 6BI+(7 and the Bucharest
daily ,urna)u) Dahiona) in -ec. 9::=.
Whi)e &ricey restaurants in .er)in or *#sterda# serve fresh as&aragus &)ucked fro# fie)ds in the
%@ech +e&ub)ic, none of the a&&reciative diners has the s)ightest idea that this #uch;)oved ite# is
on)y on their dinner &)ates thanks to the backbreaking work carried out by #odern;day s)aves L #en
and wo#en )ured fro# &oor countries on fa)se &retences and then he)d ca&tive, beaten and threatened
by ar#ed guards if they ask for their wages or even food, or try to esca&e.
'ur three #onth investigation in +o#ania, the %@ech +e&ub)ic, Mo)dova, "ransnistria L a state that
broke away fro# Mo)dova L =kraine and "he Dether)ands, has uncovered the way in which a bruta)
cri#ina) network of =krainian;run gangs recruited hundreds of victi#s to work in effect as s)aves in
.ohe#ia for years before the network was broken u& this s&ring.
*)) the 4> victi#s fro# +o#ania who# we interviewed had been )ured to an as&aragus far# in
Hostgn u Eo6kovic in >>$ and >>:, to toi) for .ohae#er 4&arge) -u)tur, .4-, a %@ech fir# owned
by a /utch co#&any, Procint ..E. Done of the# were &aid, nor even decent)y fed. *)) say they fe)t
)ucky to esca&e.
*n ongoing investigation into forced )abour into the .4- fie)ds by %@ech and +o#anian &o)ice has
revea)ed that at )east !>> +o#anians were tra&&ed into forced )abour there in >>$, >>: and >>0. *
#ore recent &robe has revea)ed that .u)garian +o#a, =krainians and Mo)dovans a)so worked there
for free.
2t took %@ech &o)ice two years to raid the &re#ises of .4- in (ebruary after being first infor#ed of
what was going on in>>$. "he raid )ed to the re)ease of the re#aining workers and the break;u& of
the organised cri#e network that had ensnared the#.
13>
"he du&es were recruited by =krainian and +o#anian agents of the gang )eaders who &ro#ised
the# good sa)aries, acco##odation and food.
Most victi#s that we interviewed inde&endent)y identified Easy) .entsa, the =krainian owner of a
%@ech recruiting co#&any, .ear Loging, as ring)eader of the gangs who tra&&ed the#. %@ech &o)ice
arrested .entsa in (ebruary and histria) is ongoing. We a&&roached his defense )awyer, ,iii "erynge),
but we were to)d he wou)d dec)ine to co##ent.
2t was .entsa<s co#&any, .ear Loging, which had a contract with .4- to su&&)y the# with workers.
.4-<s chief executive,Wi)) "eeuwen, #aintains that he on)y found out about the conditions of the
workers fo))owing .entsa<s arrest.
G"here was no direct )abour contract between .4- and the +o#anian, .u)garian and Mo)davian
workers,H he said. G"his was between the contractor, .ear Loging, and the workersH.
"eeuwen<s fir# ex&orts as&aragus and other vegetab)es fro# 4&ain and 2ta)y to .ritain, ,a&an and
e)sewhere. .4- &roducts are on sa)e in 1er#any and the Dether)ands and turn u& in #a6or
su&er#arket chains, inc)uding "esco out)ets in the %@ech +e&ub)ic.
6o wages4 =ust beatings
%orina +ahoveanu stands in front of her &arents;in )aws< cottage in a vi))age in the southern Prahova
region of +o#ania. 2n her )ate twenties, she dand)es a baby in one ar# whi)e two other chi)dren run
around. 4he and her chi)dren )ive in a sing)e roo# #ade of #ud and straw attached to her in;)aws<
cottage.
/es&erate to earn so#e #oney )ast year, %orina )eft in the s&ring of >>: for the as&aragus fie)ds in
the %@ech +e&ub)ic, where she knew her husband and brothers;in;)aw were a)ready working.
* #e#ber of a network of &eo&)e across +o#ania, which finds &eo&)e to work abroad, recruited her.
2t )ater trans&ired that the agent be)onged to the southern +o#anian branch of .entsa<s extensive
network.
.us trave) was organi@ed to bring her and the other recruits to Prague, where &eo&)e of =krainian
origin awaited the# and trans&orted the# to the fie)ds.
GWhen 2 got there, 2 found #y husband and brothers;in;)aw not in great sha&e. "hey had been beaten
and a)#ost starved,H she reca))s. G2 had to work even on 4undays and if 2 said no, 2 was threatened
with a beating.H
%orina says they worked in the fie)ds under the guard of =krainians carrying shotguns who hit
anyone that dared ask about the wages they<d been &ro#ised, or who &rotested over the conditions and
hours.
*round 4>> hundred #en and wo#en were ke&t working around the c)ock, s)ee&ing in a dor#itory,
and they were not a))owed to )eave the fie)ds un)ess their =krainian bosses transferred the# to
construction sites or s)aughterhouses.
'ne of %orina<s brothers;in;)aw initia))y thought that he had been given a &ro&er 6ob contract, a)beit
written in %@ech. He )ater )earned that his bit of &a&er was a worth)ess )icense to rent a garage.
*fter two #onths of working for free under these ar#ed guards, %orina knew she<d never get any
#oney. When she and her husband &rotested, they threatened to se)) her off to a &i#& to work as a
&rostitute in Prague.
(ina))y, she, her husband and one brother;in;)aw f)ed the ca#& by night in the su##er of >>:.
(ifty;year;o)d %ostica %hiriac, fro# the vi))age of 1orbanesti in northern +o#ania, te))s a si#i)ar
131
story. He too beca#e a #odern;day s)ave and on)y esca&ed fro# the .4- fie)ds after working for
nothing for severa) dreadfu) #onths.
"ogether with his daughter, he worked in the .4- fie)ds and so#e other sites fro# May to ,u)y
>>:. When they fina))y f)ed the far#, they ran through the night for six hours, crossing 43 ki)o#etres.
G(ear ke&t #e running,H he to)d us.
GMy daughter and 2 worked for three #onths for nothing L fed on)y on bread and boi)ed &)u#s,H he
said. G"hey hit us to #ake us work faster. We bare)y cou)d s)ee& in the dor# because of the cuts and
bruises.H
His #ain fear was for his 17;year;o)d daughter, who# their =krainian fore#an forced to s)ee& in the
sa#e bed with a #a)e %hinese worker. "he guard said she shou)d #arry the %hinese #an so that he
cou)d get +o#anian citi@enshi& and an 8= &ass&ort, for which he was a&&arent)y ready to &ay the
guard.
%hiriac and his daughter were )ured to the %@ech +e&ub)ic by one of their own re)atives, who &ut
the# in contact with a #an )ater charged with being &art of .enta<s cri#ina) network. %hiriac said he
found out )ater the recruiters were &aid 13> to >> euros for each worker they de)ivered to Prague.
4o#e of the workers tra&&ed in .4-<s fie)ds on)y esca&ed after +o#anian di&)o#ats in Prague
found out what was going on.
%onsu)ate officia) 2u)ian 1heorghiu says the e#bassy received a ca)) in March >>$ fro# a #an
tra&&ed at the as&aragus far#. He said he was working in a&&a))ing conditions but cou)dn<t ex&)ain
where the far# was or who the owner was. He knew on)y that it was c)ose to Prague, near a &ainted
wa)).
"he e#bassy contacted the %@ech &o)ice who ex&)ained to the e#bassy how to te)) the &eo&)e to
esca&e. 2n this way, 7$ workers soon f)ed the =krainian guards who, however, ke&t ho)d of their 2/
&a&ers and #oney.
*)#ost every week after that, grou&s of workers began esca&ing fro# the fie)ds and a&&earing at the
+o#anian e#bassy.
.ut though the %@ech &o)ice were first infor#ed of what was going in >>$, it was on)y in (ebruary
this year that they fina))y raided the far# and a nearby dor#itory and re)eased !7 &eo&)e found there.
'ne &rob)e# was that the foreign workers tended to avoid contact with the %@ech &o)ice, because
they were scared to ta)k to the authorities. 4o#e, such as the =krainians and Mo)dovans, had no right
to be in the 8= at a)). 'thers, )ike the +o#anians, were working without reBuired &er#its.
/avid +odr, a %@ech )iaison officer for +o#ania, Mo)dova, .u)garia and =kraine, defended the
s)ow &ace of the %@ech &o)ice investigation, saying that the victi#s Gdidn<t give officers enough
infor#ation and data, so &o)ice cou)dn<t identify their abusers.H *sked +odr, GHow cou)d we he)& the
victi#s since they didn<t even s&eak %@ech9H
*ccording to a re&ort of the +o#anian Dationa) *gency against "rafficking in Persons I*D2"PJ, by
>>$ the %@ech +e&ub)ic had beco#e a to& destination for trafficking +o#anians for the &ur&oses of
forced )abour. "he country had been in 1>th &)ace on a >>7 b)ack )ist of countries into which
+o#anians were being trafficked.
.y >>$, according to *D2"P, it had risen to !rd &)ace L &art)y because +o#ania had by then
entered the 8=, and +o#anians thus had freedo# of #ove#ent into the =nion.
13
The >krainian bosses
Prosecutors and &o)ice fro# the /irectorate for 2nvestigating 'rgani@ed %ri#e and "erroris#,
/22%'", which is &art of the +o#anian 1enera) Prosecutors< 'ffice, started investigating the
recruiters< networks in March >>$, #onitoring two different networks in northern and southern
+o#ania.
.entsa<s na#e surfaced as the big boss of both. "he !1;year;o)d =krainian citi@en, then )iving in the
%@ech +e&ub)ic, his right;hand #an, Eo)ody#yr /ub)enych, !$, and another associate, Mykhay)o
Tavatskyy, 3, a)) =krainians were arrested n (ebruary in a s#a)) town 3> k# fro# Prague. "hey were
charged with trafficking hu#an beings and with estab)ishing and running an organi@ed cri#e network.
.entsa had estab)ished .ear Loging %T s.r.o, the front co#&any tasked with &roviding workers for
the %@ech as&aragus fie)ds a#ong other sites, in >>!, according to the %@ech %o#&anies +egister.
.entsa and his associates a)so set u& a nu#ber of interconnected co#&anies in the %@ech +e&ub)ic.
.ear Loging<s headBuarters were )ocated in a ninth;f)oor rented a&art#ent in the town of Me)ngk, on
$! 4&ortovni 4t. "he co#&any had five registered e#&)oyees. Dow on)y the #eta) &ost box at the
entrance ha)) of the bui)ding, with .ear Loging written by hand, reca))s its existence.
.entsa co#es fro# the vi))age of -rychovo, in the =kraine<s western "ranscar&athian region, not far
south of Lviv. Deither .entsa nor /ub)enych has any cri#ina) record in =kraine or a business
registered in the country, according to =krainian officia) data.
2n -rychovo and in other s#a)) vi))ages in the region, cars with %@ech registration &)ates can often
be seen, as we)) as advertise#ents to work in the %@ech +e&ub)ic.
.entsa<s re)atives and neighbours confir#ed that he and his co#&anions took &eo&)e abroad to work
in the %@ech +e&ub)ic. *t the c)ean, white fa#i)y house, where we &osed as business#en offering
&)enty of chea& )abour to send abroad, .entsa<s father insisted that his son was innocent. He had been
working for others in eastern =kraine, he said. His son wou)d never work with +o#anians again, he
added. G'nce bitten by the snake[H he added.
The southern and northern network
2n the southern &art of +o#ania, in the county of Prahova, around > victi#s to)d us that severa)
&eo&)e ca#e in >>:, )ooking for une#&)oyed &eo&)e who were wi))ing to go to .ucharest and )ater to
Prague to work.
1abrie) Dita, !:, owner of two co#&anies in +o#ania, was arrested in +o#ania in 4e&te#ber >>:
as ring)eader of this southern branch. His tria) is ongoing but he was re)eased in #id;/ece#ber >>0
to defend hi#se)f.
2onut Mateescu, his )awyer, says his c)ient was on)y an e#&)oyee of the %@ech co#&any, and drove a
bus fro# +o#ania to Prague to trans&ort the workers because he knew the %@ech )anguage. G"he
&rosecutor doesn<t have enough evidence ; on)y !7 victi#s< state#ents, which are not enough to
convict,H he said.
+o#anian &rosecutors have identified 3> victi#s of the southern branch, a#ong the# two young
&eo&)e aged 17 and 1$, who ended u& in the .4- as&aragus fie)ds at Hostgn u Eo6kovic.
2n the northern, &oor &art of +o#ania, in the county of .otosani, ten victi#s we interviewed said a
#an na#ed Laurentiu /rangf had recruited the#. "his 47;year;o)d fro# the city of .otosani was
arrested in March >>0 in +o#ania, as head of the northern branch. He was charged with de)ivering
1> workers to .entsa.
Done of the )awyers that initia))y defended hi# are his attorneys any )onger. "he &rosecutor in
13!
charge of the case said he had since been re)eased to defend hi#se)f, )ike Dita. /es&ite #any efforts,
he or his )awyer cou)dn<t be reached.
"he +o#anian &rosecutor<s )ist of cri#ina) network #e#bers a)so #entions Durdy *ntaev, another
=krainian, as a &art of the northern branch. "he sa#e na#e &o&&ed u& in a conversation in a bar in
"iras&o), ca&ita) of "ransnistria, where we interviewed four other for#er forced )abourers taken to the
%@ech +e&ub)ic.
"hey said they had been taken to work in as&aragus fie)ds but didn<t know the na#e of the &)ace or
the co#&any. "hey had ex&erienced the sa#e abuse as the others. 4asa "oridkf, aged 3, said that
*ntaev and 'ksana 1o)ubeva, a wo#an in her ear)y fifties, had run their own s)ave network together.
'thers confir#ed that they had been taken to 1o)ubeva<s brother in 'dessa and )ater to the %@ech
+e&ub)ic.
Deither na#e is known to the authorities of "ransnistria or Mo)dova, however. When we tried to find
*ntaev and 1o)ubeva in the =krainian town of 'dessa, we )ocated 1o)ubeva<s e)der)y brother. *sked
about his sister<s business activities, he si#&)y shut the door and threatened to co#e back out with a
shotgun.
-We didn9t know what was going on.
"he .4- as&aragus fie)ds in Hostgn u Eo6kovic )ooked deserted when we visited in May. .4- was
estab)ished in 1003, and far#s as&aragus on 10 hectares. 2n the courtyard there stood severa) e#&ty
si)os and a few &arked tractors, ready to &)ough the fie)d.
'n)y one #an, a guard, was there, waiting to start his shift. We cou)d not find Micha) %ervenka, the
agrono#ist e#&)oyed by .4-, who has given severa) interviews about .4-<s ex&orts to #arkets in
1er#any, the Dether)ands and to "esco su&er#arkets in the %@ech +e&ub)ic.
2n >>7 he to)d a %@ech agricu)tura) website, that a)) the workforce at .4-, co#&rising a)#ost >>
&eo&)e, ca#e fro# abroad, es&ecia))y 8astern 8uro&e, whi)e the harvesting was coordinated by a
/utch s&ecia)ist.
We asked the guard to &ut us in contact with %ervenka but after #aking a few &hone ca))s he said he
was not avai)ab)e. He wou)d not give us %ervenka<s te)e&hone nu#ber.
'ur next sto& was the headBuarters of Procint, the co#&any that owns .4-, at Tandberg 4treet in
He)den, in southeast Ho))and. *t nu#ber 13, there was no sign of Procint, however. 2nstead there was
the sign for a co#&any ca))ed "ebo@a Ho)ding ..E.
"he connection between Procint and "ebo@a is Wi)) "eeuwen, owner and chief executive of Procint
and "ebo@a. .oth co#&anies are big su&&)iers of as&aragus.
"he other Procint executive is (ernando Mora (igueroa /o#ecB, $>, of 4&ain, who runs an
agricu)tura) e#&ire through co#&anies such as 1ru&o %arri@ue)o 2nvest#ent, %o#&)e6o *grico)a 4*,
2nversora y %o#ercia) 4*, and *grico)a %onagra)sa 4.L. His do#ain stretches fro# 4&ain and the
Dether)ands to .ritain.
"ebo@a<s website says the co#&any won the GPrix d<4&aranghe)H in >>7, and that its c)ients inc)ude
a nu#ber of )uxurious restaurants in Maastricht, +otterda# and Waa)re as we)) as a five;star hote) in
*#sterda#. 2n (ebruary >>0, the co#&any entered the ,a&anese #arket.
"ebo@a a)so s&onsors two )oca) footba)) tea#s &)aying in the )ower /utch divisions.
*ccording to the /utch %o#&anies +egister, Procint was estab)ished in 10:$ and s&ecia)i@es in
as&aragus i#&orting and trading. * #ediu#;si@ed business, it so)d :>>,>>> euros< worth of as&aragus
in >>3.
134
"eeuwen was not avai)ab)e when we reached He)den, but answered Buestions about the %@ech
situation via e#ai) )ater on. G'ur co#&any intention is that they work at our far# with &)easure, so
that they wi)) return the fo))owing yearsH he said, concerning his 8ast 8uro&ean )abour force.
*sked about .entsa and /ub)enych, the two =krainians arrested in the %@ech +e&ub)ic for
trafficking, "eeuwen said they had visited .4- and had offered .ear Loging<s services as a du)y
registered %@ech co#&any. G2 have never #et these gent)e#en,H he added.
He said his co#&any had never had direct contact with the workers, which was hand)ed by .ear
Loging. G'ur &o)icy is not to interfere within the interna) affairs of the &artner co#&any, as the
#anagers bear the fu)) res&onsibi)ity for their actions,H he said. *ccording to hi#, .ear Loging had
arranged the acco##odation and faci)ities for workers and the %@ech #anager of .4- was on)y the
nterface in re)ations with .entsa.
*fter the arrest of the two =krainians, he added, .4- had severed ties with .ear Loging. GWe on)y
ca#e to know about these abuses when the &o)ice started their investigations and we have su&&)ied a))
facts and figures to the officia)s concerned,H "eeuwen said.
2an Hutchins, a s&okes#an for "esco in London, said the su&er#arket chain has never sourced
&roduct direct)y fro# .4-.
However, he added: G'ur initia) investigation confir#s that two su&&)iers in the %@ech +e&ub)ic
have in the &ast traded with .4- and we are working with the# to estab)ish the facts.H
(or#er s)ave )abourers )ike %hiriac have received no co#&ensation for what they endured. He is
trying to rebui)d his )ife.
.ut he so)d a)) his goats to raise #oney to get to the %@ech +e&ub)ic. G2 wi)) never )eave #y house
again. 2 won<t go again to work abroad,H he says.
GWhat ha&&ened there was #ore than enough for #e. 2 6ust ho&e #y daughter can get over that
night#are. Maybe there is so#ebody u& there,H he said, &ointing at the sky, Gwho wi)) 6udge the#H.
133
%fterword by %drian Mogos
"he idea ca#e in ear)y >>$ when 2 had an off the record discussion with an officia) fro# the
Dationa) *gency *gainst "rafficking in Persons about s&ecific cases. /uring the conversation 2
noticed a gra&hic showing that the %@ech +e&ub)ic was on to& of +o#anian authorities< b)ack
)ist for trafficking in hu#an beings. "hat sur&rised #e Ias we)) as the *gencyJ, because 2ta)y,
4&ain and 1er#any are the traditiona) destinations for +o#anian victi#s. Moreover, the nu#ber
of forced )abour cases was above the nu#ber of &rostitution cases. 2 stayed with that origina)
idea, though during our research there were other ideas that #y co))eagues considered better. 2
was stubborn, and the outco#e was better than 2 ex&ected.
2t was very difficu)t to obtain the research #oney. 2 &ro&osed the story in ear)y >>$ to a
6ourna)istic organi@ation, but it was refused. 2n >>0 2 #anaged to get the #oney fro# an
investigative 6ourna)is# organi@ation and fro# a 6ourna)istic fund. 2n the #eanti#e 2 was
co))ecting data for the story. 8veryone on the tea# that ca#e together did the research whi)e
working on a dai)y basis for our #edia institutions, and that is why it took six #onths. However,
our editors in +o#ania a))owed us to fo))ow the story without &ressure.
2 estab)ished a work &)an and a structure as soon as 2 had a tea#. 8ach of the five #e#bers had
s&ecific tasks to do. *fter each research tri&, the data co))ected was &ut into a fi)e. 8very
interview fi)e was na#ed with the date and &)ace. When issues arose during research we tried to
so)ve the# i##ediate)y. (or instance, when a )arge su&er#arket co#&any<s na#e a&&eared, 2
i##ediate)y sent an e#ai) asking for their co##ents.
We were )ooking for the )egiti#ate businesses of &eo&)e invo)ved in trafficking. "hat )ed to
co#&any records, and )ater to tria)s, cri#ina) records, and indict#ents. We needed si#i)ar
docu#ents fro# 1eorgia, "ransdnester or .e)arus, and we cou)dn<t a)ways get the#. 2n
+o#ania we have a )aw ca))ed 344M>>1 that &ro#otes freedo# of infor#ation, but it doesn<t
cover ongoing 6udicia) investigations. However, we did use it to obtain officia) data and gra&hics
with exce))ent resu)ts.
2nitia))y we s&oke off the record with officia)s unti) we got so)id data. "hen we obtained their
state#ents. "he %@ech &o)ice )iaison officer in +o#ania was one of the #ost annoying sourcew.
We cou)d get rea) info fro# hi# on)y through a +o#anian &o)ice officer. Moreover, the %@ech
officer acted )ike it was the victi#s< fau)t that the %@ech &o)ice were unab)e to he)& the#. We
ex&erienced very bad officia) co##unications with a)#ost a)) the institutions invo)ved.
"here was a rea) threat in the =kraine, where a co))eague was threatened with a shotgun. 2n the
%@ech +e&ub)ic so#e 6ourna)ists were afraid to &artici&ate when they heard that =krainian
organi@ed cri#e was invo)ved. We were )ucky that victi#s ta)ked. Many of the# were sti))
afraid, because the %@ech )awyer for their o&&ressors threatened the# even in +o#ania. We
were a)so )ucky when a &o)ice officer and &rosecutor decided to revea) certain infor#ation fro#
their investigation.
We advise you never to be afraid or shy, and to ask Buestions whether you are facing a cri#ina)
or a giant co#&any. -ee& everything fro# your research, even after &ub)ishing the story. 2t
#ight &rove very usefu) afterwards. -ee& tracking the cri#ina)s and their co#&anies u& to the
end of the &ro6ect. 5ou never know what you #ay find.
.ecause we did the research se&arate)y, the first draft was a su# of a)) our stories, and it ran
about $> &ages. *fterwards, 2 se)ected the #ain ideas together with #y co))eagues. "he rest
beca#e sidebars. "his is the syste# 2 use for a)) of #y stories. "he #ethod is to fo))ow the #ain
story and not be drawn into unnecessary detai)s.
137
We s&read the story through our regiona) network of 6ourna)ists, and with the he)& of our
funders. 2 a# &artia))y satisfied with the resu)ts. Dothing changed after we &ub)ished, exce&t that
the +o#anian &o)ice o&ened other investigations based on our research, and two ongoing tria)s
resu)ted. "he story wou)d have been different if we had obtained funding ear)ier. We cou)d have
had a greater effect, and gotten a fu))er &icture of the traffic.
13$
+. A Ta"iban <f <ur ?ery <wn
Murder, rape and e)ile are routine punishments for these parallel @>arliaments$.
By (eha -i3it
Introduction. 'he underlying model of most in%estigati%e stories is what (orthrop 5rye called a
Eromance narrati%eF ; not a tale of lo%e but of descent from a bright world where all is well
into a sombre underworld of %iolence and corruption. (eha -i3it,s %oyage into a part of India
where tribal law trumps the 2onstitution doubles that spiritual journey with a physical %oyage.
In most in%estigations the danger reporters face is psychologicalA it resides in the stress of an
ad%ersarial posture or in the sheer fatigue of hanging out with people who are busily trying to
make the world worse. In this case the danger is both psychological and physical and that
e3plains why the reporter did part of her job underco%er. 'hus she goes to hell and back as in a
romance narrati%e. $t the end of a romance narrati%e order is restored and the world becomes
bright again. But journalists do not ha%e the power of a no%elist to create a happy ending.
Instead -i3it in%ites the authorities to change the situation. $s $lbert Londres put it in his
masterwork *u bagne EI,%e finished. 'he go%ernment has to start.F
*riginally published in "ehe)ka $ugust <J 9::=.
,=4" * few ki)o#etres outside our ca&ita), there exists a body that bra@en)y re6ects our %onstitution
and our )aws. 2t orders the assassination of cou&)es who #arry for )ove and snatches and se))s the
chi)dren of those who defy its ru)es. 2t has ordered the &unitive gangra&e and #urder of #others
whose sons have e)o&ed with another<s daughter. "his body has even gone so far as to order that
wo#en shou)d on)y give birth to sons. 2n yet another &aradox in this )and of &aradoxes, our Pri#e
Minister goes to the 1: 4u##it to )end his su&&ort towards fighting the "a)iban, even as we refuse to
acknow)edge a "a)iban hudd)ing not in so#e foreign #ountain redoubt but reigning ra#&ant over
#i))ions of 2ndians L 6ust a short bus ride away fro# the ha))s of Par)ia#ent.
'n ,u)y !, the day our &ri#e #inister assured the 1: that 2ndia wou)d fu))y coo&erate towards
ending o&&ression by the "a)iban, a #an was )ynched on the orders of the 4arv -ha& Panchayat in
Haryana<s ,ind district because his bride was fro# the sa#e gotra, a )ineage assigned to a Hindu at
birth. 4o#e Hindus be)ieve it is incestuous to #arry within the gotra. *ccording to various D1' and
#edia re&orts, -ha& &anchayats have ordered the execution of at )east four &eo&)e every week for the
)ast six #onths for #arrying within the gotra. /octrina))y orthodox, yet radica) in their re6ection of the
)aw, the 4arv -ha& Panchayat is a c)uster of severa) caste;based &anchayats. "rans)ated, it #eans the
su&re#e PanchayatK and it behaves )ike a Par)ia#ent unto itse)f.
-ha& &anchayats have existed since 7>> */ in 2ndia and have #anaged their affairs inde&endent of
the )aw of the )and. Historica))y, they have had standing ar#ies &rotecting the individua) -ha&s. *
-ha& is a unit of territory L traditiona))y, :4 vi))ages fro# the sa#e caste. "he 4arv -ha& Panchayat
has !>> subordinate -ha&s, contro))ing rough)y 3,>>> vi))ages in Haryana, Pun6ab, Western =ttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and +a6asthan.
'ver the )ast five years, the -ha& Panchayats have e#erged as an extra;%onstitutiona) body that has
re&eated)y issued extre#e)y disturbing diktats. -ha& Panchayats have been known to order ki))ings,
ra&es, hu#an trafficking, the sei@ure of the assets of their victi#s and arbitrary bans and restrictions
based on)y on their whi#s and fancies. *)) this is done in the guise of #aintaining the honour and
&ride of their co##unity. 2n #any cases, the )oca) ad#inistration is a)) too ready to bow before the
wi)) of the -ha&.
13:
&enten'ed to death
Misha ho)ds the High %ourt order in one hand and grabs this re&orter<s hand with the other. GWhat
have you co#e here for9H she cries. G5ou a)) are i#&otent. 5ou can<t change the#. "hey wi)) ki)) you
too. We have to )ive and die by their ru)es,H she says. Her 7;year;o)d son Eed Pa), an ayurvedic
&ractitioner, #arried and e)o&ed with 4onia, , in March this year against the wishes of their &arents.
When the .anawa)a -ha&, under whose S6urisdiction< 4inghwa)a, 4onia<s vi))age is in heard about the
#arriage, they issued a decree stating that since the cou&)e be)onged to the sa#e gotra, they were
sib)ings and their #arriage unho)y. (or the cri#e of GincestH and for dishonouring the co##unity, the
decree ordered that both be hunted down and ki))ed.
"he new)yweds were tracked down and se&arated on May , not even two #onths after the decree
was &assed. Eed Pa) cou)d not bear the in6ustice and &ut his ho&es in the )aws that are su&&osed to
govern this )and. He a&&roached the Haryana High %ourt and got a %ourt order for &o)ice &rotection.
*t 0&# on ,u)y !, .a)want 4ingh, the 4H' of Darwana 4adar, and 4ura6 .han, a warrant officer of
the High %ourt arrived a)ong with a &o)ice &arty at Eed Pa)<s residence in Mataur vi))age in ,ind,
Haryana. "hey &ro#ised to escort Eed Pa) to 4inghwa)a, where his wife 4onia was forcib)y confined
in her &arents< house, in order to get her back. *s soon as he reached 4inghwa)a, Eed Pa) was attacked.
He was dragged to the terrace in 4onia<s house and stri&&ed. His face and torso were beaten with
sticks and his neck and shou)ders were cut o&en with sick)es and scythes. 4ura6 .han was &ushed fro#
the terrace, whi)e, astonishing)y, the 13 &o)ice#en f)ed. GDot a sing)e bone in #y son<s body was )eft
intact. "hey ke&t beating hi# )ong after he was dead,H says his #other. His fa#i)y, which )ives in
Matour vi))age, 3k# fro# 4inghwa), ca#e to know 14 hours )ater. "hey were not even given a co&y of
the &ost #orte# re&ort. Whi)e .a)want 4ingh has been sus&ended, four vi))agers have been arrested.
4ince then, 4onia has gone #issing. Her friend, who refused to be na#ed, to)d 'ehelka that 4onia was
bad)y beaten with bricks by her fa#i)y. 4onia<s unc)e, 4urat 4ingh says, G4he has been re#arried and
is ha&&y in her househo)d.H Her friend says that this had been done 6ust to dissuade Bueries about
4onia and fears for her )ife in the near future.
GWhat e)se can be done with such chi)dren9H asks -a#a). Her husband '# Prakash and nine others
fro# .a))a vi))age in -arna) district, Haryana, have been in 6ai) for the )ast year. 'n May 0, >>:, '#
Prakash a)ong with others a))eged)y tied the hands and )egs of her !;year;o)d &regnant daughter
4unita and her husband ,asbir to a tree and ran the# over with a tractor. "heir bodies were hung
outside 4unita<s house to warn youngsters who #ight be considering so#ething si#i)ar. .oth were
fro# the sa#e gotra. 4ays ,agat 4ingh, a #e#ber of the -a)ira#an -ha&, which ordered their ki))ing,
GWe be)ieve that a)) those who #arry within the gotra are bastards. "o save the biradari Ico##unityJ,
one has to ki)) the dissenters.H Ei))agers hai) the #urders as a victory of good over evi). G"he &arents
of such chi)dren shou)d Buiet)y #urder the#. Dot #any get such an o&&ortunity to show their true
co##it#ent to the biradari,H says ,ai 4ingh, another #e#ber of the -a)ira#an -ha&.
"he absence of )aw enforce#ent in this situation is stark. * barbaric syste# that g)orifies #urder and
)ynching in the na#e of honour is ra#&ant, victorious. "he constitution, the )aw, the ad#inistration are
a)) s)u#&ed in defeat. Do wonder then, that ,asbir<s sister, a witness in the case against the a))eged
#urderers, sudden)y turned hosti)e. *n insider who did not want to be na#ed to)d 'ehelka, G"he -ha&
to)d ,asbir<s fa#i)y that if they did not withdraw the case, they wou)d be boycotted by the co##unity
and wou)d be ex&e))ed fro# their vi))age.H "he accused wi)) soon be set free, further reinforcing a
barbarity that has wide socia) sanction )oca))y. *6it 4ingh, an Sactivist< of the .anawa)a -ha&, says,
G"he -ha& has fra#ed ways of )ife for the co##unity. Love #arriages are not &er#itted. 'ur e)ders
have enforced this ru)e. We wi)) do the sa#e.H
2n conversations with vi))agers over weeks and #onths, it beca#e c)ear that #urders decreed by
-ha& &anchayats were co##on. However, in #ost cases, a twisted notion of tradition and the fear of
socia) boycott ensure the #urders are never re&orted to the &o)ice or the #edia. "he Dationa) %ri#e
+ecords .ureau ID%+.J doesn<t c)assify or record honour ki))ings and hence has no statistics on
130
the#. "he )ack of figures on #urders ordered by -ha& &anchayats or Shonour ki))ings< hinders
research and )egis)ation that #ight address the issue.
* #a6or reason behind non;avai)abi)ity of statistics is Sbhaichara< IbrotherhoodJ, which is &ractised
by the vi))agers under -ha& &anchayats. "o safeguard the honour of the -ha& and the vi))age, -ha&
decrees and executions are dee& secrets. (ew (2+s are ever )odged.
A gender stubbed out
Misogynists often have a way of #ani&u)ating the actions of wo#en to their own advantage by
hiding their #otives behind )ogic. Patriarcha) and regressive, -ha&s have &)ayed a key ro)e in
reducing Haryana<s sex ratio to an abys#a) )ow. *)ready the state with the )owest sex ratio, and
infa#ous for its bride #arkets, -ha&s in Haryana sti)) &roc)ai# the &ri#acy of #a)e heirs. 2n >>4, the
"evatia -ha& was Shearing< a &ro&erty dis&ute in /u)ey&ur. "he -ha& decreed that fa#i)ies with )ess
than two sons were not e)igib)e to a&&roach the -ha& for &ro&erty dis&utes as those Sunfortunate<
fa#i)ies had S)esser sco&e< towards carrying forward the father<s na#e or increasing fa#i)y assets.
"hey si#&)y deserved )ess, the -ha& said.
"his has had a devastating effect. (a#i)ies, des&erate for the SreBuired< two sons are using every
trick in the book to avoid fe#a)e births Ior ki)) baby gir)sJ. *ccording to a re&ort by the &re#ier *))
2ndia 2nstitute of Medica) 4ciences I*22M4J, the sex ratio in : vi))ages in .a))abhgarh b)ock L an
area Sgoverned< by the "evatia -ha& in (aridabad L has nosedived. "he re&ort shows a direct re)ation
between sex deter#ination tests and the abortion of fe#a)e foetuses. 4hocking)y, because of the fai)ure
of the state to notify the Pre; Data) /iagnostic "echniBues *ct, which bans sex;deter#ination tests
nationwide, courts were forced to acBuit the few doctors arrested for conducting sexdeter#ination
tests in Haryana.
"he &hysician in;charge of *22M4< +ura) Hea)th 4ervices %entre in .a))abhgarh since 4e&te#ber
>>7 says, G"he re&ort c)ear)y revea)s that fewer fe#a)es are born as second or third chi)dren in
fa#i)ies that are yet to have a boy. "his can be so)ved on)y by socia) intervention.H
"he >>4 state#ent by the "evatia -ha& offers a revea)ing ex&)anation for the shocking)y adverse
sex ratio. 4ays -anta 4ingh, #e#ber of the "evatia -ha& and father of a daughter o)der than his three
sons, G4ons are a #an<s assets. My sons wi)) take #y na#e forward and ex&and #y far#s. "hey wi))
earn #oney to &ay for this gir)<s dowry and #arriage.HWhen asked where his sons wi)) find brides,
considering the scarcity of gir)s, he answers arrogant)y, G"hey wi)) earn enough not to have to worry
about that.H "his cou)d be a vei)ed reference to the fact that Haryana has one of the country<s )argest
Sbride #arkets<, where trafficked gir)s are so)d and end u& as baby;&roducing #achines.
"he -ha&<s #isogyny is not )i#ited to fe#a)e infanticide. "hey re)y on an age;o)d tactic: ra&e as
&unish#ent for a who)e fa#i)y. 2n >>4, in .hawani&ur vi))age in Moradabad, =ttar Pradesh, >;year;
o)d %hetan e)o&ed with Pinky, the daughter of an inf)uentia) 5adav fa#i)y. "he boy be)onged to the
barber caste. "he "evatia -ha& ordered that whi)e the cou&)e shou)d be traced, 4ia /u)ari, %hetan<s
#other, shou)d be ra&ed turn;after;turn by the #e#bers of the 5adav fa#i)y, since her son had
dishonoured the 5adavs. GDot on)y did they gang ra&e her, they burnt her a)ive to destroy any
evidence. "he &o)ice knew about it but did nothing,H says +a6 Darayan, %hetan<s unc)e. 'n)y after
activists intervened were so#e arrests #ade L but everyone was )ater re)eased on bai).
6o dan'e4 no 'ri'ket
(o))owing the &recedent of *fghanistan<s "a)iban, in March >>$, the +uha) -ha& banned /,s fro#
&)aying in #arriage &arties in +ohtak, citing the Sdisturbance to #i)ch ani#a)s< as the reason. "he rea)
reason for the &rohibition was the deter#ination to sto& gir)s fro# entering dance f)oors. 4oon, three
other -ha&s 6oined in, s&reading the ban to at )east :! vi))ages around +ohtak. 4ays Panka6 +uha), an
activist of +uha) -ha&, G5oungsters drink and dance to )oud #usic. %ows can<t s)ee& in the night and
17>
it beco#es difficu)t to #i)k the# in the #orning. Wo#en who used to stay indoors started dancing
&ub)ic)y. "his is against our tradition.H
4i#i)ar)y, in May >>1, the "a)iban stated that cricket shou)d be banned in Mus)i# countries. 4ix
years )ater, in *&ri) >>$, "ewa 4ingh, head of the /aadan -ha& banned cricket and watching cricket
#atches on te)evision in : vi))ages in ,ind district as Syoung boys were going astray<. 4ays /aadan
-ha&<s Ssecretary<, ,ogi +a#, G8)ders shou)d ask their chi)dren to &)ay kabaddi, kho;kho and
wrest)ing. %ricket is not a ga#e at a)).H "hose found gui)ty, the -ha& warned, wou)d be fined Gfor
seven generationsH. =nconfir#ed re&orts state that -ha&s near -arna) district have banned te)evision
and the radio.
The "ure of easy money
Whi)e the #urder of sa#e;gotra cou&)es by these Scustodians of tradition< is co##on&)ace, -ha&s
have devious ways of #aking their ro)es as custodians &rofitab)e ones. 2n 4e&te#ber >>7, Pawan and
-avita visited their &arents in -at)ehri in -arna) district, Haryana. -avita de)ivered a son the day after
her arriva). "en days )ater, the .o#bak -ha& dec)ared that since the cou&)e were fro# the sa#e gotra,
their baby was i))egiti#ate and cou)dn<t re#ain with the#. =#a, Pawan<s sisterin; )aw says, G"he ten;
day;o)d baby was rough)y snatched away by the -ha&<s re&resentatives.H What fo))owed was a bi@arre
&anchayat #eeting in which -avita was beaten #erci)ess)y unti) she agreed to tie a rakhi Ia #ark of
being a sib)ingJ on her husband<s wrist. "heir son went #issing for three #onths. "he -ha& c)ai#ed
the baby was Sgiven< to a chi)d)ess cou&)e. .ir#ati, Pawan<s #other, says, GWe found out that the
-ha& so)d the baby to the cou&)e for +s 3>,>>>.H *fter #uch &)eading and #edia intervention, the
-ha& re)ented and their baby was returned L but on)y after the -ha& got +s 73,>>> fro# Pawan and
-avita. "he cou&)e now )ive in Mu#bai and &)an never to return to their vi))age.
"hough the -ha& says honour is &ara#ount, it freBuent)y barters this honour for #ateria) assets
without b)inking. 'n ,u)y 1, the -adyan -ha& fined the fa#i)y +s 1 )akh and ordered the &er#anent
ex&u)sion of !;year;o)d +avindra and his 13 fa#i)y #e#bers fro# /harana in ,ha66ar district,
Haryana. +avindra Ifro# the 1eh)awat gotraJ had #arried 4hi)&a Ifro# the -adyan gotraJ. 8ven
though their gotras were different, +avindra<s fa#i)y had been )iving in a -adyan vi))age for
generations and was hence Sdee#ed< a &art of the sa#e c)an by the -ha&, which dec)ared their
#arriage void. %hattar Pradhan, the head of the -adyan -ha& gave the fa#i)y $ hours to dis&ose of
their &ro&erty and )eave the vi))age or face death. *s ti#e greedi)y ate away at the hours before the
dead)ine was to ex&ire, +avindra<s 0>;year o)d grand#other .irna to)d 'ehelka, G2 worked day and
night on our far#s. "hat is how we ex&anded our fie)ds. Where on earth wi)) 2 go now9H -a#a),
+avindra<s grandaunt is #ore bewi)dered. G"hey cou)d have ex&e))ed +avindra and his wife L but why
the entire c)an9H she says. /es&ite getting S&o)ice &rotection<, +avindra<s fa#i)y fina))y agreed to
)eave the vi))age. *s they )eft, their house was ransacked and their catt)e were &e)ted with stones.
When 'ehelka )ast #et the#, they were trudging towards ,ugna vi))age in +ohtak district. "he &o)ice
cannot Ior wi)) notJ see any wrongdoing. *ccording to the 4H' Puran 4ingh of .eri &o)ice station,
G"hey have gone to a neighbouring vi))age to #eet their re)atives. 8verything is under contro).H "he
-ha& wi)) now contro) the fa#i)y<s &ro&erty L a)) 3! acres of &ri#e )and. 8ven ,aivir, the S)ega))y;
e)ected< sar&anch of /harana vi))age refuses to side with +avinder<s fa#i)y, saying, G2 a# not above
society<s ru)es. 2f society has decided to ex&e) the# and sea) their &ro&erty, they have to abide by the
decision.H
Where does the #oney go9 4ays Para#6it .anawa)a, President, *khi) .hartiya *darsh ,at
Mahasabha, G"he #oney goes to charity, te#&)es and new gausha)as Icow she)tersJ.H When asked who
&ockets the &rofits fro# gausha)as, he retorts, GWho e)se but -ha& #e#bers9H
-ha&s have tre#endous &o)itica) backing. /uring e)ections, -ha&s dec)are which candidate they
su&&ort and the entire co##unity votes according)y. =nsur&rising)y, during the Lok 4abha e)ections
this year, 47 -ha&s in Darwana district in ,ind were so bo)d as to Sre6ect< the Hindu Marriage *ct and
171
dec)are that a)) &o)iticians who ca#e asking for votes had to &ro#ise a new )aw that &rohibited sa#e;
gotra #arriages or #arriages within the sa#e vi))age. 2n a ref)ection of -ha& &ower, when Eed Pa)
was )ynched, .hu&inder 4ingh Hooda, Haryana<s chief #inister refused to intervene, saying, G2t<s a
socia) #atter and society has the right to decide.H Dot one &o)itica) &arty has taken u& the cases of
honour ki))ings and -ha& diktats. +a6 4ingh %haudhuri, an activist based in *sandh says, G2t is
difficu)t to convince the &o)ice to act in such cases as they too be)ieve in the -ha&s.H
*s a resu)t, &o)itica) #ove#ents against the atrocities of the -ha&s fai) to gain any #o#entu#.
Mani 4hankar *iyar, for#er Minister for Panchayati +a6, says: G"hey are abso)ute)y i))ega). -ha&s are
se)f;a&&ointed custodians of various co##unities who have gained a #ora) force over ti#e. 2t<s
difficu)t to take the# head on but they shou)d be abo)ished in the sa#e #anner that 4ati was. H
'n ,u)y :, in a written re&)y in the +a6ya 4abha, Ho#e Minister P %hida#bara# observed, GWe
shou)dhang our head in sha#eH because of honour ki))ings, and said that the govern#ent cou)d
c)assify such cri#es se&arate)y.
+anbir 4ingh, a socio)ogist who has worked extensive)y on castes in Haryana gives an interesting
ex&)anation for the do#inance of -ha&s in Haryana. * research &a&er he has authored states, G,ats,
being #argina) far#ers, have not on)y been by&assed by the &rocess of econo#ic deve)o&#ent but
have been further #argina)i@ed by it. "his is because they cou)d not take advantage of the 1reen
+evo)ution due to their tiny and unecono#ic )and ho)dings, cou)d not enter #odern &rofessions due to
a )ack of acade#ic Bua)ifications and cou)d not take u& so#e other occu&ations due to caste &ride.
"heir )ot has been #ade even #ore difficu)t by the &rocesses of )ibera)isation, &rivatisation and
g)oba)isation. "heir disenchant#ent with &o)itica) )eadershi& has #ade these &au&erised &easants )ook
backwards instead of forward.H
"i)) )aws accurate)y define and &unish these #a)ign anachronis#s and unti) the &o)itica) wi)) is found
to abo)ish the#, -ha& &anchayats wi)) continue to brew a &oisonous cocktai) of cri#e, ignorance and
bigotry.
17
%fterword by 2eha *i)it
Honour ki))ings had increased ex&onentia))y in Haryana, a north;2ndian state, where in two
#onths of >>$ at )east 4: cases were re&orted. 5outh who were #arrying within the sa#e
gotra, a sub;caste in the Hindu re)igion, were executed by a body known as kha& &anchayats,
o&erating in s#a)) grou&s.
"he initia) idea was to go to ground @ero and #eet the fa#i)ies of the victi#s as we)) as the
#e#bers of these kangaroo courts. However, once 2 started #eeting the victi#s, 2 figured out
that the concerns of the kangaroo courts were not restricted to #arriages but to contro))ing the
who)e terrain by thrusting a way of )ife on the inhabitants. -ha& &anchayats had banned #usic,
te)evision and cricket in various areas in north 2ndia. Ei))agers b)ind)y obeyed the ru)es of the
kha& &anchayats and wou)d even fo))ow orders to ki)) their own chi)dren. "he kha& &anchayats
a)so ordained fe#a)e feticide in the area, bringing the sex ratio down to !!7 fe#a)es &er 1>>>
#a)es in so#e areas.
"hus an idea that originated with one observation in the northern &art of 2ndia deve)o&ed into a
who)e &heno#enon. "his was &ossib)e on)y because 2 decided to go on the ground and #eet as
#any victi#s and kha& #e#bers as &ossib)e.
2n this &articu)ar story, there was no data avai)ab)e. "he kha& &anchayats o&erate in re#ote areas
and hard)y any of their diktats are recorded officia))y, so the +ight "o 2nfor#ation *ct wasn<t
usefu). "he Dationa) %ri#e +ecords .ureau did not have any records of honour ki))ings in that
art of the country unti) two years back. .ecause the kha& &anchayats defy the constitution and
seek to govern these areas according to their own )aws, any &o)ice interce&tion or first hand
re&ort was neither a))owed, nor recorded. "he on)y figures 2 cou)d deduce ca#e through a few
#edia re&orts in )oca) news&a&ers and by going to re#ote vi))ages ourse)ves to find the exact
nu#ber of ki))ings.
Word of #outh infor#ation fro# ground @ero was the on)y data avai)ab)e, with one exce&tion,
re)ated to the sex ratio of a &articu)ar region, where fo))owing a kha&<s diktat for fe#a)e
foeticide the sex ration dro&&ed fro# $>> fe#a)es &er 1>> #a)es to !!7 fe#a)e &er 1>> #a)es.
We contacted the *)) 2ndia 2nstitute of Medica) 4ciences I*22M4J, a )eading institution, to ask
for co#&arative data to ana)yse the diktat<s effects over two years. "hat data ca#e in handy
because the govern#ent was sensitive about the issue. Hea)th centres in the affected area neither
had records nor saw the ration change as a &attern due to the diktat.
"he research started by interacting with D1' vo)unteers who were fa#i)iar with the terrain and
knew about incidents taking &)ace in these re#ote areas. 4ince in #ost of these )oca)es &o)ice
was either inactive or connived with kha& #e#bers, it was on)y through D1' workers that one
cou)d get access to infor#ation about executions and the victi#s< fa#i)ies.
.ecause kha& &anchayats were never re&orted and hard)y researched, the on)y o&tion was to
visit &eo&)e on the ground. *fter s&ending ten days #eeting a range of &eo&)e, 2 cou)d get a
sense of how the kha& actua))y o&erate, how &owerfu) they are and the kind of su&&ort they
en6oy in these areas. "hen 2 #a&&ed a further strategy. .ecause kha& &anchayats are cu)tura))y
rooted, they aren<t #ere cri#ina) offenders, but are instead a socia) &rob)e# that has endured
over hundreds of generations. 4o it was very i#&ortant to understand the cu)ture that the
&heno#enon starts fro#. "he key notions are &atriarchy, caste based discri#ination, sub;caste
based discri#ination, honour and co#&)ete re6ection of the state and the constitution.
2 had to go undercover to #eet the kha& )eaders, who a)#ost o&erate )ike the "a)iban, and are
extre#e)y &atriarcha), extre#ist and bruta). "o #ake the# o&en u&, it was essentia) for #e to
17!
sy#&athise with the# and atte#&t to understand the &heno#enon through their cu)tura)
&ers&ective. 4o #y techniBue was not to confront the offendersK instead, 2 was so#ewhat
#ani&u)ative in asking Buestions, to get infor#ation without being confrontationa). Lucki)y, 2
knew the )oca) )anguage, which a)so he)&ed #e #erge in the )oca) crowds.
+esearching the story was a #a##oth task, and it was hard to convince #y editors to a))ow
such a )ong &eriod of ti#e. 4o 2 was si#u)taneous)y re&orting s#a)) stories on different issues
fro# the sa#e area, to buy #ore ti#e for this investigation. 2 was threatened and fe)t &hysica)
danger a cou&)e of ti#es on the groundK fortunate)y the )oca) D1' sources were he)&fu) and
&rovided she)ter.
2 decided to si#&)ify the context for the reader by dividing the who)e research into four #a6or
sections based on the nature of diktats the kha& had &assed over a s&an of ti#e. 2 be)ieve it is
easier to #ake a )arge to&ic )ucid and understandab)e if it is broken down into a few &arts and
then researched. 2t then beco#es easier to ex&)ain the contexts and )ook for case studies.
"his is a)so #y #ethod of writing: break the research into !;4 #a6or &ortions and then divide the
thoughts according)y. 2 avoid f)owery )anguage and write c)inica))y and ob6ective)y and )eave it
o&en for the readers to inter&ret it. 2 be)ieve in re&orting things as they are without taking a
stand. *)so, it is i#&ortant to ba)ance the re&ortage with the version of a)) the &arties that are
invo)ved in the story.
When the story was &ub)ished, 2 sent co&ies to a)) the govern#ent #inistries and activists, to
#ake the country and the agents of change at )east acknow)edge the &resence of such an extra;
constitutiona) body and its &ractices.
"he res&onse to the story was #ixed. Whi)e #ainstrea# readers wrote severa) )etters
vociferous)y congratu)ating #e on #y work and ex&ressing shock at the &resence of a "a)iban
)ike body 6ust 1>>k# fro# the nationa) ca&ita), the 6at co##unity started a hate ca#&aign
against #e on the 2nternet, ca))ing #y re&ort a brah#anica) inter&retation and an atte#&t to
#a)ign the co##unity that was #otivated by Western cu)ture. 2 received #ai)s and threatening
ca))s &ro#ising &hysica) in6ury.
However, the Ho#e Minister acknow)edged the issue in Par)ia#ent, #ore cases of honour
ki))ing were officia))y acknow)edged, and &o)ice activity increased. 2 fe)t that the re&ort beca#e
a success when it was used in court in the Mano6;bab)i case, where a young cou&)e was
#urdered on the diktat of .anwa) kha& and their bodies were thrown in an irrigation cana). "hat
case a&&eared in #y re&ort, and after civi) society and the court took account of it, for the first
ti#e the conviction of kha& )eaders occurred, and five kha& #e#bers were sentenced to )ife
i#&rison#ent.
174
Chapter Eight. When the game is fixed:
Investigating sport
A. (i""ing so''er in Afri'a
'ad %frican football will stay bad as long as #I#% protects corrupt officials? Mugabe
wanted to investigate corruption, #I#% stopped him? :hen 6ameroon$s players
complained about poor payment, they were told they were not patriotic enough
by the 5orum for $frican In%estigati%e +eporters 65$I+7
Introduction. 'he story below is a landmark in $frican in%estigati%e reporting ; the first
occasion when journalists from across the continent did a story together precisely because
powerful forces wanted them not to. 'hey did the story without freedom of information laws to
rely on in countries where asking "uestions can get you hurt and where documents can be hard
to find precisely because nothing was documented in the first place. It,s true that 5*I or +'I
acts are tremendously important and not only for journalists but for all citi@ens. It,s also true
that journalists should not ha%e to worry that they will be killed for doing their jobs properly.
6'he argument that if they were in fact doing a proper job more would be killed ; the line is
&ulian $ssange,s ; may indeed be true. But that doesn,t mean $ssange wants it to happen ; he
doesn,t ; or that it should happen.7 It,s not true that a journalist must li%e in the 1S the 1/ or
Scandina%ia in order to carry out an in%estigation that matters. 0hen you read this piece
consider how much the reporters were able to find with the means at their disposal and how it
all fits together into a model of corruption across borders from poor countries to rich ones. 'he
original article has been slightly redacted to reflect international usage standards which takes
nothing from the power of the story.
*riginally published in Sept. 9:<: by 5$I+ and major $frican dailies
*fricaCs dis#a) &erfor#ance Iwith the exce&tion of 1hanaJ at the Wor)d %u& >1> is no sur&rise, in
view of the a));&ervasive #is#anage#ent and corru&tion in *frican soccer ad#inistration, and the
condoning and even active encourage#ent of this situation by the wor)dwide body (2(* I(NdNration
internationa)e de footba)) associationJ. (2(* acce&ts no G&o)itica) interferenceH in the work of nationa)
soccer associations. However, it sus&ends, or threatens with sus&ension, countries that atte#&t to
c)a#& down on soccer corru&tion in their own countries. Meanwhi)e, corru&tion is ki))ing soccer in
*frica, #arred by high;f)ying, &artying officia)s who care #ore about se))ing off &ro#ising &)ayers
internationa))y than about deve)o&ing soccer at ho#e.
* (*2+ investigation into soccer #anage#ent in eight *frican countries L %a#eroon, Digeria, 2vory
%oast, 1hana, 4outh *frica, Ti#babwe, -enya and Ta#bia L found that no soccer association in any
of these countries has accounted for donations, grants and s&onsorshi&s received. +eBuests by the
6ourna)ists for such accounts were #et with stony si)ences. However, inferences can be drawn fro#
the facts that soccer ad#inistrators are regu)ar)y seen &artying in the best hote)s, in 2vory %oastK that
the %a#eroonian footba)) association (ecafoot is a to& ten of the country<s wea)thiest business#enK
that in -enya, soccer officia)s recent)y f)ew first c)ass to the =4 whi)st the nationa) tea# cou)d not get
to a #atch in neighbouring =gandaK and that Digerian officia)s, who )anded 1 #i))ion do))ars in
grants this year, )odged the Digerian nationa) tea# in one of the chea&est 4outh *frican hote)s during
173
the Wor)d %u&.
P"ayers are transfer fodder in +ameroon
2n %a#eroon, traditiona))y *frica<s fore#ost soccer country and the ho#e of %onfederation of
*frican (ootba)) I%*(J &resident 2ssa Hayatou, soccer stadiu#s are e#&ty. GHow do you want &eo&)e
to attend #atches when their favourite &)ayers are not on the fie)d9H asks Prince Ddoki Mukete,
for#er assistant secretary genera) of the %a#eroonian footba)) association (ecafoot. "he reasons for
the absence of both su&&orters and the #ost fa#ous &)ayers fro# the %a#eroonian stadiu#s is si#&)e,
adds Mukete: G2t<s transfers. 'ur soccer officia)s Buick)y sign dea)s for &)ayer transfers as soon as a
&)ayer shows &ro#ise. "ransfers bring in #oney.H
"he effect of the focus on transfers is that every good &)ayer knows that his va)ue is to the outside
wor)d and not to the nationa) soccer tea#. 4a#ue) 8too, one of the best known &)ayers fro#
%a#eroon, and current)y the #ost decorated *frican &)ayer, is on)y 0, but he has been in
internationa) soccer since he was 17, &)aying for to& c)ubs )ike +ea) Madrid, Ma))orca, .arce)ona and
2nterna@iona)e. 'ther to& &)ayers in %a#eroon have si#i)ar histories. "hey often don<t &erfor# we))
on the rare occasions that they are &)aying nationa))y, since getting hurt or exhausted wi)) di#inish
their internationa) va)ue. Mukete regrets the situation, which he says has gotten out of hand recent)y.
GWe need to retain so#e va)ue here. 4occer cannot deve)o& when the stadiu#s are e#&ty.H
4occer deve)o&#ent does not see# high on the agenda of the &resent (ecafoot, which is a virtua) to&
ten of rea) estate owners, s&orts goods #anufacturers<agents, )awyers Iwho organi@e &)ayer transfersJ,
trans&ort and hote) contractors, and &ub)ic re)ations agents. *t any (ecafoot #eeting in %a#eroon,
business#en fight to get access to rich s&oi)s. .eefing u& &ay#ent for services &rovided to (ecafoot is
a co##on scourge, with a &ri#e exa#&)e being a bi)) that was fi)ed for use of an air;conditioned
Prado by the Ma)awi tea# on the occasion of the *frican %u& of Dations in ,anuary >1>. "he actua)
vehic)e &rovided to the Ma)awians was a di)a&idated "oyota.
%ourt docu#ents obtained by (*2+ show that a (ecafoot officia) receives regu)ar &ay#ents fro# a
s&onsor of the 2ndo#itab)e Lions, the %a#eroonian nationa) tea#, into his &ersona) bank account,
without ref)ecting the a#ounts in (ecafoot records. * co;bidder for the sa#e s&onsorshi&, which did
not offer such &ay#ents, )ost out.
'ther (ecafoot docu#ents seen by (*2+ inc)ude &)ayer transfer contracts in which birth dates of
&)ayers are a)tered to #ake the# #ore easi)y #arketab)e. %)ub origins of &)ayers are a)tered
so#eti#es as we)), so that the &ur&orted GownersH of the c)ubs can cash in on transfer fees. 4o#e
&)ayers so)d off in this way have not #ade it in internationa) soccer and )ive in &oor conditions in
countries such as 2ndonesia, %hina and Mexico.
* recent 4tate audit, fo))owing on reve)ations #ade by the govern#ent de)egate to (ecafoot, ,ean
La#bert Dang, who was seconded to the association during the &re&aration for the Wor)d %u&, has
reco##ended the &rosecution of four (ecafoot officia)s. However, observers do not ex&ect these
&rosecutions to take off in &ractice. 4aid one such observer: G"hey can<t do that, because everybody is
in on it.H
Within a)) this, %a#eroon<s &)ayers see# to be forgotten. When news re&orts said they had
co#&)ained about G&oor &ay#entH in the run u& to the Wor)d %u&, soccer officia)s stated in res&onse
that the &)ayers were not G&atrioticH enough.
.eing Gun&atrioticH was a)so one of the e&ithets directed at a #e#ber of the (*2+ tea# in
%a#eroon, when he atte#&ted to investigate the sources of %*( &resident 2ssa Hayatou<s wea)th. "he
re&orter was threatened, beaten and has been in hiding since the incident ear)ier this year. "he re&orter
has since Buit 6ourna)is# to go into far#ing.
177
Partying in 1vory +oast
2vory %oast<s coffee and cocoa industry inc)udes so#e of the &rinci&a) s&onsors of the (NdNration
2voirienne de (ootba)) I(2(J, 6ost)ing for &ri#e &osition with #obi)e te)e&hone o&erator 'range %jte
d<2voire. 'ther #a6or s&onsors are the Dationa) Petro)eu# '&erations %o#&any IP8"+'%2J and the
Petro)eu# 4tocks #anage#ent %o#&any I184"'%2J. 8sti#ates of the a#ounts that are contributed
by these #a6or s&onsors are not #ade &ub)ic, but sources say they cou)d be as high as X=4 4> #i))ion
&er year.
4ad)y, 2vory %oast has received very )itt)e nationa) soccer &erfor#ance in return. 8ven eBui&&ed
with such great internationa) starts as /idier /rogba, the tea# )acks cohesion and is #ost)y, )ike
%a#eroon, concerned about individua) &)ayers< &erfor#ances outside their country. *t the Wor)d %u&,
2vory %oast was knocked out in first round.
4occer officia)s and )oca) govern#ent a))ies in this country #eanwhi)e #ake #oney out of
fraudu)ent ticket sa)es and bui)ding contracts that se)do# #ateria)ise into actua) bui)dings. *bid6an
stadiu# dates fro# 1043 and on)y has !3,>>> seats. "his is so s#a)) that when extra tickets for non;
existent seats were fraudu)ent)y so)d at the Wor)d %u& Bua)ifying #atch against Ma)awi in >>0, a
sta#&ede ki))ed > &eo&)e and in6ured another 1!3.
"he 2vorian (ootba)) (ederation has re&orted this &articu)ar incident as Gan unfortunate ex&erience<
and refers to Gfunds a))ocated to the &residents of the c)ubs of *nya#a, -orhogo and to the #ayor of
.ouaf)NH for the refurbish#ents of their stadiu#s, which were a&&arent)y never carried out.
* nu#ber of )ow;)eve) officia)s were fined for fraudu)ent ticket sa)es )eading u& to the *bid6an
sta#&ede, but )oca) award;winning 6ourna)ist *ndrN 4i)ver -onan, who investigated the #atter, has
gone on record to say that on)y s#a)) fry got &unished and that Gbig fishH were )eft a)one.
8rvN 4iaba, &resident of the 2vory %oast *ssociation of (ootba)) %)ub &residents I*P%(%2J, has
gone on record to say that G(2( #oney is wastedH, because the (2( is Gfu)) of &eo&)e who know
nothing about footba)) and who #ake decisions according to their own whi#s, to the detri#ent of the
)aws that govern our footba)).H Du#erous te)e&hone ca))s, e#ai)s and Buestionnaires addressed to
those in charge of the (2( on)y resu)ted in &ro#ises for interviews. 'ne of the contributors to this
investigation went to a few such &ro#ised #eetings, on)y to be stood u& severa) ti#es.
(2( chair#an and &resident ,acBues *nou#a, for#er)y the financia) director of the 1bagbo
&residency in 2vory %oast, has withstood ca))s for his resignation. G"hey can ca)) #e to resign as #uch
as they want,H he has co##ented.
Administrators f"y around4 "ayers stay stu'k
2n May this year, -enyan soccer officia)s went on an a));ex&enses &aid tri& to the =4, )eaving the
nationa) soccer tea# L the Hara#bee 4tars L without #eans to go &)ay a #atch in neighbouring
=ganda. "he -enyan govern#ent had to fork out X=4 1>,>>> in tax&ayers< #oney to get the tea# to
the *frican Dations %u&. G"his #orning we have been forced to s&end this #oney to take the boys to
-a#&a)a,H 1ordon ')uoch, the %o##issioner of 4&orts, to)d (*2+.
4i#i)ar)y, in Digeria, 4&orts Minister 2brahi# 2ssa .io had to use tax&ayers< #oney during the
Wor)d %u& to bai) out the 4u&er 8ag)es, Digeria<s nationa) tea#. "he Digeria (ootba)) (ederation
ID((J had booked the# into a chea& hote) in 4outh *frica, costing on)y X1>> a night, when (2(* was
&aying the federation X4>> for each &)ayer &er night. 5et the (ederation fai)ed to &ay for the hote).
Digerian &)ayers are we)) used to this kind of treat#entK #any Digerian &ub)ications, in &articu)ar 'he
Duardian, have &ointed out that &)ayers often do not receive &ro#ised bonuses and benefits.
1enera) corru&tion around D(( contracts does )itt)e to he)& the situation. When for#er 8ng)and
coach 1)en Hodd)e was asked to coach the nationa) tea# and offered a contract worth X1 #i))ion, he
17$
was to)d by D(( officia)s that it wou)d be announced as X1.3 #i))ion, with the &rofit to be divided
a#icab)y between the individua)s invo)ved. He re6ected this and went &ub)ic, scutt)ing the dea).
"he Digerian (ootba)) (ederation is certain)y not batt)ing for #oney. 'ther than the >1> Wor)d %u&
(2(* grant of X=4 0 #i))ion, the D(( receives an annua) s&onsorshi& fro# "E co#&any 1)oba)co#
to the tune of about X=4 $ #i))ion. Where the #oney is s&ent is a #ystery. "he Digerian footba)) c)ubs
that are su&&osed to benefit fro# this #oney have stated that, a)together, they are on)y aware of about
1> &ercent of it. Dobody see#s to know where the rest goes. *dditiona) te)evision rights for the )eague
are worth X=4 3 #i))ion but the c)ubs a)) say that they haven<t seen any of this #oney either.
"he 4outh *frican Pre#ier 4occer League is sti)) richer. "he seventh best funded )eague in the wor)d
is su&&orted by *.4*, one of the )eading banks, 4*. Mi))er, internationa))y the fourth )argest brewer,
the sate))ite 4u&ers&ort channe) and a nu#ber of other banks and cor&orates, whose donations together
a#ounted to about X=4 !>> #i))ion over a five year &eriod fro# >>$.
Pre#ier 4occer League chair#an 2rvin -ho@a, who a)so owns the soccer tea# 'r)ando Pirates in
4outh *frica, is re&orted to have #ade +3 #i))ion IX!.! #i))ionJ fro# soccer in >>: and +!>
#i))ion IX4 #i))ionJ )ast year.
4outh *frican soccer officia)s were ex&ected to be &aid a bonus by (2(* for organising the Wor)d
%u&. *ccording to an investigation by 'he Sowetan news&a&er, the Loca) 'rganising %o##ittee, of
which -ho@a is de&uty head, recent)y voted to a))ocate 1> &ercent of Wor)d %u& &rofits Iex&ected to
a#ount to X=4 1!> #i))ionJ to its own #e#bers and 3 &ercent IX=4 73 #i))ionJ to 4*(* officia)s.
2rvin -ho@a was a #e#ber of the )oca) organi@ing co##ittee as we)) as the 4outh *frican (ootba))
*ssociation I4*(*J.
/es&ite these #assive a#ounts of #oney, 4outh *frican soccer is a)so not doing we)). 2ronica))y, a
key reason is that in this country, &)ayers genera))y do not get internationa) ex&osure, &)aying on)y
)oca))y. 2t is the very o&&osite of a situation )ike in %a#eroon, where &)ayers get so)d off at ear)y ages,
a)#ost never to return. "he idea) situation wou)d be to have so#e &)ayers &)aying internationa))y, and
co#ing back ho#e to i#&art their ex&eriences in the nationa) tea#. 2n the end neither a country that
se))s off a)) its &)ayers, nor the country that neg)ects internationa) ex&osure tota))y, wi)) do we)).
2n the run u& to and during this Wor)d %u&, )oca) govern#ent officia)s and their friends in )oca)
govern#ent counci)s in 4outh *frica have been invo)ved in business dea)s concerning the bui)ding of
stadiu#s and other infrastructure rather than in enab)ing 4outh *fricans to beco#e invo)ved in the
ga#e. 2n >>0, De)s&ruit #unici&a) officer ,i##y Moh)a)a, who b)ew the whist)e on corru&tion in the
awarding of the Mbo#be)a Wor)d %u& 4tadiu# &ro6ect in that town, was #urdered.
)onations for young "ayers going haywire
Maybe the worst as&ect of #is#anage#ent in *frican soccer is the #isuse of funds #eant for the
deve)o&#ent of new soccer ta)ent. 2t is the drea# of #any a young *frican chi)d to )earn how to &)ay
soccer rea))y we)): 5ou can see the# a)) over the continent, &)aying in dusty streets with &)astic ba))s
#ade fro# discarded #ai@e #ea) &ackages, &)astics and &a&er, shouting GMaradonaV MaradonaVH .ut
s&ecific donations #eant for co##unity soccer deve)o&#ent often don<t reach these target grou&s.
2n 2vory %oast, an annua) donation by the nationa) oi) refinery co#&any 42+ for the deve)o&#ent of
)oca) c)ubs, worth X=4 #i))ion, was sus&ended by 42+ in >>$, when it found out that none of the
c)ubs had received any of the #oney.
2n Ti#babwe, +obert Mugabe<s ne&hew, Leo Mugabe, was sacked in >>! fro# the Ti#babwean
(ootba)) *ssociation IT2(*J after being unab)e to account to (2(* for X=4 71,>>> #eant for youth
soccer deve)o&#ent. .ut that did not c)ear the rot. * consign#ent of soccer kits #eant for young
&)ayers in co##unities was )ast seen in the garage of a soccer officia) in Harare in )ate >>$ and cou)d
not be recu&erated, because the garage was re&orted Gburnt downH short)y after 6ourna)ists tried to
17:
)ocate the kits.
"hree T2(* counci))ors to)d (*2+ that they were &aid X=4 >>> I#ore than the average Ti#babwe
citi@en<s annua) inco#eJ each by T2(* &resident %uthbert /ube to ensure that they voted for his
e)ection. /ube<s &redecessor, We))ington Dyatanga, is on the organi@ing co##ittee of the
%onfederation of *frican (ootba)) and on the associations co##ittee of (2(*. Leo Mugabe is
re&orted)y sti)) invo)ved in tendering for %*( contracts.
$1$A a'ts against so''er 'orrution investigations
(2(* has acted when *frican countries try to address corru&tion in their soccer associations L but
often, in recent years, to i#&ede those efforts. 2n >>4 (2(* sus&ended -enya for GinterferenceH after
its govern#ent fired the -enyan (ootba)) (ederation for #isuse of funds. "his ha&&ened after the
executives )eft office with a debt of X=4 !>,>>>, which they cou)d not ex&)ain, even though the
federation had a sur&)us of X=4 >>,>>> when they started their ter# three years before.
"he -enyan govern#ent atte#&ted to c)ean u& the -(( and now works with the new)y staffed body,
but (2(* on)y recogni@es its recent)y estab)ished riva), (ootba)) -enya Li#ited, which o&erates
without any Ggovern#ent interferenceH.
(2(* has, since >>4, a)so sus&ended %had, 8thio&ia and Madagascar for Ggovern#ent
interferenceH. Most *frican nationa) tea#s are funded by govern#ents, but when nationa) soccer
ad#inistrators abuse govern#ent funds, and the govern#ent asks the# to account for the funds or
sus&ends the# for corru&tion, it is interference.
2n >>:, (2(* threatened to sus&end the nationa) Ta#bian tea# when that country<s govern#ent
announced it wou)d investigate the 2srae)i transfer of 8##anue) Mayuka, which was #ediated by a
co#&any in which Ta#bian (ootba)) *ssociation head -a)usha .wa)ya<s wife owned shares. "here
was no investigation after the threat. When (*2+<s *ugustine Mukoka tried to ask .wa)ya about the
case, .wa)ya s)a&&ed the re&orter.
+obert Mugabe, &resident of Ti#babwe, did not stand in the way in >>!, when his ne&hew, Leo
Mugabe, was sacked fro# the Ti#babwean (ootba)) (ederation, T2(* Isee aboveJ. 2n >>7, +obert
Mugabe even issued instructions to investigate corru&t T2(* soccer bosses. .ut Ti#babwe was
threatened with ex&u)sion by (2(* and the investigation ca#e to a Buick ha)t.
Digeria is the )atest victi# of a (2(* sus&ension threat. President 1ood)uck ,onathan announced
sus&ension of Digerian &artici&ation in a)) (2(* and %*( organi@ed co#&etitions for two years after
the nationa) 4u&er 8ag)es< &oor showing at the )ast Wor)d %u&. ,onathan a)so announced an audit on
the D 0>> #i))ion Iabout X=4 7 #i))ionJ that had been a))ocated to the tea#. ZWe went to the Wor)d
%u& and found a)) sorts of &rob)e#s and we fe)t we shou)d sit back and )ook inward,Z ex&)ained
Digeria +ivers 4tate governor +oti#i *#aechi, who headed a Presidentia) "ask (orce on the 4outh
*frica >1> (2(* Wor)d %u&.
.ut it was not to be. (2(* gave Digeria three days to withdraw its decision or face a ban fro# the
soccer governing body. *ccording to (2(* co##unications director, Dico)as Maingot, the (2(* ban
wou)d not on)y cover the nationa) tea# but c)ub #atches in *frican co#&etitions, &)us referees, as
we)) as the cash that f)ows fro# (2(* to nationa) associations.
Afri'an so''er 'orrution more damaging than so''er 'orrution internationa""y
"hat corru&tion at a stage of )itt)e deve)o&#ent is #ore da#aging than corru&tion in a #ore
deve)o&ed situation has been argued by +ichard Ha)), for#er editor of the &restigious London;based
*frica *na)ysis. GWhat #akes corru&tion different L and #uch )ess affordab)e L in *frica is that its
countries on)y have infant econo#ies,H said Ha)), who )ived and worked in Ta#bia for years before
170
returning to 8ng)and. GLike hu#an infants, they are #ore vu)nerab)e to infection, #ore )ike)y to
sicken and die. 2n *#erica, ,a&an or .ritain the ex&onents of big;ti#e corru&tion are gent)y side;)ined.
2n *frica, econo#ies )ack the de&th, strength and stabi)ity to shrug off corru&tion.H
*s a way forward, ,oe -adenge, who has been invo)ved in -enyan footba)) since the )ate 103>s as a
&)ayer, tea# #anager and coach, says countries shou)d si#&)y defy (2(*. GWe shou)d take contro) of
the federations unti) c)ean &eo&)e are e)ected to take over. (2(* can sus&end us if they so wish,H
-adenge argues.
"he s&orts #edia in *frica a)so see# to have so#e c)eaning u& to do. 'ne of the (*2+ investigative
tea# #e#bers was &resent when fe))ow 6ourna)ists witnessed an event of soccer bribery. 2nstead of
running to their newsroo#s to re&ort the cri#e, the 6ourna)ists stayed and de#anded so#e &ay#ents
for the#se)ves, too.
1$>
%fterword by velyn Aroenink and 6harles !ukuni
(*2+ L the (oru# for *frican 2nvestigative +e&orters L is a network of 1:>k 6ourna)ists,
editors, veterans and investigative re&orting trainers in around 4> *frican countries. 73
6ourna)ists within the network are &rofessiona) investigative 6ourna)ists who &ub)ish work
current)y and regu)ar)y, often in the face of obstac)es and cha))enges such as )ack of funds, )ack
of editoria) coo&eration and threats. .esides networking, exchanging infor#ation and sharing
ex&eriences, the (*2+ 6ourna)ists a)so regu)ar)y work in tea#s to dig dee&er into issues of cross
border, transnationa) and internationa) sco&e. 'ne such issue, in >1>, was the soccer wor)d cu&
that was to take &)ace in 4outh *frica.
(*2+ #e#bers usua))y kee& an eye on internationa) deve)o&#ents and events that cou)d ins&ire
a good investigation. 2n the context of the Wor)d %u& 4occer >1>, it was (*2+ .oard #e#ber
,ustin *renstein who suggested that we )ook at the ga#e, and #ore s&ecifica))y, that we )ook at
transfers of *frican soccer &)ayers and the #oney #ade fro# these transfers by soccer
ad#inistrators. 'thers in (*2+, whi)e agreeing that the *frican S)eg< of the wor)dwide soccer
industry wou)d be a great investigation for the year of the *frican Wor)d %u&, offered a s)ight)y
different ang)e. "hey focused #ore on the #oney diverted fro# *frican soccer deve)o&#ent to
)ine the &ockets of soccer ad#inistrators, often in co))usion with (2(*.
"hen, one of the re&orters our tea# had sent to %a#eroon, /avid *yuk of the Week)y Post, was
beaten u&. "he thugs who assau)ted hi# did not see# to a&&reciate the fact that *yuk had started
to dig into the wea)th of %*( &resident and (2(* de&uty &resident 2ssa Hayatou. "hat did it. We
decided to conduct a Gstea)ing of soccer deve)o&#ent #oneyH &ro6ect as a res&onse to the
assau)t. "he &ro6ect was now an S*ri@ona< &ro6ect, a ter# derived fro# that fa#ous investigation
in the =4, where do@ens of re&orters ca#e together after a co))eague, /on .o))es, was
assassinated in the course of his investigation, and finished the story. (or the first ti#e, the
#essage Syou can beat u& a 6ourna)ist, but you can<t ki)) the story< wou)d start resounding in
*frica.
We started with a Buestions )ist distributed over the entire investigative tea# in various
countries. "his was to ensure that each tea# #e#ber in each country wou)d co#e back with
data that cou)d be co#bined with the data gathered by the others. We did not s&ecify whether the
data shou)d be obtained fro# hu#an or docu#entary sources, though it wou)d have been c)ear
that so#e data I)ike figuresJ wou)d have to be obtained fro# docu#ents. We a)so did not s&ecify
where sources andMor docu#ents wou)d be )ocated since we trusted the tea# #e#bers, a))
ex&erienced in the soccer beat, to know where to find what. I(or a basic research #anua) and
#ethod, (*2+ has ado&ted 4tory;.ased 2nBuiry.J
*s data ca#e in, they were co#&ared at &eriodic interva)s and #e#bers were then asked by the
editor, %har)es +ukuni, to fi)) re#aining ga&s. "he Buestions )ist re#ained centra) through the
entire exercise, with data fi))ed in next to the Buestions unti) we had data on every Buestion fro#
each country.
/ocu#ents were obtained at two )eve)s: centra))y at the (*2+ database and he)&desk in
,ohannesburg, where +ukuni accessed on)ine docu#ents on soccer #oney f)ows, business &)ans
and ex&endituresK and nationa))y by our #e#bers in &artici&ating countries. +evea)ing court
docu#ents, docu#ents fro# nationa) soccer ad#inistrations and docu#ents fro# &arties who
had invested in soccer and saw their invest#ents go to waste because of corru&tion in the soccer
ad#inistration, were a)) obtained. *)so, nationa) 4outh *frican infrastructure budgets and actua)
costs Iway higher than the initia) budgetsJ, that had )ed to the bui)ding of Swhite e)e&hant< stadia,
were obtained in coo&eration with other investigative 6ourna)ists in that country.
1$1
'btaining the docu#ents was difficu)t and in #any cases, )ike in %a#eroon, Digeria and 2vory
%oast, reBuired Gworking the syste#H, and a)so so#eti#es subterfuge. 2n #ost countries where
(*2+ works there is )itt)e to no trans&arency.
We have found that in *frica L where resources are fought over, #edia often are &artia) to an
interested GfactionH, and risks are high for the inde&endent re&orter who tries to ex&ose the
Gvu)turesH L undercover techniBues and subterfuge work we)). * friend is )ike)y to give a friend
a docu#ent, and wou)d rather not even know if the second friend is a)so a friend of a 6ourna)ist.
Eery good contacts were #ade in 2vory %oast that )ed to us obtaining docu#ents that wou)d
otherwise have been i#&ossib)e to obtain, and innovative use of (acebook )ed to this resu)t. 'ne
can befriend &eo&)e and ex&)ain that one is concerned about )itt)e boys not having a fie)d to &)ay
soccer, or soccer eBui&#ent, before one takes the ste& of identifying onese)f as a 6ourna)ist.
*nother &iece of )uck was getting docu#ents through high;)eve) contacts in %a#eroon and
Ti#babwe, who# we found on our side.
Lack of funds is of course a)ways a &rob)e# in *frican investigative re&orting, where #ost
#edia houses are either unwi))ing or unab)e to &ay for good 6ourna)is#. Most of our tea#
#e#bers do other 6obs or various stories at the sa#e ti#e. *nd then Lafter the assau)t on /avid
*yuk in %a#eroon; there were a)so other threats and inti#idation, and fear a#ong sources.
Whi)e it was not sur&rising that so#e soccer ad#inistrators in *frica wou)d &ocket soccer
subsidies, the sheer sca)e of the e#be@@)e#ent, the devastating conseBuences and the co))usion
by (2(*, which sti)) continues to &rotect corru&t officia)s whi)e threatening *frican countries
that seek to disci&)ine the#, turned out to be a very interesting resu)t. We found #ore than we
bargained for L an internationa) syste# that hurts, rather than he)&s, *frican soccer.
Writing was very difficu)t and had to be redone #any ti#es, &art)y because different re&orters in
different countries use different sty)es and ang)es, and &art)y because the out)ets we were
#arketing the story to de#anded different story )engths and ang)es. We wou)d )ike to deve)o& a
#ethod for this but haven<t found one yet. We are current)y brainstor#ing on the issue of
)oca)isation too)kits to #ake a genera) internationa) dossier into a feature story that can be
&ub)ished or broadcast in a &articu)ar country.
We #arketed it a )ot, in *frican countries and internationa))y, and it was &ub)ished in twe)ve
countries. "hat nu#ber cou)d have been even higher, had we ti#ed the story to co#e out at the
start of the Wor)d %u& instead of at the end Iwhen soccer fatigue had set in internationa))yJ.
"here were #assive res&onses. +e&orters noted a Stsuna#i< of anti;corru&tion &ub)icity in
%a#eroon after our &ub)ication and in 2vory %oast the soccer E2P<s, for the first ti#e, had to
res&ond to ca))s for ex&)anations fro# the &ub)ic. Digeria tried to disci&)ine its own corru&t
soccer officia)s in the course of our investigations L &art)y because those res&onsib)e were aware
that our re&orters were on it L on)y to be sto&&ed by (2(* with a sus&ension threat. "here were
no cha))enges to the content.
"he 0eekly )ost in %a#eroon ex&erienced financia) strangu)ation after &ub)ishing the story: the
govern#ent sto&&ed &aying for ordered adverts, did not &ay other bi))s and eventua))y withdrew
the business )icense for the &a&er. *fter another Stsuna#i< of &ub)icity generated by (*2+, so#e
bi))s were &aid and the )icense was re;issued. "he core &rob)e#s for investigative re&orting and
&ub)ishing, however, re#ain.
#. How to $i, a &o''er Mat'h
By -eclan Hill
1$
Introduction. -eclan Hill follows a career path unlike any I,%e witnessed since the mid!<=G:s
when I started working in journalism. *n the one hand he,s a scholar with a )h.- in
criminology. *n the other he,s a crusader a one!man (D*. +ecently for e3ample he contacted
a major international sports institution and suggested that they listen to his proposals for
eliminating crime 6such as doping or match fi3ing7 from their e%ents. 'hey did in fact. It,s
striking that Hill doesn,t hesitate to lobby for such proposals 6which you can find in detail at his
websites www.declanhill.com and www.howtofi3asoccermatch.com7A some journalists would
worry that they,ll lose credibility by posing solutions to the problems they unco%er. In the 9<st
century ha%ing some answers as well as some "uestions raises one,s credibility rather than
wrecking it. Hill e3emplifies another paradigm change# +eaders and %iewers e3pect
transparency not objecti%ity from journalists. *f course they want journalists to be honest and
they want the facts journalists recount to be true. But they don,t e3pect journalists to be neutralA
on the contrary they e3pect to be told e3actly how much skin a journalist has in a gi%en game.
Hill,s style supports that stance# It,s openly emotional mi3ing naR%etH and outrage. He,s more
concerned with looking authentic than with looking like he,s always in control 6which he isn,tA
the man is hanging out with criminals7. It,s worth mastering the techni"ues shown in this
e3cerpt from his groundbreaking book 'he 5i3. 5or e3ample he asks some wonderfully simple
"uestions like E0hat,s the biggest e%ent you e%er fi3edCF $ number of reporters know that
simple "uestions are the best "uestions but asking them as if you had the right to ask takes
practice. 0hat I also like in these passages is the intense sur%eillance Hill practices on his
subjects. His attention enables him to arrange weak signals into strong patterns to see e%ents
that keep repeating themsel%es. It,s classic detecti%e work and it reads like a crime no%el.
5rom "he (ix: 4occer and 'rganised %ri#e, by -eclan Hill 6Mc2lelland and Stewart 9::87.
&aturday 2@ 6ovember 288A4 B m4 #angkok.
(or #onths 2<d been tracking down one &articu)ar #atch fixer. His na#e is fa#ous a#ong the *sian
ga#b)ing co##unity and has been associated with so#e of the #a6or #atch;fixing tria)s in the )ast
decade. .ut a)ways he a&&eared as the Gshadow figureH about who# not #uch is known. 2 wi)) ca))
hi# Lee %hin.
2 had been to)d to take a taxi to the %ountry %)ub, an ex&ensive go)f c)ub on the outskirts of the city,
and co#e to roo# 11>4. 2n the roo# were three &eo&)e: two #en, %hin and one of his assistantsK and
on the bed, a beautifu) wo#an watched a #ovie.
4te&hen ()e#ing, the great Dew Tea)and cricket ca&tain, that he was a&&roached by a ga#b)er in
1000, who to)d hi# there was a syndicate of *sian bookies fixing to& internationa) ga#es of cricket
and soccer. "he ga#b)er, according to ()e#ing, said &ro#inent s&orts#en were invo)ved, inc)uding
so#e in 8ng)ish soccer and tennis.
2n essence, this is what %hin to)d #e. "he on)y difference was that he c)ai#ed to be one of the #en
at the centre of the network. He c)ai#ed to have 17 runners around the wor)d working exc)usive)y for
hi#.
2 asked hi# what had been the biggest event he ever fixed.
%hin shrugged. G"he ')y#&ics9 "he Wor)d %u&9 2 don<t know.H Which is bigger9
G2 went to the ')y#&ics in *t)anta in 1007,H %hin said. G2 fixed a ga#e in the 1007 ')y#&ics:
"unisia versus Portuga). 2 bribed so#e of the "unisian guys to )ose outside of the s&read. "hey did it.H
We s&oke about the fix. He c)ai#ed it was one of the rare ones where the &)ayers he a&&roached
1$!
wou)dn<t even consider doing it for #oney: "hey were too re)igious.
G(ina))y 2 get this beautifu) Mexican gir). 2 &aid her X3> >>> for the who)e tourna#ent. 4he wou)d
hang out in the )obby... she #et hi# Pone of the &)ayers fro# "unisiaQ, they went u& to his roo#, did it
and then she &ro&osed to hi#. "hen 2 went in... SWi)) you do the ga#e for #e9< He said, S5es, o&ening
ga#e.< "hey )ose to Portuga) ;>... 2 #ake a )ot of #oney and everyone was ha&&y.H
'ne of his &hones rang. "here was a conversation that )asted two #inutes in a )anguage 2 cou)dn<t
understand.
%hin &ut the &hone down.
G5ou see this, 2 6ust got a ca)). Hannover Pa 1er#an .undes)iga tea#Q is going to win by at )east two
goa)s. 2t is arranged. 2 have on)y &ut X> >>> down. Dot #uch.H
2 to)d %hin 2 didn<t be)ieve his c)ai#s about fixing to& )eagues. "he ga#es were worth too #uch.
"he &)ayers are &aid too #uch #oney.
He s#i)ed. G"hat is a co##on #istake. Peo&)e see the a#ount of #oney &aid in transfer fees, but
that #oney does not go to the &)ayers. 5ou a&&roach their agents: "hat is the way to get to the &)ayers.
4ay they get l3> >>> a week. "hen we offer the# l13> >>> for an hour and a ha)f<s work. "hink they
wi)) turn that down9
G2 had &)ayers on %rysta) Pa)ace, Wi#b)edon and Liver&oo). 5ou say these are great tea#s9 "hey are
bu))shit. We can bribe the#.H
*t Buarter after #idnight 2 )eft the roo#. * few #inutes before 2 de&arted another ca)) ca#e through
fro# his corres&ondent: Hannover had beaten -aisers)autern five goa)s to one. 2t fitted %hin<s
&rediction L a victory by #ore than two goa)s.
"he next #onth he invited #e to watch whi)e he fixed #atches in the >>7 Wor)d %u& (ina)s.
A May 288@4 #angkok
"hey fixed the Wor)d %u& at an anony#ous -entucky (ried %hicken restaurant in northern
.angkok. "here were four #en. "hey sat at a )itt)e tab)e hunched over. 'ne was b)ack, ta)), and
ath)etic, wearing a tight b)ue shirt and 6eans. "he other three were *sians: 'ne was %hinK beside hi#
sat two younger %hinese #en.
"hey #et at 1 &# on 3 May >>7 and continued their discussion for a)#ost an hour and >
#inutes.
*fter 1> #inutes a ta)) white #an dressed in an unironed shirt ca#e to a nearby tab)e. He )ooked
harassed and had &rob)e#s with his #obi)e &hones. He went outside a nu#ber of ti#es to try to get
the# to work. 2 was the ta)) white #an.
(ro# what 2 heard then, and fro# what %hin to)d #e )ater their conversation was a)ong the
fo))owing )ines. "he b)ack #an was the runner or #atch;broker fro# one &articu)ar tea#. He c)ai#ed
to have a nu#ber of &)ayers and officia)s fro# his country wi))ing to consider throwing a ga#e.
.ut %hin and his associates had a &rob)e#. "hey didn<t have enough #oney to cover the initia)
&ay#ent it takes to ensure trust with the tea#. "he #atch broker was asking for at )east X1>> >>> to
cover the network.
%hin wanted to introduce hi# to another syndicate L or GinvestorsH L who cou)d front the #oney.
%hin wou)d surrender contro) of the fix but sti)) receive so#e #oney for the dea). "he #atch;broker
didn<t )ike this. He didn<t know who the new &eo&)e were.
1$4
*t 1:> &# the grou& of #en stood and wa)ked out.
*t 1:30 2 got a &hone ca)). 2t was %hin. He sounded exu)tant. "he &rob)e#s were being so)ved. "he
fix was on. 'ne country was #entioned re&eated)y: 1hana.
WCr0berg4 3ermany4 *une 288@
"he 1hana ca#& was at an ex&ensive hote) in the centre of WAr@berg. 'ver the next six days 2
contacted &retty #uch a)) of the &)ayers, #anagers and officia)s 2 wanted to. 2 did it by taking a
strategic decision within about > seconds of arriving at the hote).
(irst 2 took a dee& breath. "hen 2 #enta))y counted #y few re#aining euros. "hen 2 wa)ked u& to the
rece&tion desk and booked a roo#.
8ach day the tension at the hote) increased a )itt)e #ore. 'nce the eu&horia of beating the %@echs
and the =nited 4tates had faded, everyone<s attention, inc)uding #y own, began to focus on the .ra@i)
ga#e co#ing u& on "uesday $ ,une.
'ne evening 2 interviewed 4te&hen *&&iah, the ca&tain and ta)is#anic &)ayer of the 1hana tea#. He
to)d #e their #ain focus for the .ra@i) #atch was to defend we)): G"hey have &)ayers, they a)ways
co#e )ike three, no, four, five. "hey co#e to attack. We have to take our ti#e to get a counterattack.H
He was charis#atic, char#ing and see#ing)y co#&)ete)y focused on winning the ga#e. 4ure)y this
#an, with so #uch #oney and ta)ent, cou)d not be te#&ted to take #oney fro# an *sian ga#b)er9
8verything see#ed fine on the surface. "here was no sign of any fixers anywhere. 2 searched the
sBuad again and again. 2 sat in the corner of the )obby and 2 took &hotos. "hen, )ate at night, 2 wou)d
exa#ine the shots to see if there was anyone 2 recognised. .ut there was no one who re#inded #e of
the &eo&)e in the .angkok -(%.
2n a #eeting roo# at nine at night the tea# wou)d gather to sing %hristian hy#ns, their voices
echoing down the ha)) after #e as 2 went to #y roo#. "hey idea of a fix being &er&etrated now
see#ed )ike a drea#. "he who)e thing was cra@y.
Whi)e these thoughts f)oated through #y head 2 began to rea)ise there was so#ething e)se going on
at the hote) and a#ongst the 1hana tea#.
2 went out of the hote) on the 4unday #orning before the .ra@i) #atch. 2 )ooked back, and there,
sitting at an o&en window, was a gorgeous young 1er#an &rostitute. 4he stood there, )arge breasts
&acked into a red bustier, b)onde hair f)oating across her shou)ders, si)ent)y announcing to the wor)d
who she was and what she did. 4he )ooked down at the sBuare with wonderfu) se)f;assurance. *nd she
)ooked down fro# the f)oor where #any of the roo#s be)onging to the 1hanaian de)egation were
)ocated.
"hen 2 watched the 1hanaian de)egation se))ing their ticket a))ocation. When 1hana got into the
second round, (ifa issued tickets to the tea#. "hey ordered do@ens of tickets each. "hen so#e of the#
went into the hote) )obby and so)d the tickets for at )east twice what they had &aid for the#.
*nd then there were the &hone ca))s.
'n 3 ,une, two days before the .ra@i) ga#e, %hin and 2 s&oke.
2hin# 'hey called me and they are interested in doing Dhana and Bra@il.
Hill# Bra@ils going to winC
2hin# (o Dhana will lose. 'hey will do the business with Bra@il. Bes it is confirmed.
Hill# 2onfirmed confirmedC
1$3
2hin# $bsolutely <:: per cent confirmed. 'hey say against Bra@il they really want to do the
business.
2D *une 288@4 )ortmund &tadium4 3ermany
2 cried. 2 stood in the stands and 2 cried.
2 think 2 cried for the #i))ions of &eo&)e around the wor)d wi))ing their tea# on against the greatest
favourites in the s&ort. 2 think 2 cried because of the .ra@i)ian #an with the twisted face dressed in a
chicken outfit in front of the stadiu#. * #an so intent on seeing his heroes in action that he had s&ent
an enor#ous su# in trave))ing to 1er#any, and now he des&erate)y begged for a ticket outside the
gate.
2 think 2 cried because at an e#otiona) )eve) 2 was sure that #atch was fixed.
2 watched that #atch in the /ort#und 4tadiu# surrounded by tens of thousands of chanting, f)ag;
waving su&&orters. 2 watched the ga#e sce&tica))y. 2 had heard %hin<s story before the #atch. .ut 2
sti)) watched the ga#e with disbe)ief that anything corru&t wou)d ha&&en. 2t was si#&)y i#&ossib)e.
"he tea#s ca#e out. "hey see#ed to &)ay with a)) their hearts. "hey see#ed to be trying as hard as
they cou)d. "hey see#ed to be doing everything they cou)d to win the #atch.
.ut there were a string of stu&id #istakes: 4hots were #issed, offsides weren<t &)ayed we)),
defenders< attention wandered and three stu&id, si))y goa)s were scored. "hey were goa)s a youth tea#
wou)d have been asha#ed to give away.
"here was so#ething not right about the ga#e, so#ething that stunk.
"he fina) score was the exact one %hin had to)d #e it wou)d be.
"he su&&orters )eft and 2 stood a)one. 2t was then 2 cried. "hen 2 &u))ed #yse)f together and &honed
%hin. 2 congratu)ated hi# on his victory and to)d hi# 2<d never Buite be)ieved hi#K but now 2 did.
A''ra4 3hana4 288D
* year )ater 2 decided to go to 1hana. 2 knew if 2 didn<t 2 wou)d a)ways wonder about the truth of
what 2<d seen in 1er#any at the Wor)d %u&.
2 tracked down *&&iah and asked if anything had ha&&ened in the .ra@i) ga#e.
GDothing ha&&ened. 2 think we #ade #istakes with underesti#ating the Bua)ity of the &)ayers they
have.H
"hen 2 asked hi# about the fixers. He was staggering)y direct about the#.
$ppiah# 0hen we went to the *lympics $thens 9::I this guy came to us and he said TBou
know you ha%e to try and win the game.
Hill# Do all outC
$ppiah# Beah. So this guy gi%es me O9::::. $nd I share with the players. 0e won 9!<.
Hill# 0hat did they do this last 0orld 2upC -id they approach youC
$ppiah# Beah they came to me and said TBou ha%e to win the game against the 2@ech
+epublic. I didnt gi%e them a chance to talk to me.
4te&hen *&&iah, the ca&tain of the 1hana nationa) tea# and a to& internationa) &)ayer, had
confir#ed there had been an a&&roach #ade to hi# by fixers during the Wor)d %u& tourna#ent.
1$7
2 asked hi# about other fixers and he )aughed. G2f you go writing this in your book these &eo&)e wi))
co#e and ki)) #e.H
2 asked again and he assured #e he was on)y 6oking.
*fter intense negotiations by &hone and e;#ai) 2 went to Turich to (2(* headBuarters to #eet its
chief executive 4e&& .)atter. 2 asked for his reaction to the fact that 2<d been to)d the essentia) scores
of ga#es by an *sian ga#b)er in the Wor)d %u& (ina)s before they had taken &)ace.
He &aused, his #anner utter)y stone co)d, then said: G2 think it is not true. 2 think it is not true. 2 think
it is not true. 'r if so#ething ha&&ened it did not inf)uence the fina) resu)t . . . Pbut if it were trueQ then
2 wou)d say a)) the work we<ve done in (2(* over the )ast !> years, to deve)o& the ga#e, and to #ake
the ga#e accessib)e to everybody. "o say the ga#e is an education, it is a schoo) of )ife. 2t is &art of a
socia) cu)tura) &rogra##e. 2t is entertain#ent. 2t is &assion. "hen we have fai)ed. We fai)ed.H
"hen he said, G2 have s&ent over !> years working at (2(*. (ootba)) is #y baby. 2 want to &rotect it.
"hank you for your investigation but if you are right, it hurts.H
"hen with a significant, backward )ook at #e, he wa)ked out of the roo#.
1$$
%fterword by *eclan "ill
'he work that you ha%e just read was based on o%er 99: inter%iews with players referees
coaches sports officials policemen prosecutors gamblers bookmakers and the fi3ers
themsel%es. 'he surprising thing was that few journalists had e%er actually bothered to try to
inter%iew people inside ports about match!fi3ing. 0hich is %ery odd when you think of all the
inter%iews done in sport.
Bou could go on about all the %arious skills needed for good inter%iewing but I would suggest
two things ; ha%e the right mindset and get your paperwork right.
'he right mindset is simple. It is based on two fundamental principles# $lways listen and always
keep an open mind. Bes yes yes you are working on a story and you know who is the Tbad
person and who is the Tgood person. Bou know what the story is supposed to be about. Bour job
is to show up turn on the tape recorder and then lea%e. 0rong. $lways keep listeningU $lways
keep asking "uestions e%en when you think you know e%erything about a story. In fact when
you think you know e%erything about a story you are probably in most danger of getting it
wrong.
'wo get your paperwork right. It may sound odd to say that about inter%iews which one might
think are about speaking to people. 0ell good inter%iew campaigns are based on a rigorous
methodology. Bou need four documents#
<. 2hronology# 'his is a long list of actions that show who did what and when. It can be as
long as appropriate. 5or the big legally dangerous in%estigations these documents can
run to o%er <J:: pages. Bou will find them %ery helpful because they start to prompt
"uestions. 5or e3ample when I started my chronology on match!fi3ing the ob%ious
"uestion came up# T0hat was the first case of match!fi3ingC It prompted a lo%ely research
angle. $t first it seemed like the first case in%ol%ed chariot racing in the early By@antium
4mpire. 6'hat entailed the most serious political dangers for one of their 4mperors and
resulted in half of 2onstantinople being destroyed.7 'hen it mo%ed back to (ero fi3ing his
chariot racing fi%e!hundred years before. 'hen I read )ausanias who described fi3ers
being caught at the early *lympics in GJ9 B2. $ll of which was %ery useful particularly
in my academic work for it showed that match!fi3ing is that rare thing a uni%ersal
de%iancy ; an act which is almost always abhorrent despite the differing historical
conte3t.
9. List of Vuestions# -o take fi%e minutes before you begin an inter%iew to plan out the
"uestions you want to ask your subject. -o when beginning a long in%estigation take an
hour and write out all the "uestions that you would like answered. 'hey can be %ery
simple almost child!like. T0hat is match!fi3ingC T-oes it e3ist in all sportsC EIf not why
notCF T0ho fi3es matchesC THow do they fi3 matchesC But all the "uestions should be
phrased as open!ended ; e3# THow did you feel at the end of the matchC and not close!
ended as in EBou must ha%e felt %ery angry at the end of the matchCF 0hen you are at
parties or chatting with your family at home you will disco%er a lot of these "uestions.
+emember them. $lso write down the "uestions that people ask you when you describe 6in
general terms rightC7 what your research is about.
?. List of )eople# 'hese are the people that it is important to talk to. It should be a list
unhampered by practicality. 5or e3ample you are writing a story about the 2atholic
2hurch so you would really like to speak to the )ope. 5ine. )ut his name down ; this
helps you understand how wide the scope of your inter%iews should be and it also helps to
structure the hierarchy of an organi@ation. Bou may not be able to speak to the )ope or the
1$:
24* but the person that you do speak to will allow you to understand the reaction of the
institution to your story.
I. 5inally and possibly most important but shortest write in one sentence what your story is
about# T'his story is about match!fi3ing in professional football. 'his tells you ob%iously
what your story is about but it also tells you what your story is not about ; like doping in
sport corruption in stadium building se3ual abuse of athletes etc. etc. $s a curious
person you will find that you are often swayed off the path of your story to research a
number of other things. Bour story focus sentence should be re%iewed at the beginning and
end of e%ery day. It does not mean that you should ignore any other stories that you come
across in your research. But you can understand that they are different stories and treat
them as such.
+. *a'k Warner sti"" won9t ay &o'a Warriors their 288@ Wor"d +u
money
By $ndrew &ennings
Introduction. 'he "uality of sports journalism tends to be in%ersely proportional to the
popularity of the genre. *ne of the chief reasons is that sports journalists beha%e like ser%ants
of the athletes they co%er and of the managers who stage the e%ents that showcase the athletes.
$ndrew &ennings howe%er has made a life,s work of denouncing hypocrisy and corruption at
the pinnacle of the sports industry. His books most notably (ou)V: "he 4ecret Wor)d of (2(*:
.ribes, Eote +igging and "icket 4canda)s 69::>7 and "he Lords of the +ings: Power, Money R
/rugs in the Modern ')y#&ics 6<==97 are landmarks in the opening of sports to in%estigati%e
reporting. 'he piece here about an associate of 5I5$ president Sepp Blatter is reproduced from
&ennings, website http#MMtransparencyinsport.org. It is among the least aggressi%e on the site
which gi%es you an idea of the rest. I picked it first as an e3ample of hard!edged sports writing
in a short form. It was and remains timely e%en premonitory. It concerns a football team from
the 2aribbean who were not paid what they thought they deser%ed for playing in the 9::> 0orld
2upA fi%e years later in &uly 9:<< they ha%e still not been paid awaiting a final judgment after
winning in an appeals court in (o%ember 9:<:. &ennings was well ahead of the cur%e on this
case which has since recei%ed ample publicity. 'he compression of the piece in style as well as
information is also impressi%e. &ennings combines a rhetorical stance of outraged common
sense with dark absurdist humour 6as in# EMore months passed. Small creatures li%ed out their
life cycles and the lea%es fellF7. 'he piece also catches his intense sympathy for %ictims of the
sports businessA when &ennings goes out on a limb it,s on behalf of someone else. (ote the hard
edge of his professionalism# &ennings ne%er says anything he cant back up. -ont be afraid if
you ha%e the goods he seems to say. If you take &ennings as a stylistic e3ample make sure you
do the rest of the job properly. $nd make sure you read his afterword which counts among the
best descriptions of the job 6and of a certain approach to the job7 that I ha%e e%er read.
5rom "he 1)asgow Hera)d (o%. 9: 9::8
"he >>7 Wor)d %u& generated bi))ions of do))ars L but not a cent has been &aid to the heroic 4oca
Warriors fro# "rinidad R "obago who say they<ve been ri&&ed off by (2(* vice;&resident ,ack
Warner.
"wenty;eight #onths after the fina) whist)e the tea# fro# the s#a))est country ever to Bua)ify are
sti)) being denied their share of revenues fro# s&onsors and other sources, des&ite defeating Warner at
an arbitration hearing.
1$0
*s soon as it )ooked )ike)y "rinidad wou)d Bua)ify for 1er#any the Warner fa#i)y &ut their footba))
#oney;#aking #achine into gear.
*t the trave) agents owned by Warner and his wife Maureen, son /aryan began acBuiring, with
daddy<s he)&, #ore than 3,>>> fina)s tickets )ater so)d for an esti#ated X! #i))ion &rofit.
'ther son /ary)) Warner was &ut in charge of a &rivate co#&any, SLoca) 'rganising %o#&any
1er#any >>7 Ltd< which wou)d vacuu# u& #i))ions of do))ars in fees fro# s&onsors wanting to be
associated with the Warriors.
Warner 4enior, who ter#s hi#se)f S4&ecia) *dvisor< to the "rinidad footba)) federation, wou)d
negotiate direct)y with the &)ayers about their share of the &roceeds.
2n ear)y ,anuary >>7 Warner insta))ed hi#se)f at the su&er;)uxury five;star Mandarin Hote) in
Mayfair IG'ne of the ca&ita)<s #ost distinguished hote)sHJ and the &)ayers were su##oned to his
&resence. "hey wanted to know, what had s&onsors &aid9 What other inco#e fro# tickets, "E and the
govern#ent9 2<)) have a s&readsheet drawn u&, &ro#ised Warner.
"he #onths &ass, the tea# trains but the &ro#ised s&readsheet doesn<t a&&ear. S4oon< &ro#ises
Warner. SWe<re working on it,< say his aides. /ays before the Warriors< first ga#e, against 4weden,
goa)kee&er 4haka His)o& asks Warner yet again. S4orry,< says ,ack, Sno ti#e now unti) after the
tourna#ent is over.<
Donethe)ess the tea# &)ay bri))iant)y to ho)d 4weden to a goa))ess draw. "hen the festering anger
boi)s u&. 8very ti#e they touch the ba)) they<re #aking #oney for Warner L and getting nothing
the#se)ves. "hey de#and Warner co#e to their hote) but he arrives so )ate #ost L but not a)) ; have
gone to bed.
'ne &)ayer to)d #e, SWarner sti)) hadn<t to)d us how #uch s&onsors were &aying and what our share
was going to be. Many of our sBuad &)ay in #inor )eagues around the wor)d, don<t earn #uch, had
worked hard to get to the fina) ! tea#s. "heir reasonab)e ex&ectation was enough to set u& &ension
funds, retire with so#e dignity.<
Warner #ust have rea)ised that if he didn<t ca)# the# fast, he #ight not have a tea# for the ga#e
against 8ng)and in three days ti#e. '-, he said. 2<)) give you 3>? ; and 2<# so &roud of your
achieve#ents.
"he Warriors cou)d ho)d u& their heads after )osing ;> to the #i))ionaire 8ng)and &)ayers and )ost
no res&ect going down another two goa)s to Paraguay L and then &acked their bags.
More #onths &assed. 4#a)) creatures )ived out their )ife cyc)es and the )eaves fe)). "hen in 'ctober
Warner<s accountant &roduced the )ong;awaited s&readsheet.
2t was sur&rising)y short. S%onsistent with nor#a) accounting &rinci&)es we have #ade esti#ates in
such instances where s&ecific docu#entation was unavai)ab)e.< "here were #ore ho)es. 4&onsors
a&&eared to have &aid )ess than their ear)ier &ress re)eases c)ai#ed. 4o#e s&onsors L and their #oney
L had fa))en off the &age.
*nd another sur&riseV 'ne third of their #oney was being withhe)d to fund the next ca#&aign, to
Bua)ify for >1>. Warner insisted that s&onsors had insisted L unti) the c)ai# beca#e so )acking in
credibi)ity that he abandoned it, grace)ess)y.
.ut here was the botto# )ine: Warner had so)d their bodies for #i))ions L and their share was l404 a
#anV
/wight 5orke to)d re&orters, S"he contracts we enter into are not worth the &a&er they are written
on.< "he #a6ority of the sBuad hired London s&orts )awyer Mike "own)ey. Warner &ro#&t)y
b)ack)isted the# saying, S2 )ose no s)ee&, 2 have nothing to be worried about, abso)ute)y nothing.< (or
1:>
&)ayers needing regu)ar internationa) ga#es to kee& work &er#its, it was a disaster.
,ack<s crony "rinidad (ederation genera) secretary +ichard 1roden accused the tea# of
Sde)inBuency< and S)ess than honourab)e #otives.< Warner added that they were Sgreedy<.
4ix #ore #onths &assed and in #id;>>$ Warner &o&&ed u& to co##end his officia)s Icode for
hi#se)fJ for their S&rinci&)ed stand in resisting being b)ack#ai)ed by certain &)ayers.< He added, S"heir
de#ands are not 6ustified and unti) they dro& a)) court action, they re#ain outside the &a)e of organised
footba)).<
Lawyer "own)ey turned to (2(*. Was this a case for (2(*<s 8thics %o##ittee, chair 4eb %oe9 Do,
"own)ey was to)d, it<s an interna) #atter, we refer you to ,ack Warner to sort it out.
"own)ey #ade a (reedo# of 2nfor#ation reBuest to the "rinidad 1overn#ent. "hat brought another
sur&rise. Warner had neg)ected to revea) the additiona) l1: #i))ion contributed by tax&ayers to the
ca#&aign<s cost L freeing u& #ore #oney for the &)ayers.
2t wasn<t )ooking so good for Warner at ho#e so he agreed to switch the dis&ute fro# a "rinidad
courtroo# to arbitration in faraway London.
"hat hearing was at the end of *&ri) this year and its confidentia) /ecision was &assed to both
&arties on May 10. "he Warriors won a)) they asked for, disc)osure of a)) contracts and revenues raked
in by the Warners and 3>? of the tota). "he Warriors were )ooking to get L at )ast ; the big #oney they
are owed.
Within hours the re&ort was )eaked to the 'rinidad Duardian whose s&orts editor has written two
&aid;for biogra&hies of Warner that find no fau)t in hi# ; ever.
Warner c)ai#ed to be shocked. "he other side #ust have )eakedV 4uch an outrageous breach of
confidence #ust nu))ify the arbitration decision. 4o he sti)) won<t &ay and he sti)) won<t disc)ose. "o
#uddy the waters #ore Warner has offered so#e #oney to the Warriors who didn<t hire a )awyer and
is going to court in "rinidad in ,anuary to get the arbitration award cance))ed.
"here<s not been a &ee& fro# s&onsors *didas, -(%, 8bay, %arib beer, .ritish 1as and a host of
regiona) co#&anies who gained )ustre fro# the efforts of the Warriors.
2t wi)) be a chi))y %hrist#as for so#e of the Heroes of >>7.
1:1
Some thoughts on our simple craft by %ndrew ;ennings
"he story featured here is roadki)) fro# severa) years investigating corru&tion at (2(*. *s ti#e
&assed 2 &ub)ished in the &ress in #any countries, #ade fi)#s for .ritish te)evision and wrote a
book that is now, 2 hear, in 17 )anguages, not forgetting *)banian.
.ut to hunt down (2(* roadki)) 2 had to find the road. Let<s ga@e back over the re&orter<s
shou)der for how a road#a& got itse)f drawn.
2 was there a decade ago when suggestions of #assive kickbacks and g)oba) rackets L
institutiona) corru&tion ; were #ocked by #any s&orts re&orters and a)) the s&ort<s )eaders. (^^^
the# was the res&onse. "here was a stench drifting fro# the shit #ountain, ti#e sniff out the
source. "en years onwards, #y earth#over<s b)ade c)ears the debris, )eve))ing the new roadway.
.ut it took ti#e and study and getting drunk in #any )ands. *nd teaching #yse)f to drive down
the unfo)ding road.
4o#e answers to so#e Buestions.
1: 2 )ike to )ock into big corru&tion sagas at the heart of internationa) organisations. Who wou)d
you rather disco#fort9 "he guy in the 1u)fstrea# or the one on a bike9 We have to have fun in
our )abours. 2f you are free)ance you need wide #arkets. *nd #any staffers have neither the
ti#e nor inc)ination to dig internationa))y for years, deve)o&ing a narrative.
2 )earned a )ot writing and fi)#ing about the Pa)er#o Mob and 'rganised %ri#e in the 10:>s
and then stu#b)ed across two &erfect a&&)ications of Mob structures and &rinci&)es. "hey
a&&ea)ed to #e because they were g)oba) organisations, were the shar& end of the big brands
&enetration of new #arkets Iwe didn<t ca)) it g)oba)isation thenJ and were co#&)ete)y ignored by
grownu& re&orters.
5ou guessed it, the first exa#&)e was the 2nternationa) ')y#&ic %o##ittee. %overed on)y by
fans with notebooks who chort)ed unBuestioning)y about a #inor (rench aristocratic and his
body;fascis# idea)s, 2 saw every investigative re&orter<s drea#, a #assive e#&ty canvas to &aint
u&on, with a soundtrack of e#&ty #antras, never cha))enged by the beat re&orters.
"he #a& began to draw itse)f with a ti& fro# a contact who had worked in the ear)y years of
s&orts #arketing in the 107>s. "his guy gave #e )engthy recorded interviews na#ing
individua)s and co#&anies 2 had never heard of. He was ha&&y to have been invo)ved in
co##ercia)ising s&ort. "his was &re;1oog)e and so 2 sta)ked cuttings )ibraries, &hotoco&ying
and &asting into )ever;arch fi)es. 8ventua))y there were #ore than seventy. 2 indexed the# and
when 2 transferred that to #y first Mac 2 had the beginnings of a searchab)e database.
*s the contact described the cou&s of the big brands in sei@ing contro) of s&ort, he was ta)king
not about increasing funding to s&ortK he was ta)king about &rivatisation.
"he big breakthrough, the roadway swe))ing into a #otorway, an autobahn, an autostrada, was
indeed a #o#ent of shivering ecstasy. 2 set #yse)f the task of reading every c)i& on the 2'%<s
then &resident, .arce)ona;born ,uan *ntonio 4a#aranch. 'ne day, a cou&)e of years before the
100 .arce)ona 1a#es 2 was running #y eye down a news&a&er &rofi)e. (^^^ #eV 'ut of the
grey so #any ti#es rehearsed drone s&rang the sentence Ghe was 4&orts Minister in 4&ain in the
107>s.H
,ust as 4y Hersh described his discovery of the story of the Mai Lai #assacre in Eietna#, 2
cou)d hear #yse)f singing, G(a#e, wea)th, g)oryVH IHard;u& free)ances get these fantasies L they
co#e free. "hey don<t eventua))y ha&&en but at the ti#e it<s a chea& thri)).J
1:
Why the orgas#9 .ecause any a#ateur student of 8uro&ean history knows that the 107>s was
the (ranco fascist era. "o be a govern#ent #inister you needed to s&ort the fascist .)ueshirt,
give that cris& right;ar# sa)ute and be)ieve the wrong tea# won Wor)d War "wo.
4o this )itt)e P[Q was )eading the organisation that c)ai#ed to &ro#ote wor)d &eace through
s&ort and care dee&)y about eBua)ity and young &eo&)e. "here was the investigative re&orter<s
drea#K an organisation with a &ub)ic face utter)y at odds with its odious &rivate secrets.
2 read wide)y, re&orters and acade#ics. Dowhere cou)d 2 find a reference to the 2'%<s Maxi#u#
Leader having a &ast he wou)dn<t want to ta)k about. "hat, 2 rea)ised, was because he didn<t have
to ta)k, he had a &re&ared fact sheet and the s&orts re&orters and &rofs, without thought,
&ub)ished this garbage.
2 s&oke to a friend with friends in .arce)ona. %ou)d it be true9 Was this great #ora)ist an o)d
gooseste&&er9 "he re&)y was incredu)ous )aughter, /idn<t 2 know that 4a#aranch was in the
6ackboots fro# 10!$, when he defected fro# the ar#y of the +e&ub)ic, unti) (ranco<s death in
10$39
Do, 2 didn<t, because the news had never #oved north across the Pyrenees. 4a#aranch<s
&ersona) history had never been investigated. "he august #e#bers of the 2'% didn<t ta)k. %ri#e
fa#i)ies don<t.
4o #y initia) sus&icion that there #ight be infor#ation worth digging out beca#e a g)oba)
disc)osure, won huge a#ounts of ad#iration fro# the adu)ts and, best of a)), )oathing fro# the
6ocks for s&oi)ing their &arty. *nd &aid the rent and deve)o&ed #y own thoughts about
g)oba)isation ex&)oiting s&ort.
. "he crucia) docu#ents were &hotogra&hs of 4a#aranch and his gang in fascist unifor#
striding through .arce)ona, the %ivi) War victors terrifying the citi@enry. (ancy a garrotting in
the sBuare at the centra) &o)ice station9 ,oin the Bueue. ,oin a trade union9 "he buria) &)ots are
on the )ower Mont6uich hi))side where the 1a#es were ce)ebrated by nu#bsku))s in 100,
re&orters sucking on the teat of the &rivatisers. "here were #any #ore &ictures of 4a#aranch in
his .)ueshirt, so#eti#es fawning on (ranco. .ereft of the 4&anish or %ata)an )anguages, 2 hired
a s#art researcher in .arce)ona who sweet;ta)ked her way into news&a&er archives. 2 got what
she shou)dn<t have.
"here was no e)ectronic data. "his was )ived history. 2t took 13 years to get "he Picture. *
decade and a ha)f of re#inding the friends in %ata)onia to kee& )ooking for it. *fter (ranco died
the &hoto archives were weeded. .ut they #issed one fro# 10$4 that showed 4a#aranch with
right ar# a)oft. %ase &roved. "he book 2 co;wrote, "he Lords of the +ings, invo)ved a )ot of
docu#entary research in &ub)ic archives where the wee gooseste&&er<s record #arched bo)d)y
out.
"hen 2 revisited the 2'%<s histories, viewing the# through the &ris# of a tota)itarian regi#e, run
by a strong #an. (ranco in *didas sneakers. "wenty years )ater )itt)e has changed at the 2'%. *
se)f;se)ecting band of %;)ist roya)s and #ost)y forgotten ath)etes doing the work of g)oba) ca&ita)
and now &)aying catch u& with the unchecked do&ing that #ade the# rich.
*)) this was so 6oyfu). Much of the s&orts &ress s&at at #e, their )a@y ra#b)ings now ex&osed.
"hat was the o)d guard. * new generation )istened and bought #e drinks. What #ore can a
re&orter ho&e for9
1:!
"H8 4'%* W*++2'+4 4"'+5 is fro# the second saga. 4a#aranch retired in >>1 and 2
found it )ess sti#u)ating to continue with what was now a c)ub of grey &eo&)e, )ess of the# sti))
on the #ake fo))owing the refor#s de#anded by e#barrassed s&onsors after the 4a)t Lake sex;
and;cash;for;votes scanda).
"he best story fro# that 1000 e&och was the saga of the vio)in, the Eiagra and the X$4.$
vibrator. (or that &rice it #ust have had &rogra##ab)e #usic tracks. 1et with the rhyth# honey.
.ut not hereV "his is =D84%'V I1oog)e it. =nbe)ievab)y, it was &rinted in a dai)y fro#
Mor#onLand.J
/uring #y ')y#&ic years 2 beca#e aware of a shady 4wiss s&orts #arketing co#&any na#ed
24L I2nternationa) 4&ort and LeisureJ that see#ed effort)ess)y to acBuire the #u)ti;bi))ion
#arketing "E contracts fro# the 2'%, (2(* and the 2**( L track and fie)d. How did they
achieve this L even with riva)s tendering9
With a tiny handfu) of 1er#an and 4wiss re&orters 2 shared night shifts unti) dawn in bars for
years, discussing 24L, the &rivatisation of s&ort, )ooking for a way in. "unne))ing &erha&s9 2
#ade great friendshi&s, #en and wo#en who didn<t know how to give u&. 'ne of the#, the
inco#&arab)e Lasana Liburd fro# "rinidad, contributes a s)ice of toasted roadki)) here.
4o#eti#es drinking with ex;24Lers who swore kickbacks, big kickovers were &aid on contracts.
.ut they had no &ieces of &a&er. "hey on)y knew in their guts. 4o did we. .ut 24L was a &rivate
co#&any and cou)dn<t be &enetrated. "he &a&er)ess investigative re&orter is a hack without a
cause.
"hen it ca#e on strea#V "he inco#&etent c)owns who<d got their business with sacks of cash
Iyes, rea))y L cash breaks the trai)J tried to ex&and into new areas of s&ort and crashed off their
road in 4wit@er)and<s second biggest bankru&tcy.
"he road #a& )ed #e to the first creditor<s #eeting, in Tug, six weeks after the crash. Presided
over by a 4wiss grey suit. (^^^ this, what<s the &oint of ta&&ing u& an accountant9 4wiss
accountants don<t even ta)k to the#se)ves, never #ind i));c)ad hacks. 1otta do it. *n editor had
&aid #y fare. Move in, &re&are for rebuff, sure to be e#barrassed at #y own te#erity, ask
G8xcuse #e, have you found any evidence of b)ack #oney9H
1rey suit bea#s. GMr 5ennings, 2 know your work, and yes, and 2 have sent )ega) )etters asking
for it back.H 2 #u#b)ed thanks, s&eech)ess. He said yesV "his was as good as un#asking
4a#aranch, again in one sentence. Write Buick)y in notebook, see there<s no #ore for now, f)y
back to 8ng)and, can<t sto& grinning.
2<# seeing ahead down a )ong and straight road. (ro# then it was 6ust another ten years
incre#enta))y u&&ing the s&eed. 2 knew where 2 was going.
!. 2<ve had )itt)e use of ('2. 'n)y in 8ng)and, trying to extract #y 1overn#ent<s secret
dea)s giving (2(* tax ho)idays. (ai)ed. 1ot next f)ight to Ho))and where they were &ub)ic. Dot
necessary, they were on)ine. .ut Ho))and can be so #uch #ore fun.
/id get #ore on how 8ng)and swooned in front of the (2(* &irates who wanted cash for votes
to give the >1: Wor)d %u& to us. We didn<t &ay and Uatar and +ussia got the events and you
#ustn<t read anything into that unti) you<ve ta)ked to your )awyers.
2 never have a research strategy because, he)), every day<s a new day. Might get an e#ai) fro#
an ad#irer in the bowe)s of the vena) with a conscience to c)ear or a back to be knifed. 2<# their
friend and there<s )ots of the# out there sti)) being negotiated with. "he #ore you achieve the
#ore you can &ersuade sources that you know a)) the tricks to concea) their identity. I"2P: "he
1:4
.)ack *rts guys te)) #e they can<t &enetrate 4ky&e. .ut watch out for the account detai)s on
your hard disk. 8rase dai)y if &ossib)e because it can be hacked and your ca))s )ist discoveredJ
'ne &ri#e insider took nine years to do the business and when they did, 2 i##ediate)y got
drunk because, #eeting in an hote) garden in #itte);8uro&e and saying G2 think this is what you
wanted,H they handed #e the )ist of X1>> #i))ion in bribes absorbed by (2(*<s )eaders. 5ou can<t
#ake a strategy for that. ,ust be a decent &erson, be &atient, and the stuff wi)) be attracted to
you.
2 fear Gsyste#sH in case 2 beco#e tra&&ed within.
"he #ost i#&ortant research techniBue is identifying )ow)y &eo&)e inside corru&t organisations
who have access to fi)ing cabinets and servers. (ro# the# wi)) f)ow the forbidden docu#ents,
year after year, if &ro&er)y #anaged.
.ut how to )ocate the#9
2 do a )ecture on this but in essence. 1o to a &ress conference chaired by Mr .ig R Dasty. /on<t
dress as s#art)y as the &ress &ack. 4i)k ties are a career ki))er. .e a ki))er. 4tand u& and accuse
Mr .ig of whatever takes your fancyK bribe;taking, &aedo&hi)ia, the )ist is yours to write.
5ou are sending a #essage to the e#&)oyees who, if Mr .ig is as big a bastard as you sus&ect,
wi)) be a sordid night#are to work for, bu))ying the #en and fee)ing u& the wo#en. 'r the other
way around, de&ending how they )ike it. 5ou are signa))ing that you don<t give a fuck for his big
bo))ocks, you on)y turned u& because you<re )ooking for a fight and that you intend to render
hi# into cho&&ed )iver. 5ou are a)so #aking c)ear that you are not one of the ti#e;serving beat
re&orters. 5ou want his staff to be)ieve that your a#bition is to be a drunk driver in a )oaded tank
trans&orter, c)osing on his fragi)e (errari in a narrowing )ane.
2f you<ve given a good &erfor#ance the docu#ents shou)d start to f)ow. 2f you can get his credit
card bi)) you #ight a&&reciate his di)e##as arranging for his #u)ti&)e gir)friends to be booked
on se&arate f)ights. Write it )ow key and the guy is hung out to dry, a nationa) 6oke with a wife
c)osing the doors, bedroo# and then front. .)iss. 1et drunk.
Pause: when he is on his knees, befriend the &oor sa&, buy hi# a drink and he #ight te)) you
about the other bastards who turned their backs. He wi)) have docu#ents. "ake &ity, he)& hi#
u&, extract the syste#<s &assword.
2 think #y tenacity has brought change in these #a6or s&orts federations. (irst destroy their
&o#&ous i#age with rank disc)osures of the gu)f between their &ub)ic and &rivate #ora)ity. Dext
#ust be kickstart the &o)s to #ove in because these sca#sters have no ca&acity L or interest ; to
refor# the#se)ves. %ause #ore troub)e. 2s the 6ob descri&tion. 4o#e 6ournos say they cannot
he)& the co&s. 2t co#&ro#ises their inde&endence. "he truth is they &robab)y can<t write notes
whi)e kee&ing u& with #ost detectives< ferocious a)coho) intake. (or those of us who can, fi)e;
sharing takes on a new #eaning.
Litigation. 2f you research assiduous)y and get the docu#ents you wi)) sti)) get threats of rack
and hot irons in court. .ut once with the docu#ents, you res&ond to the beasts with #ixture of
&hrases ending in GoffH. "he finest offsky 2 know was the fa#ous *rke)) versus Pressdra#
res&onse. 2t chi))ed a generation of wou)d be bu))yboys.
2 was successfu))y sued, once in the Lausanne cri#ina) court. "he wee one went to court in the
%itN ')y#&iBue and des&ite the &hotogra&hic evidence, &ersuaded the )oca) 6udge to give #e a
3;day sus&ended 6ai) sentence and 1,>>> 4wiss (rancs costs bi)) for writing that he was a fascist.
1:3
2 cou)dn<t be)ieve #y )uck. * stunning award that few others acBuire. * cri#ina) conviction
#eans you have to buy #e the first drink.
"he hardest thing was giving u& writing about a certain +ussian cri#e fa#i)y boss. .ut 2 did
b)ock his advance into s&orts &o)itics and he went back to heroin trafficking. 2 have had to
undertake so#e other &ro6ects, to kee& the )and)ord content. .ut they have ended u& in &)aces
)ike %hechnia, trying to see the )oca) Mob<s &oint of view unti) there<s a re)iab)e f)ight out of
1ro@ny before the +ed *r#y starts she))ing. 4i))y thing is you get to eat caviar by the fistfu).
"heir big, often unwashed fists. 'n)y 6oking fe))ers, )ook, there<s &o&&ies to harvest.
Writing books, scri&ts, essays is the best fun of a)). 5ou<ve got the goodies, don<t sBuander the#.
(irst throw out the te)evision, don<t read news&a&ers. 2f you in6ect cra& use of )anguage into
your brain, out wi)) co#e shit.
+ead good books, written by &eo&)e c)everer than yourse)f. 4o#ething #ust stick. My favourite
read is 'he (ew Bork +e%iew of Books. "hen "o# Wo)fe<s 'he (ew &ournalism fro# 10$4. 2t
doesn<t get any better. 'he (ew Borker is very we)) written and there are so#e bri))iant story
structures but 2 chafe at the 1ucci adverts. "hese 2 don<t buy. 2 can connect with the writers but
not too #any readers.
"hen think structure. (or years 2 had a big sign on #y office wa)): WH*" *M 2 "+52D1 "'
4*59 2 wou)d s&end as )ong as it took trying to get an intro that #ade #e sBuir# with 6oy. 2t
#ight be direct, it #ight hera)d a de)ayed dro&. .ut it fe)t good because it showed the way to a
narrative. "he interna) #a& engine.
.)ow text u& into > &oint. 4entence by sentence, cut and &aste into a new docu#ent. "est every
word in every sentence. %ut the sur&)us. %)ean and )ean. =nderstate. Dever #iss a 6oke because
they are not i))ega), Dot with readers so fuck #ost ; but not a)) ; co&y editors I2 was one for a
few years but 2 had to de)iver what the suits wanted. 1reat ex&erience, end)ess)y trying to
contro) )anguage but good to #ove on fro#.J
Write )ong &ieces with kickstarts every 13;> &aragra&hs. "hese take the narrative in a new
direction. We are story te))ers, no #ore, descendents of the wandering ora) historian, chanting
and enchanting in the fire)ight about )ong ago fought batt)es. "he #ore ti#e getting the structure
right, the )ess ti#e writing. *nd, when you can see the road#a& ahead, you can write with 6oy.
5ou are not going to be roadki)).
1ood stories take off. 8ven if they f)are then see# to die, they wi)) have )it u& so#e &eo&)es
)ives so#ewhere.... .ad news for &ub)ic #ora)ity, horrendous for footba)) L and great news for
hacks. "he fetid swine are sti)) there for &oking, &rodding and #aybe eventua))y driving fro#
&ub)ic )ife. "hat<s what we are su&&osed to do.
1:7
Chapter Nine: The War on Terror
A. The inte""igen'e fa'tory: How Ameri'a makes its enemies disaear
By )etra Bartosiewic@
Introduction. $ fundamental issue of any in%estigation resides in how to deal with what cannot
be known. 'he problem is at once ethical ; does one hide the ignoranceC In%ent something to
fill the holeC )retend it isn,t thereC ; and practical# How does one write about 6or around7 what
one doesn,t know and will ne%er knowC )etra Bartosiewic@,s in"uiry into an alleged terrorist
places that "uestion at the centre of the story. Incredibly what isn,t and can,t be known
reinforces the power of what she finds out and recounts. She shows us a world in which no one
ultimately knows what is happening and no one admits it. Instead a system is built on
ignorance and that system creates enemies and %ictims. My thanks to Mark Schapiro for
suggesting this story. 5or more on )etra Bartosiewic@ see her website www.petrabart.com.
6$nd by the way if you are an in%estigati%e reporter and you do not ha%e your own website or
blog how do you e3pect your stories to find youC7
5rom Har&erCs Maga@ine (o%ember 9::=
WH8D 2 (2+4" +8*/ the =.4. govern#ent<s co#&)aint against *afia 4iddiBui, who is awaiting
tria) in a .rook)yn detention center on charges of atte#&ting to #urder a grou& of =.4. *r#y officers
and (.2 agents in *fghanistan, the case it described was so i#&ossib)y convo)uted L and yet so
absurd)y incri#inating L that 2 si#&)y assu#ed she was innocent. *ccording to the co#&)aint, on the
evening of ,u)y 1$, >>:, severa) )oca) &o)ice#en discovered 4iddiBui and a young boy )oitering about
a &ub)ic sBuare in 1ha@ni. 4he was carrying instructions for creating Gwea&ons invo)ving bio)ogica)
#ateria),H descri&tions of =.4. G#i)itary assets,H and nu#erous unna#ed Gche#ica) substances in ge)
and )iBuid for# that were sea)ed in bott)es and g)ass 6ars.H 4iddiBui, an M2";trained neuroscientist who
)ived in the =nited 4tates for e)even years, had vanished fro# her ho#etown in Pakistan in >>!,
a)ong with a)) three of her chi)dren, two of who# were =.4. citi@ens. "he co#&)aint does not address
where she was those five years or why she sudden)y decided to e#erge into a &ub)ic sBuare outside
Pakistan and far fro# the =nited 4tates, nor does it address why she wou)d do so in the co#&any of
her *#erican son. Earious re&orts had her #arried to a high;)eve) *) Uaeda o&erative, running
dia#onds out of Liberia for 'sa#a bin Laden, and abetting the entry of terrorists into the =nited
4tates. .ut those re&orts were countered by ru#ors that 4iddiBui actua))y had s&ent the &revious five
years in the #aw of the =.4. inte))igence syste# L that she was a ghost &risoner, kidna&&ed by
Pakistani s&ies, he)d in secret detention at a =.4. #i)itary &rison, interrogated unti) she cou)d &rovide
no further inte))igence, then s&at back into the wor)d in the #anner #ost )ike)y to render her story
i#&)ausib)e. "hese due)ing narratives of terrorist intrigue and i#&eria) overreach were on)y further
confounded when 4iddiBui fina))y a&&eared before a 6udge in a Manhattan courtroo# on *ugust 3.
Dow, two weeks after her ca&ture, she was bandaged and doub)ed over in a whee)chair, bare)y ab)e to
s&eak, because L so#ehow L she had been shot in the sto#ach by one of the very so)diers she stands
accused of atte#&ting to #urder.
2t is c)ear that the %2* and the (.2 be)ieved *afia 4iddiBui to be a &otentia) source of inte))igence
and, as such, a &ri@ed co##odity in the g)oba) war on terror. 8very other as&ect of the 4iddiBui case,
though, is shrouded in ru#or and denia), with the resu)t that we do not know, and #ay never know,
whether her detention has #ade the =nited 4tates any safer. 8ven the &articu)ars of the arrest itse)f,
which took &)ace before a crowd of witnesses near 1ha@ni<s #ain #osBue, are in dis&ute. *ccording
1:$
to the co#&)aint, 4iddiBui was detained not because she was wanted by the (.2 but si#&)y because
she was )oitering in a Gsus&iciousH #annerK she did not s&eak the )oca) )anguage and she was not
escorted by an adu)t #a)e. What drove her to risk such cons&icuous behavior has not been revea)ed.
When 2 )ater hired a )oca) re&orter in *fghanistan to re;interview severa) witnesses, the arresting
officer, *bdu) 1hani, said 4iddiBui had been carrying Ga box with so#e sort of che#ica)s,H but a
sho&kee&er na#ed (arhad said the &o)ice had found on)y Ga )ot of &a&ers.H Hek#at =))ah, who
ha&&ened to be &assing by at the ti#e of her arrest, said 4iddiBui Gwas attacking everyone who got
c)ose to herH L a detai) that is not #entioned in the co#&)aint. * #an na#ed Mirwais, who had co#e
to the #osBue that day to &ray, said he saw &o)ice handcuff 4iddiBui, but Massoud Dabi@ada, the
owner of a )oca) &har#acy, said the &o)ice had no handcuffs, Gso they used her scarf to tie her hands.H
What everyone a&&ears to agree on is this: an unknown &erson ca))ed the &o)ice to warn that a &ossib)e
suicide bo#ber was )oitering outside a #osBueK the &o)ice arrested 4iddiBui and her sonK and, *fghan
sovereignty notwithstanding, they then dis&atched the sus&icious #ateria)s, whatever they were, to the
nearest =.4. #i)itary base.
"he events of the fo))owing day are a)so sub6ect to dis&ute. *ccording to the co#&)aint, a =.4. *r#y
ca&tain and a warrant officer, two (.2 agents, and two #i)itary inter&reters ca#e to Buestion 4iddiBui
at 1ha@ni<s &o)ice headBuarters. "he tea# was shown to a #eeting roo# that was &artitioned by a
ye))ow curtain. GDone of the =nited 4tates &ersonne) were aware,H the co#&)aint states, Gthat 4iddiBui
was being he)d, unsecured, behind the curtain.H Do ex&)anation is offered as to why no one thought to
)ook behind it. "he grou& sat down to ta)k and, in another odd )a&se of vigi)ance, Gthe Warrant 'fficer
&)aced his =nited 4tates *r#y M;4 rif)e on the f)oor to his right next to the curtain, near his right
foot.H 4iddiBui, )ike a vi))ain in a stage &)ay, reached fro# behind the curtain and &u))ed the three;foot
rif)e to her side. 4he un)atched the safety. 4he &u))ed the curtain Gs)ight)y backH and &ointed the gun
direct)y at the head of the ca&tain. 'ne of the inter&reters saw her. He )unged for the gun. 4iddiBui
shouted, G1et the fuck out of hereVH and fired twice. 4he hit no one. *s the inter&reter wrest)ed her to
the ground, the warrant officer drew his sidear# and fired Ga&&roxi#ate)y two roundsH into 4iddiBui<s
abdo#en. 4he co))a&sed, sti)) strugg)ing, then fe)) unconscious.
"he authorities in *fghanistan describe a different series of events. "he governor of 1ha@ni
Province, =s#an =s#ani, to)d #y )oca) re&orter that the =.4. tea# had Gde#anded to take over
custodyH of 4iddiBui. "he governor refused. He cou)d not re)ease 4iddiBui, he ex&)ained, unti) officia)s
fro# the counterterroris# de&art#ent in -abu) arrived to investigate. He &ro&osed a co#&ro#ise: the
=.4. tea# cou)d interview 4iddiBui, but she wou)d re#ain at the station. 2n a +euters interview,
however, a Gsenior 1ha@ni &o)ice officerH suggested that the co#&ro#ise did not ho)d. "he =.4. tea#
arrived at the &o)ice station, he said, and de#anded custody of 4iddiBui, the *fghan officers refused,
and the =.4. tea# &roceeded to disar# the#. "hen, for reasons unex&)ained, 4iddiBui herse)f
so#ehow entered the scene. "he =.4. tea#, Gthinking that she had ex&)osives and wou)d attack the#
as a suicide bo#ber, shot her and took her.H
4iddiBui<s own version of the shooting is )ess co#&)icated. *s she ex&)ained it to a de)egation of
Pakistani senators who ca#e to "exas to visit her in &rison a few #onths after her arrest, she never
touched anyone<s gun, nor did she shout at anyone or #ake any threats. 4he si#&)y stood u& to see
who was on the other side of the curtain and start)ed the so)diers. 'ne of the# shouted, G4he is )oose,H
and then so#eone shot her. When she regained consciousness she heard so#eone e)se say, GWe cou)d
)ose our 6obs.H
4iddiBui<s tria) is schedu)ed for this Dove#ber. "he charges against her ste# so)e)y fro# the
shooting incident itse)f, not fro# any a))eged act of terroris#. "he &rosecutors &rovide no ex&)anation
for how a scientist, #other, and wife ca#e to be charged as a dangerous fe)on. Dor do they account for
her #issing years, or her two other chi)dren, who sti)) are #issing. What is known is that the =nited
4tates wanted her in >>!, and it wanted her again in >>:, and now no one can ex&)ain why.
1::
*4 "H8 G1L'.*L W*+ 'D "8++'+H enters its ninth year, under the )eadershi& of its second
co##ander in chief, certain ongoing assu#&tions have gained the force of co##on wisdo#. 'ne of
the#, as .arack 'ba#a ex&)ained in a #a6or &o)icy s&eech )ast May, is that we have entered a Gnew
eraH that wi)) G&resent new cha))enges to our a&&)ication of the )awH and reBuire Gnew too)s to &rotect
the *#erican &eo&)e.H *nother, as 'ba#a #ade c)ear in the sa#e s&eech, is that the &ur&ose of these
new too)s and )aws is Gto &revent attacks instead of si#&)y &rosecuting those who try to carry the#
out.H "hese &ositions are a&&ea)ing, but they fai) to address what #ight be thought of as an under)ying
econo#ic diseBui)ibriu#. "he continued &o)itica) a&&etite for a g)oba) war on terror has )ed to a
co##odification of Gactionab)e inte))igence,H which is a &roduct, chief)y, of hu#an &risoners )ike
*afia 4iddiBui. .ecause this war, by definition, has no &hysica) or te#&ora) boundaries, the de#and
for such inte))igence has no )i#it. .ut the wor)d contains a re)ative)y s#a)) nu#ber of terrorists and an
even s#a))er nu#ber of terrorist &)ots. 'ur de#and for inte))igence far outstri&s the su&&)y of
&risoners. Where the =nited 4tates itse)f has been unab)e to #eet that de#and, therefore, it has
e#braced a so)ution that is the essence of g)oba)i@ation. We outsource the work to countries, )ike
Pakistan, whose &o)itica) circu#stances a))ow the# to &roduce &risoners with far greater efficiency.
What the %2* and the (.2 understand as an acBuisition so)ution, however, others see as a hu#an;
rights debac)e. ,ust as thousands of &o)itica) dissidents, sus&ected cri#ina)s, and ene#ies of the state
were Gdisa&&earedH fro# Latin *#erica over the course of severa) decades of %2*;funded dirty wars,
so too have hundreds of G&ersons of interestH around the wor)d begun to disa&&ear as a conseBuence of
the g)oba) war on terror, which in #any ways has beco#e a g)oba)i@ed version of those ear)ier,
regiona) fai)ures of de#ocracy.
Many individua) cases are we)) known. .inya# Moha#ed, an a))eged cons&irator in ,ose Padi))a<s
now debunked Gdirty bo#b &)ot,H was arrested in -arachi in >> and f)own by the %2* to Morocco,
where he was tortured for eighteen #onths. He eventua))y e#erged into the non;covert &rison syste#,
as a detainee at 1uantcna#o, and was re)eased ear)ier this year without charge. Maher *rar, a
%anadian citi@en, was arrested at Dew 5ork %ity<s ,ohn (. -ennedy *ir&ort in >> whi)e on his way
ho#e fro# a vacation, f)own by the %2* to a 4yrian &rison, he)d in a coffin;si@e ce)) for near)y a year,
and then re)eased, a)so without charges. 4aud Me#on, a Pakistani business#an ru#ored to own the
&)ot of )and where the Wa)) 4treet ,ourna) re&orter /anie) Pear) was #urdered, was arrested in >>!,
he)d by the =nited 4tates at an unknown )ocation unti) >>7, then Gre)easedH to Pakistan, where in
*&ri) >>$ he fina))y e#erged, bad)y beaten and weighing 6ust eighty &ounds, on the doorste& of his
-arachi ho#e. He died a few weeks )ater.
"he tota) nu#ber of #en and wo#en who have been kidna&&ed and i#&risoned for =.4.
inte))igence;gathering &ur&oses is difficu)t to deter#ine. *&art fro# 2raB and *fghanistan, the #ain
theaters of co#bat, Pakistan is our &ri#ary source of &ub)ic)y known detainees L researchers at 4eton
Ha)) =niversity esti#ated in >>7 that two thirds of the &risoners at 1uantcna#o were arrested in
Pakistan or by Pakistani authorities L and so it is reasonab)e to assu#e that the country is a)so a #a6or
su&&)ier of ghost detainees. Hu#an +ights Watch has tracked enforced disa&&earances in Pakistan
since before >>1. "he grou&<s counterterroris# director, ,oanne Mariner, to)d #e that the nu#ber of
#issing &ersons in the country grew Gto a f)oodH as =.4. counterterroris# o&erations &eaked between
>> and >>4. 2n that sa#e three;year &eriod, =.4. aid to Pakistan tota)ed X4.$ bi))ion, u& fro# X0.1
#i))ion in the three years &rior to the =.4. invasion of *fghanistan. %orre)ation does not &rove
causation, of course, but Pakistan<s for#er &resident, Perve@ Musharraf, did c)ai# in his >>7 #e#oir,
2n the Line of (ire, that his country had de)ivered !70 *) Uaeda sus&ects to the =nited 4tates for
G#i))ions of do))arsH in bounties Ia boast he neat)y e)ides in the =rdu editionJ. 2t is reasonab)e to
sus&ect this figure is on the )ow side.
'ne reason esti#ates are so inconc)usive, of course, is that the business of disa&&earance is
inherent)y a#biguous. Missing;&erson re&orts fi)ed in Pakistan rare)y c)ai# that the detained
individua) was &icked u& by the %2* or the (.2. 2nstead, the detainee is a)#ost a)ways arrested by
Gcity &o)iceH or Gcivi)ian c)othed #enH or unidentified Gsecret agency &ersonne)H who arrive in
1:0
Gun#arked vehic)es.H "he secretary;genera) of the Pakistani D1' Hu#an +ights %o##ission, 2bn
*bdur +eh#an, described the &rocess. G* #an is &icked u& at his house, brought to the &o)ice
station,H he said. G"he fa#i)y co#es with hi# and are to)d, SHe<)) be re)eased in an hour, go ho#e.<
"hey co#e back in an hour and are to)d, S4orry, he<s been handed off to the inte))igence &eo&)e and
taken to 2s)a#abad.< *fter that, the individua) is never heard fro# again. When the fa#i)y tries to fi)e a
#issing;&erson re&ort, the &o)ice won<t take it, and no one ad#its to having custody of the &erson.H
4o#e of the disa&&eared &ass direct)y to =.4. custody and rea&&ear #onths or years )ater at
1uantcna#o or .agra# air base. 'thers re#ain ca&tives of Pakistan<s #u)ti&)e inte))igence agencies
or are shi&&ed to &)aces )ike =@bekistan, whose torture &o)icies are we)) known. 'thers si#&)y vanish,
their fate revea)ed on)y by c)erica) errors, or when they turn u& dead.
Most of the arrests and detentions take &)ace under the aus&ices of Pakistan<s 2nter;4ervices
2nte))igence I242J, which the %2* he)&ed ex&and in the 10:>s )arge)y in order to wage a &roxy war
against 4oviet forces in *fghanistan Iwhere the 242 continues to wie)d considerab)e inf)uenceJ. "he
agency has evo)ved into a &owerfu) institution with its own agendas and a))iances L it has )ong
&ursued ethnic se&aratists in the .a)uchistan region, for instance, where the Hu#an +ights
%o##ission esti#ates that at )east 7>> individua)s have disa&&eared L and the resu)t is that the %2*
itse)f often has )itt)e know)edge of the &rovenance or &ur&ose of a given arrest.
4uch #ay be the case with 4iddiBui. "o #y know)edge, the on)y current or for#er =.4. officia) to
co##ent &ub)ic)y on the significance of her ca&ture was ,ohn -iriakou, a retired %2* officer who
gained notoriety in >>$ when he to)d *.% Dews that the %2* waterboarding of *bu Tubaydah, an *)
Uaeda )ieutenant, &roduced )ife;saving inte))igence in )ess than a #inute. *)though ,ustice /e&art#ent
#e#os )ater revea)ed that Tubaydah was waterboarded eighty;three ti#es, -iriakou<s co##ents did
#uch to foster acce&tance of the &ractice a#ong the *#erican &ub)ic L and his descri&tion of 4iddiBui
see#ed ca)ibrated to achieve a si#i)ar effect. 2n >>: he to)d *.% Dews, which had hired hi# as a
consu)tant after his waterboarding interview, G2 don<t think we<ve ca&tured anybody as i#&ortant and
as we)) connected as she since >>!. We knew that she had been &)anning, or at )east invo)ved in the
&)anning of, a wide variety of different o&erations.H When 2 ca))ed -iriakou to ask hi# about those
o&erations, though, he said the extent of his know)edge was that 4iddiBui<s na#e Ghad &o&&ed u& an
awfu) )otH whi)e he was in Pakistan searching for Tubaydah in >>, and that Gthe (.2 ta)ked about
her so often that 2 thought she #ust be a big fish.H *fter he )eft Pakistan, he forgot a)) about 4iddiBui
unti) *.% ca))ed for an interview. G2 actua))y had to 1oog)e as to re#e#ber who she was,H he said.
L*4" 4P+2D1, in the ho&e that 2 #ight discover how 4iddiBui beca#e such a sought;after
co##odity, 2 took the eighteen;hour f)ight fro# Dew 5ork to -arachi. Pakistan<s cities are )ike #any
in the "hird Wor)d: overwhe)#ed with hu#anity, underserved by govern#ent, and ru)ed by a wea)thy
e)ite who cu)tivate an at#os&here of )aw)ess entit)e#ent. "he current &resident, *sif *)i Tardari,
widower of s)ain for#er Pri#e Minister .ena@ir .hutto, was once charged with Ithough not tried forJ
atte#&ting to extort a Pakistani business#an by stra&&ing a re#ote;contro))ed bo#b to the #an<s )eg.
My host in -arachi, a friend of a friend, was a char#ing fashion designer and gun aficionado who a)so
ha&&ened to be a bona;fide feuda) )ord. "he day after #y arriva), as one of his servants #assaged his
neck, he ex&)ained to #e that he cou)d have the sub6ects on his )ands ki))ed, though 2 had the
i#&ression that he wou)d consider such an act gauche.
4iddiBui<s own fa#i)y is we)) known in -arachi. "hey are re)igious)y conservative, but a)so, in
certain res&ects, GWestern.H 4iddiBui<s father, who died in >>, was a doctor educated in 8ng)and.
Her brother is an architect in HoustonK her sister, now one of Pakistan<s &re#ier neuro)ogists, received
her training at Harvard. 4iddiBui herse)f attended M2" as an undergraduate, and earned her doctorate
in neuroscience at .randeis. Her education, and the &rivi)ege it i#&)ies, is &art of what #ade her
disa&&earance so newsworthy. (a#i)ies )ike hers are understood to have enough connections, or at
)east enough hired guards, to &revent their #e#bers fro# being kidna&&ed, even by the govern#ent.
10>
"he nationa) &ress nonethe)ess see#s to take for granted that 4iddiBui and her chi)dren were
abducted by Pakistani inte))igence in >>!, #ost )ike)y at the behest of the =nited 4tates. *)#ost no
one 2 s&oke to in -arachi be)ieved she cou)d have re#ained underground and undetected by the 242 for
five days, )et a)one five years. .ut there was one i#&ortant exce&tion. * few days before 2 arrived,
4iddiBui<s ex;husband, *#6ad -han, to)d a re&orter fro# the Pakistani -aily (ews that he thought she
was an Gextre#istH and that of course she had been on the run. "his so infuriated 4iddiBui<s sister,
(ow@ia, that she )ater ca))ed a &ress conference of her own and to)d re&orters -han was an abusive
husband and father, and that if anyone was an extre#ist it was hi#.
-han now )ives in -arachi with his new wife and their two chi)dren, in the we));a&&ointed ho#e of
his father, a retired business#an. He is thirty;nine years o)d, ta)) and s)ender, and when we #et he was
wearing the )ong beard that denotes his strict devotion to 2s)a#. He invited #e into the drawing roo#
and signa)ed a servant to bring cookies and co)d g)asses of )assi, a yogurt drink. -han ca#e to know
4iddiBui, he said, in 100!. 4he was an active su&&orter of 2s)a#ic causes at M2", and during a visit to
-arachi, -han<s #other arranged for her to co#e to their ho#e and give a ta)k on the &)ight of
.osnian Mus)i#s. *fter the ta)k, -han<s #other, &resu#ab)y i#&ressed, asked hi# if he )iked what he
saw. He said yes, and the &arents arranged a wedding. "he cere#ony took &)ace over the &hone whi)e
-han was in -arachi and 4iddiBui a)ready back in .oston, but -han, who had studied #edicine in
Pakistan, soon fo))owed her and took a research &osition at Massachusetts 1enera) Hos&ita).
-han said he )oved 4iddiBui in the ear)y years of their #arriage but that the re)ationshi& was a)ways
so#ewhat vo)ati)eK he casua))y described an incident in which he threw a baby bott)e at 4iddiBui<s face
and she had to go to the hos&ita) to get stitches. "he #arriage began to unrave), he said, after the
attacks of 4e&te#ber 11, >>1. 4iddiBui, shaken by the =.4. reaction to the attacks, f)ew with the
chi)dren to -arachi soon after, and when -han 6oined the# in Dove#ber, he says, 4iddiBui<s Gextre#e
natureH beca#e a&&arent. 4he wanted hi# to go with her to *fghanistan to serve as a #edic for the
#u6ahedeen. When he refused, he said, Gshe beca#e hysterica). 4he started &ounding on #y chest with
her fists. 4he o&en)y asked for a divorce in front of #y fa#i)y.H -han<s &arents urged hi# to return to
.oston without 4iddiBui, to co#&)ete his board exa#s, which he did. 2n ,anuary >>, he convinced
4iddiBui to return to .oston, where they &atched things u& sufficient)y that 4iddiBui beca#e &regnant
with their third chi)d.
"hen, in ,une >>, the cou&)e received a visit fro# the (.2. "he agents said they were fo))owing u&
on a sus&icious;activity re&ort fro# ()eet .ank in .oston. Why had so#eone at the 4audi e#bassy in
Washington wired X$>,>>> to accounts )inked to their address9 *nd why had -han recent)y &urchased
night;vision gogg)es, body ar#or, and, according to -han, as #any as seventy #i)itary #anua)s,
a#ong the# (ugitive, *dvanced (ugitive, and How to Make %;49 G2 asked the (.2,H he said,
Gwhether 2 shou)d return so#e of the ob6ectionab)e books, and the agent re&)ied, SDo, we are a free
country. 5ou are free to read these books.<H -han to)d #e that the Gnight;vision gogg)esH were
actua))y 6ust a sing)e night;vision sco&e for his hunting rif)eK the Gbody ar#orH was a bu))et&roof vest
for his unc)e, a big;ga#e hunter in -arachi. "he X$>,>>> was not for the#. 2t had been sent to a 4audi
#an who sub)et -han<s first .oston a&art#ent in >>1 after the cou&)e had #oved to another &)ace L
the #oney was to &ay for #edica) treat#ent for his son. *nd the #i)itary #anua)s, -han ex&)ained,
)ess convincing)y, were an a&&ease#ent gift for 4iddiBui. G.y that ti#e 2 knew the #arriage wasn<t
going to )ast,H he said. G.ut 2 had #y exa#s co#ing u& and needed to kee& things neutra).H
"he argu#ents continued, however, and in the end it was -han who, in *ugust >>, fina))y
de#anded a divorce. "he &arting was Buite bitter, and &erha&s not entire)y because of 4iddiBui<s
&ur&orted radica) &roc)ivities. 8ven before the divorce was fina)i@ed that 'ctober, -han had
contracted a #arriage with his current wife, an act that 4iddiBui, according to divorce &a&ers her sister
gave #e, said was done Gwithout her consent or &rior know)edge.H *nd a)though -han said he offered
to &ay chi)d su&&ort and sought to see the chi)dren, the divorce &a&ers note that he gave u& &er#anent
custody and wou)d Ghave no right of any nature with the chi)dren.H He has never seen his son,
4u)e#an, who was born that 4e&te#ber.
101
-han said he )earned that 4iddiBui was #issing on)y when the (.2 issued an a)ert in March >>!,
five #onths after the divorce was fina)i@ed, seeking both of the# for Buestioning. He to)d #e he
c)eared his own na#e severa) weeks )ater in a four;hour 6oint interview with the (.2 and the 242, and
that his Gcontacts in the agenciesH infor#ed hi# that 4iddiBui had gone underground. He had no idea
where his chi)dren were, he said L a c)ai# he wou)d )ater contradict. He said he and his driver saw
4iddiBui in a taxi in -arachi in >>3. .ut they did not fo))ow her.
*s we ta)ked, -han<s father ca#e and sat down and soon began answering Buestions for his son,
who deferred to hi#. 8ventua))y the father decided the interview had gone on )ong enough, and so
-han wa)ked #e outside, where his two young daughters fro# his second #arriage were &)aying on
the )awn. 'ne was na#ed Maria#, the sa#e na#e as his daughter with 4iddiBui. 2 asked if he had
given u& on the &ossibi)ity of the first Maria# co#ing ho#e. -han shrugged and said he 6ust )iked the
na#e.
('WT2* L2E84 2D 1=L4H*D;8;2U.*L, an aff)uent enc)ave of &a)# trees and high;wa))ed
co#&ounds not far fro# *#6ad -han<s ho#e. When 2 ca))ed, she was about to ho)d her &ress
conference and to)d #e to co#e right over. G2 got a video of the &rison stri& search,H she said. G2t<s
rea))y grueso#e.H
2 knew 4iddiBui had been searched when she )eft her ho)ding ce)) for &re)i#inary hearings. 4he was
sti)) recovering fro# her gunshot wounds and had found the &rocess, which inc)uded a cavity search,
to be hu#i)iating and extre#e)y &ainfu). 2 assu#ed (ow@ia had so#ehow acBuired a ta&e of the
search. 2#ages of a devout Mus)i# wo#an being stri&&ed in the &resence of Western &rison guards
wou)d be offensive and inf)a##atory, and thus newsworthy, and cou)d he)& (ow@ia gain sy#&athy for
her sister<s cause.
4evera) "E sate))ite trucks were id)ing outside the house when 2 arrived, and in the )iving roo# three
do@en re&orters were watching the video, which (ow@ia &)ayed on her )a&to& co#&uter. 2 )eaned in to
get a better )ook and saw that it was indeed a stri& search. .ut the wo#an was not 4iddiBui. "he video,
taken fro# a =.4. te)evision re&ort on an entire)y unre)ated case, was #eant to de&ict what (ow@ia<s
sister #ight have gone through L not an outright dece&tion but a we));ti#ed &)oy to shift attention
away fro# the da#aging c)ai#s of an angry ex;husband.
*fter the re&orters )eft, we sat down to discuss the case in greater detai). (ow@ia ke&t steering the
conversation away fro# Buestions about her sister<s cu)&abi)ity and the whereabouts of her niece and
ne&hew. 2nstead, she wanted to discuss -han<s &erfidy. GHe<s on a )ying s&ree,H she said. GLet hi#
continueVH (ow@ia s&ecu)ated that -han was inventing ta)es about 4iddiBui in order to save hi#se)f
fro# &rosecution, that he was a cri#ina) who had been turned into an infor#ant, that he cou)d be
trusted by no one. 2 asked her what &roof she had that -han had been invo)ved in terrorist activities.
4he said she had none. .ut he certain)y he)d extre#ist views, she said, and as evidence she &roduced a
co&y of the cou&)e<s divorce agree#ent and directed #e to a &roviso that -han had inserted: G=nder
no circu#stances wou)d the chi)dren be ad#itted in any of the schoo)s which render education in
Western sty)e or cu)ture.H
(ow@ia<s resignation about the #issing chi)dren &u@@)ed #e, as had -han<s. When 2 asked her about
it, she said, G2<ve co&ed by assu#ing the kids are dead.H * few years ago, she ex&)ained, a Pakistani
inte))igence agent had co#e to her house and to)d her that 4u)e#an, who had been born &re#ature)y
and was sick at the ti#e *afia disa&&eared, had died in custody. 2 asked her who the agent was, but
she said he refused to give his na#e. I*fter 2 )eft Pakistan, -han e#ai)ed #e to say he had received
Gconfidentia) good newsH fro# the 242 that Maria# and 4u)e#an were Ga)ive and we))H with (ow@ia.
When 2 asked if he cou)d te)) #e #ore, he wrote back that he &ossessed Ga )ot of detai)ed infor#ationH
about his chi)dren and i#&)ied they had been with the 4iddiBui fa#i)y a)) a)ong, but he refused to
&rovide any of that infor#ation Gbecause 2 was forbidden by the agenciesM#y )awyer to do so for #y
10
own safety.H (ow@ia says she sti)) has not seen the chi)dren.J
'n #y way out of (ow@ia<s house, 2 &assed a boy who was watching te)evision. 2t was 4iddiBui<s
e)dest son, *h#ad, now twe)ve years o)d. *fter his arrest at the #arket in *fghanistan he had again
vanished, and for a #onth =.4. authorities denied any know)edge of his whereabouts. 2n fact, he had
been turned over to an *fghan inte))igence agency, which he)d hi# for six weeks and fina))y sent hi#
to Pakistan to )ive with his aunt. 2 waved to *h#ad. He said he))o and then went back to the
.o))ywood fi)# he was watching. GHe hasn<t ta)ked in great detai) about where he was,H (ow@ia said.
GHe tries to figure out what answer you want hi# to give and he gives that answer.H
WH*" M'4" '( =4 understand as hu#an re)ationshi&s, infinite)y varied and &oignant with
a#biguity, cri#ina) investigators understand si#&)y as a series of associations. "he #a&&ing of
Gknown associatesH is an o)d and &owerfu) investigative techniBue. .ut within the context of the
g)oba) war on terror, the techniBue L known various)y as Gsocia);network ana)ysis,H G)ink ana)ysis,H or
Gcontact chainingH L has been used )ess for so)ving cri#es and #ore for &reventing the#. =sing )arge
co#&uter arrays and the kind of auto#ated data ana)ysis that a)ready do#inate the wor)d of g)oba)
finance, investigators cobb)e together every scra& of avai)ab)e infor#ation in order to create what they
ho&e is a &icture not of a sing)e true &ast but of an infinite variety of theoretica) futures. 2n such a
syste#, the universe of &ossib)e associations L and therefore the universe of &ossib)e detainees L a)so
beco#es un)i#ited. When the (.2 detained #ore than a thousand Mus)i# i##igrants in >>1, for
instance, it &rovided 6udges at secret detention hearings an affidavit ex&)aining that Gthe business of
counterterroris# inte))igence gathering in the =nited 4tates is akin to the construction of a #osaicH
and that evidence Gthat #ay see# innocuous at first g)anceH #ight u)ti#ate)y Gfit into a &icture that
wi)) revea) how the unseen who)e o&erates.H "he (.2 reasoned that even the &ossessors of this
inte))igence #ight not be aware of the significance of what they knew, and so they cou)d be detained
si#&)y because the agency was Gunab)e to ru)e outH their va)ue.
2t was &recise)y such a #osaic, in which none of the #yriad connections were Buite inte))igib)e but
a)) were )aden with vague significance, that set off a)ar#s at the (.2 and %2* in the #onths )eading u&
to the #o#ent 4iddiBui disa&&eared in >>!. 2n ear)y >>, the (.2 beca#e aware of a =nited Dations
investigation into *) Uaeda financing that #entioned 4iddiBui. * Gconfidentia) sourceH c)ai#ed he had
G&ersona))y #etH her in Liberia, where she was on a #ission to Geva)uate dia#ond o&erationsH for her
*) Uaeda bosses in Pakistan. /ennis Lor#e), an (.2 agent who was investigating terroris# financing
at the ti#e, to)d #e the agency Buick)y debunked this s&ecific c)ai#. Donethe)ess, the notion that
4iddiBui was invo)ved in #oney )aundering had entered the &icture.
"hen, in )ate /ece#ber >>, two #onths after her divorce, 4iddiBui f)ew fro# Pakistan to the
=nited 4tates, where she had a 6ob interview at a hos&ita) in .a)ti#ore. 'n /ece#ber !>, she #ade
her way to nearby 1aithersburg, Mary)and, and o&ened a &ost office box. 4he )isted as a co;owner of
the box a #an na#ed Ma6id -han, who# she fa)se)y identified as her husband. *ccording to court
records, the (.2 began to #onitor the box a)#ost i##ediate)y.
'n March 1, >>!, inte))igence agents in Pakistan arrested -ha)id 4heikh Moha##ed, the a))eged
o&erationa) &)anner of the 4e&te#ber 11 attacks. =.4. interrogators Buick)y e)icited fro# hi# the
na#es of do@ens of &ossib)e co;cons&irators. *#ong the# was Ma6id -han. Moha##ed said he had
assigned -han to de)iver Ga )arge su# of #oneyH to *) Uaeda.
'n March 3, the 242 arrested -han, a)ong with his &regnant wife. *ccording to a state#ent by
-han<s father, G=.4. and Pakistani agents, inc)uding (.2 agents,H interrogated his son for at )east three
weeks at a secret detention center in -arachi. What -han to)d his ca&tors is not &ub)ic)y known, but
by March 1: the (.2 was a)ar#ed enough to issue a bu))etin seeking 4iddiBui and her ex;husband for
Buestioning.
'n March :, (.2 agents in Dew 5ork %ity detained a twenty;three;year;o)d #an na#ed =@air
10!
Paracha, who had 6ust arrived there fro# Pakistan to he)& his father se)) units of a beachfront &ro&erty
in -arachi. His father a)so owned an i#&ortMex&ort business in Manhattan, and Paracha worked fro#
an office there. -ha)id 4heikh Moha##ed had &)anned to use the co#&any, he to)d investigators, Gto
s#ugg)e ex&)osives into the =nited 4tates.H *#ong the first Buestions agents in Dew 5ork asked
Paracha was whether he knew Ma6id -han. He said he did. *nd there was #ore: he a)so had the key to
his &ost office box.
*t so#e &oint that sa#e #onth, 4iddiBui disa&&eared. Her fa#i)y wou)d not, or cou)d not, give #e a
s&ecific date. "he )ast traces of her 2 found ca#e fro# news accounts. 'n March :, the day the (.2
detained Paracha, the Pakistani dai)y -awn re&orted that )oca) authorities took 4iddiBui Gto an
undisc)osed )ocationH for Buestioning and that G(.2 agents were a)so a))owed to Buestion the )ady.H
"hree weeks )ater, on *&ri) 1, a Gsenior =.4. )aw enforce#ent officia)H to)d Lisa Myers of D.%
Dight)y Dews that 4iddiBui was in Pakistani custody. "he sa#e source retracted the state#ent the next
day without ex&)anation. G*t the ti#e,H Myers to)d #e, Gwe thought there was a &ossibi)ity &erha&s
he<d s&oken out of turn.H
"here was one fina) association to take into account. 'n *&ri) 0, the Pakistani authorities arrested
*##ar a) .a)uchi, a co#&uter technician they sus&ected was &)otting to bo#b the =.4. e#bassy in
Pakistan. .a)uchi was the ne&hew of -ha)id 4heikh Moha##ed. "he (.2 and the %2* sus&ected that
he had &rovided the 0M11 hi6ackers with a)#ost a Buarter of their financing. "hey had a)so co#e to
be)ieve, as was )ater re&orted in an undated /e&art#ent of /efense Gdetainee biogra&hy,H that .a)uchi
had G#arried 4iddiBui short)y before his detention.H
"he #eans by which we asse#b)e such inte))igence have beco#e #ore so&histicated and a)so #ore
vio)ent. /uring his initia) #onth of detention, Moha##ed was waterboarded 1:! ti#es. -han<s father
c)ai#s that his son was forced Gto sign a state#ent that he was not even a))owed to read,H and -han
)ater atte#&ted suicide, twice, by chewing through an artery in his ar#.
"he interrogations yie)ded a great dea) of data, but it is unc)ear how usefu) any of that data actua))y
was. Moha##ed )ater said, G2 gave a )ot of fa)se infor#ation in order to satisfy what 2 be)ieved the
interrogators wished to hear.H Paracha to)d #any contradictory stories, and .a)uchi, who had
#aintained his innocence during his =.4. #i)itary tribuna) hearing, )ater fi)ed a state#ent saying, in
effect, that he was &roud of his invo)ve#ent in the 4e&te#ber 11 attacks.
"he ro)es 4iddiBui and Paracha &)ayed in the &ost;office;box affair #ay have been entire)y innocent.
Ma6id -han said at his own #i)itary tribuna) hearings that his trave) docu#ents had ex&ired whi)e he
was in -arachi and he wanted to renew the#. He asked his friend .a)uchi to en)ist 4iddiBui and
Paracha to he)& #aintain the ruse that he was sti)) in the =nited 4tates by estab)ishing a #ai)ing
address. -han and .a)uchi both contended at Paracha<s tria) that he was ignorant of their ties to *)
Uaeda.
4uch inte))igence #ay actua))y be worse than use)ess. 2n a >>7 Harvard study of the efficacy of
&ree#&tive nationa);security &ractices, ,essica 4tern and ,onathan Wiener note that Gtaking action
based on)y on worst;case thinking can introduce unforeseen dangers and costsH and &ro&ose that Ga
better a&&roach to #anaging risk invo)ves an assess#ent of the fu)) &ortfo)io of risks L those reduced
by the &ro&osed intervention, as we)) as those increased.H +ather than understanding a)) inte))igence as
actionab)e, they write, Gdecision #akersH shou)d create G#echanis#s to ensure that sensib)e risk
ana)ysis &recedes &recautionary actions.H *t the #o#ent, no such #echanis#s a&&ear to exist. "he
)eader of one (.2 conterterroris# sBuad recent)y to)d the Dew 5ork "i#es that of the 3,3>> terroris#;
re)ated )eads its twenty;one agents had &ursued over the &ast five years, 6ust 3 &ercent were credib)e
and not one had foi)ed an actua) terrorist &)ot. .ut the gathering of inte))igence continues a&ace.
*4 2 "+*E8L8/ fro# -arachi to Lahore to 2s)a#abad, Buestioning fa#i)y #e#bers, )awyers, and
s&ies, 2 heard every &ossib)e story about *afia 4iddiBui. 4he was a we));known extre#ist. 4he was an
104
innocent victi#. 4he was an infor#ant working for the =nited 4tates or Pakistan or both sides at once.
Most &eo&)e continued to be)ieve that she had been arrested by so#eone in >>!, but it was &roving
i#&ossib)e to deter#ine who actua))y a&&rehended her, or who ordered the arrest, or why. 2
interviewed an attorney in Lahore who swore he had seen a ce));&hone video of the arrest that showed
what he be)ieved was a fe#a)e %2* officer s)a&&ing 4iddiBui across the face. *nd as to her
whereabouts before the arrest, the #ost &ersistent account L that she was he)d by the =.4. #i)itary in
.agra# &rison in *fghanistan L e#erged fro# the testi#ony of two for#er detainees, one of who#,
Moa@@a# .egg, was not even at .agra# during the years 4iddiBui was #issing.
'ne afternoon in 2s)a#abad 2 #et a recent)y retired senior Pakistani inte))igence officer who had
&ro#ised, if 2 agreed not to na#e hi#, to answer a)) of #y Buestions. We s&oke at his ho#e, a gated
#ansion in one of the city<s wea)thiest &recincts. He had si)ver hair and a si)ver #ustache, and he wore
a go)d &inky ring fitted with a )arge green stone. When 2 ca))ed to arrange the interview, he initia))y
said he did not know why 4iddiBui had disa&&eared. .ut he had since then contacted a friend at one of
Pakistan<s inte))igence agencies, Ga very good cha&H who had been G&retty senior in the hierarchyH
when 4iddiBui disa&&eared in >>!. Dow, over the custo#ary drinks and cookies, the retired
inte))igence officer recounted their conversation, the u&shot of which was that 4iddiBui had in fact
been &icked u& by Pakistani inte))igence and de)ivered to Gthe friends,H which was shorthand, he said,
for the %2*.
G5ou &eo&)e didn<t have the decency to te)) #e she<d been &icked u&9H he<d asked his co))eague,
referring to the 6urisdictiona) &rob)e#s that &)ague inte))igence agencies around the wor)d. GDo, no, it
was very sudden,H the co))eague re&)ied. G"he friends, they were insisting.H My host to)d #e that such
insistence was irritating and disres&ectfu). G2t was very difficu)t, very e#barrassing for us to turn her
over to you,H he said. G"he decision was #ade at the highest )eve)s. .ush and Musharraf )ike)y wou)d
have known about it. *fter two to three days, we &assed her a)ong to the %2*.H
.y the ti#e our #eeting ended, 2 was convinced that 2 had heard the definitive account if not of
4iddiBui<s rea&&earance then at )east of her disa&&earance L unti), after a fifteen;#inute taxi ride )ater
to a )ess fashionab)e neighborhood, 2 arrived at the ho#e of 4iddiBui<s e)der)y #aterna) unc)e, 4ha#s
u) Hassan (aruBi, a geo)ogist. *s we sat in his ho#e office, surrounded by #a&s and drawings of rock
strata, (aruBi to)d an entire)y different story. He said 4iddiBui showed u& at his house unannounced
one evening in ,anuary >>:, a ti#e when, according to the inte))igence officer 2 had 6ust )eft, she was
su&&osed)y in the hands of the %2*. Her face had been a)tered, (aruBi said, as if she had undergone
&)astic surgery, but he knew her by her voice. 4he said she had been he)d by the Pakistanis and the
*#ericans and was now running o&erations for both of the# against *) Uaeda. 4he had s)i&&ed away
for a few days, though, because she wanted hi# to s#ugg)e her across the border into *fghanistan so
she cou)d seek sanctuary with the "a)iban, #e#bers of which (aruBi had known fro# his years of
#inera) ex&)oration.
* few days )ater 2 heard yet another account, this one fro# *h#ed +ashid, a Pakistani re&orter who
has been writing about the "a)iban and the 242 for thirty years. *s 2 interviewed hi#, we were 6oined
by his three go)den Labradors, who had 6ust been shaved bare to #ake the heat #ore to)erab)e for
the#. +ashid to)d #e that he, too, had heard fro# his sources that the Pakistanis had &icked u&
4iddiBui. .ut instead of handing her direct)y to the %2*, they hung on to her. G2t<s &ossib)e there were
so#e conditions being )aid for her being re)eased which the *#ericans didn<t want to #eet. 4o we
he)d her for a )ong ti#e,H he said. G2 think she was used as a bargaining chi& for so#ething co#&)ete)y
different which we were &issed off about.H
Perha&s the #ost be)ievab)e account ca#e fro# *)i Hasan, senior 4outh *sia researcher for Hu#an
+ights Watch, who# 2 visited at his ho#e in Lahore. GMy &rofessiona) view,H he said, Gis they<re a))
)ying. 4iddiBui<s fa#i)y is )ying, the husband is )ying, the Pakistanis are )ying, the *#ericans are
)ying, for a)) 2 know the kids are )ying. *nd because they<re a)) )ying the truth is &robab)y twenty ti#es
stranger than we a)) know.H
103
'D8 '( "H8 %H28( %'DE8D28D%84 of outsourcing is that certain costs are externa)i@ed.
Po))ution, for instance, is ex&ensive. Manufacturers that &o))ute in the =nited 4tates are reBuired to
bear its cost by &aying a fine. 2f they outsource to a country where the cost of the &o))ution is borne
direct)y by the &eo&)e, they #ake #ore #oney. 4uch a transfer is obvious)y desirab)e fro# the &oint of
view of the #anufacturer, but it often generates &o)itica) unrest in the host country, for reasons that are
eBua))y obvious. "his &heno#enon a&&)ies as we)) when the externa) cost of #anufacturing
inte))igence is &aid in freedo#. "he govern#ents that did the outsourced work of =.4. inte))igence
agencies in &revious dirty wars L in *rgentina and %hi)e, 1uate#a)a and =ruguay L eventua))y were
to&&)ed by &o&u)ar &rotest, in )arge &art because the &eo&)e beca#e aware that their )eaders had
&rofited fro# their suffering. Pakistanis today a&&ear no )ess aware that this ty&e of transaction is
occurring in their country. 2ndeed, a recent &o)) found that the on)y nation they find #ore threatening
than 2ndia, whose nuc)ear #issi)es &oint direct)y at the#, is the =nited 4tates. *nd they have begun to
ho)d their )eaders accountab)e for the association.
"he rising nu#ber of disa&&earances beca#e a decisive &o)itica) issue in >>$, after Pakistan<s
4u&re#e %ourt, under its chief 6ustice, 2ftikhar %haudhry, o&ened hearings on beha)f of the #issing,
de#anding that they a&&ear before the court. "his initiative turned u& the )ocations of 1:7 disa&&eared
&ersons, #any of who# were found in known Pakistani detention centers, inc)uding 2#ran Munir, a
Ma)aysian of Pakistani origin who had been #issing since >>7. /uring Munir<s hearing, it ca#e to
)ight that Pakistani security agents had continued trying to hide hi# even after the court de#anded his
&resence. %haudhry<s efforts to )ocate the disa&&eared were #et with considerab)e resistance fro# the
govern#ent. 2n March >>$, the chief 6ustice hi#se)f was su##oned to a&&ear before Musharraf,
where, with 242 and #i)itary chiefs &resent, he was ordered to resign. %haudhry refused, and so
Musharraf charged hi# with #isconduct and sus&ended hi# fro# office.
2n ,u)y >>$, a &ane) of thirteen 6udges reinstated %haudhry, who Buick)y returned to his
investigation of the disa&&eared. "his ti#e, he warned, he wou)d order the heads of the security
agencies the#se)ves to testify. He a)so su##oned 2#ran Munir once again, but before Munir cou)d
a&&ear, Musharraf dec)ared a state of e#ergency and &ut %haudhry under house arrest. Lawyers
around Pakistan, horrified to see the chief 6ustice so f)agrant)y hu#i)iated, rose u& to de#and his
reinstate#ent. "he Lawyers< Move#ent, as it ca#e to be known, was soon e#braced by hundreds of
thousands of Pakistani citi@ens, who #arched in #assive &rotests, and Musharraf, in the end, was the
one who had to resign.
"he current &resident, *sif *)i Tardari, gained considerab)e #o#entu# in his e)ection ca#&aign by
&)edging to reinstate %haudhry. .ut once in office, he hesitated to fo))ow through on that &)edge, )ike)y
because he was concerned that the court wou)d reo&en a series of corru&tion cases against hi#. "he
#arches grew )arger, though, and on March 17, >>0, whi)e 2 ha&&ened to be in Pakistan, Tardari
fina))y reinstated %haudhry, a)ong with severa) other si#i)ar)y de&osed 6ustices.
2 6oined the hundreds of su&&orters gathered at the chief 6ustice<s house in 2s)a#abad. (a#i)ies ca#e
with chi)dren, &eo&)e waved &)acards that bore %haudhry<s i#age, and a #arching band with bag&i&es
&)ayed. %haudhry had a)ways #aintained that his strugg)e was )ega), not &o)itica), but the scene had a))
the #arkings of a &ost;ca#&aign victory ce)ebration. 2 #ade #y way a)ong the receiving )ine unti) 2
reached %haudhry, who was surrounded by the )eaders of the Lawyers< Move#ent. He had been
shaking hands for severa) hours, but 2 thought 2 wou)d try to ask a Buestion. When 2 reached hi#, 2
took his hand and asked hi# when he &)anned to take u& the #issing;&erson cases with which his
na#e had beco#e synony#ous. He &aused, as if &arsing the &o)itica) conseBuences of his answer. G2
don<t know,H he fina))y said, and gigg)ed unco#fortab)y as his hand)ers, )ooking eBua))y
unco#fortab)e, hust)ed #e down the )ine.
107
2" 24 "H8 4H''"2D1, odd)y enough, that has generated the #ost detai)ed evidence about
4iddiBui<s &resent circu#stances. *fter the confrontation in 1ha@ni, she was cho&&ered by air
a#bu)ance to the %raig ,oint "heater Hos&ita) at .agra# air base L the sa#e base, of course, where
she #ay or #ay not once have been a &risoner. Her #edica) intake record notes that she was a three on
the fifteen;&oint 1)asgow %o#a 4ca)e, #eaning she was a)#ost dead. "he surgeons o&ened her u&
fro# breastbone to be))ybutton, searching for bu))ets. "hey cut out twenty centi#eters of her s#a))
intestine. "hey a)so gave her transfusions of red b)ood ce))s and fresh fro@en &)ate)ets and dosed her
with c)otting #edication, which suggests she had ex&erienced heavy b)ood )oss. G(.2 agents in roo#
with &atient at a)) ti#es,H the #edica) record stated. GPatient is in four;&oint restraints.H 2n the s&an of
6ust two weeks she went fro# near c)inica) death to being dee#ed G#edica))y stab)e and ca&ab)e of
confine#ent.H "he doctor witnessed every detai) of her recovery. G/etai)s of &ertinent #edica)
findings: Eery thin, sa))ow co)oring, dry cracked )i&s,H and a)so Gf)at affect, crying at ti#es.H
(ro# that &oint forward, however, the c)arity of #edica) detai) is c)ouded by )ega) concerns.
4iddiBui had no )awyer during her two weeks at .agra# or on her f)ight to the =nited 4tates. "he day
after she )anded, she was in a Manhattan courtroo#, facing charges of atte#&ted #urder. 2n a))owing
her to be trans&orted to the =nited 4tates without even a consu)ar visit, her own govern#ent,
notwithstanding its &ub)ic &ronounce#ents of su&&ort and ca))s for re&atriation, effective)y gave her
u& without a fight. "he Pakistani e#bassy eventua))y hired a tea# of three attorneys to aug#ent her
two existing &ub)ic defenders, but 4iddiBui refused to work with the#. /uring a &rison &hone ca)) in
,une, she to)d her brother, G2 6ust &rotest against this who)e &rocess and don<t want to &artici&ate.H
"he on)y &eo&)e 4iddiBui see#ed to trust, strange)y, were the (.2 agents who sat by her bedside at
.agra#, and whose &resence she re&eated)y reBuested in the a&&arent be)ief that if on)y she cou)d
s&eak to the# for a #o#ent she cou)d c)ear everything u&. *ccording to notes taken by the agents, she
was vo)ub)e during those ear)y days of her detention in *fghanistan. 4he said she G#ade so#e bad
decisions in the &ast, but #ost)y did so out of naivety.H 2n contrast to her )ater state#ents, she
confir#ed that she was #arried to *##ar a) .a)uchi, who# she #et when his sister rented a roo# at
her #other<s house, and that .a)uchi had asked her to he)& his friend Ma6id -han with his
i##igration &rob)e#. 4he ad#itted having &ossession of che#ica)s inc)uding sodiu# cyanide at the
ti#e of her ca&ture, though Gnot for nefarious &ur&oses,H and she said that she had been Gin Shiding<
for the )ast five yearsH and Gaware that various )aw enforce#ent agencies had been )ooking for her.H
4he had )itt)e to say about her chi)dren. G4he finds it easier to &resu#e the# dead,H the agents noted.
4he a)so vo)unteered to beco#e a =.4. inte))igence GassetH in the ho&e that she cou)d find the Gtruth to
the inner de&ths.H
2t is uncertain what the defense<s theory of the case wi)) be when 4iddiBui goes on tria) this
Dove#ber. Perha&s, as one of her )awyers to)d #e, she never even touched the gun. Perha&s she acted
in se)f;defense. 'r &erha&s, as another of her )awyers c)ai#ed at an ear)y hearing, Gshe<s cra@y.H 2n
this )ast #atter, a#biguity is once again the ru)e. (our &rison &sychiatrists exa#ined 4iddiBui. "wo of
the# deter#ined she was #a)ingering, the faked i))ness being insanity. * third said she was de)usiona)
and that her behavior was Gdia#etrica))y o&&osed to everything we know about the c)inica)
&resentation of #a)ingerers,H and the fourth &sychiatrist initia))y diagnosed her as de&ressive L and
&ossib)y &sychotic L but )ater switched to the #a)ingering ca#&. 4iddiBui<s own contribution to the
debate ca#e in the for# of a ra#b)ing )etter, written )ast ,u)y to G*)) *#ericans )oya) to the =.4.*.,H
in which she &roc)ai#ed her innocence, decried the &ro&aganda being s&un against her by the
GTionist;contro))ed =.4. #edia,H and a))eged that she s&ent years in a &rison Gcontro))ed by the
S*#ericans,< of the kind that contro) the =.4. #edia.H Later that #onth the court ru)ed that she G#ay
have so#e #enta) hea)th issuesH but that she was fit enough to stand tria).
*afia 4iddiBui is not &resent)y charged with any act of terroris#, nor is she accused of cons&iring
with terrorists or giving co#fort to terrorists. Her tria) is un)ike)y to yie)d satisfactory answers about
where she was, who &icked her u& and why, or even who she rea))y is. Maybe she was working for the
=nited 4tates, or Pakistan, or #aybe she was 6ust in the =nited 4tates )ooking for a 6ob and co##itted
10$
a #inor bit of i##igration fraud that cata)y@ed a vio)ent farce. 'ne (.2 officia) to)d _=.4. Dews R
Wor)d +e&ort _in >>!, G"here<s a distinct &ossibi)ity she was 6ust a victi#.H Perha&s *afia 4iddiBui is
gui)ty of nothing #ore than &oor choice in #en. We si#&)y do not know, and the syste# in which she
has found herse)f ensures that neither wi)) her ca&tors.
"H8 P8+4'D WH' see#ed best ab)e to ex&)ain what rea))y ha&&ened to 4iddiBui, her sister,
(ow@ia, re#ained e)usive unti) #y )ast day in Pakistan. *t our first #eeting she had &ro#ised to &u))
together a)) sorts of evidence of her sister<s innocence, but by the ti#e she fina))y agreed to #eet
again, #y bags were &acked and #y &)ane 6ust hours fro# de&arture.
4he said she avoided #e a)) these weeks because she<d been to)d by G#u)ti&)e &eo&)eH that 2 worked
for the %2*. G*)) you want are docu#ents,H she said. G2 6ust want so#eone who can )isten.H "hen she
dragged out a fa#i)y &hoto a)bu# and started showing #e &ictures of her sister with various ani#a)s:
goats, a ca#e), the fa#i)y cat. G*afia )oved ani#a)s,H she said.
"hen she o&ened a #ore for#a) binder. 4he f)i&&ed to a grainy &hotoco&y of a wo#an )ying on a
bed. "he wo#an bore a striking rese#b)ance to 4iddiBui, on)y she )ooked younger and softer, as if
she<d been airbrushedK sitting at her bedside was a young #an L (ow@ia wou)dn<t say who L and
#ounted on a wa)) behind her was what a&&eared to be the sea) of the =nited 4tates govern#ent. "he
sea), (ow@ia said, &roved the &icture was taken in .agra#, but she wou)dn<t say why it &roved this,
and before 2 cou)d ins&ect the i#age any further she f)i&&ed the &age and wou)dn<t )et #e )ook at it
again. G2<d )ove it if a rea) investigator wou)d co#e and devote hi#se)f to the case,H she said. G5ou
know, rea))y work on it.H
10:
%fterword by >etra 'artosiewic8
*afia<s case was fro# the start an enor#ous)y intriguing #ystery. 4he was one of the #ost
wanted wo#en in the War on "error, she<d gone #issing for five years, and then she<d sudden)y
rea&&eared under bi@arre circu#stances. 2 first started fo))owing the case in >>: when she
showed u& in a federa) courtroo# in Dew 5ork %ity charged with the atte#&ted #urder of =.4.
so)diers in *fghanistan. "here were ru#ors that she<d been he)d in secret by Pakistani or =.4.
inte))igence during her #issing years. 5et here she was, in the #idd)e of a bi@arre shooting case,
with no terroris# charges being brought against her. 2 saw her case as an o&&ortunity to ex&)ore
our inte))igence gathering syste# in the War on "error, and the &ub)ic court record and her tria)
&rovided a window into this nor#a))y very secret wor)d.
"erroris# cases unfo)d with great secrecy in the =.4. -ey docu#ents are often sea)ed by 6udges
or withhe)d in the na#e of nationa) security by )aw enforce#ent and inte))igence agencies, and
are therefore shie)ded fro# the &ub)ic, or even, in so#e instances, the defense attorneys and
&rosecutors. 'ne of the ways to obtain &ub)ic records has traditiona))y been through the
(reedo# of 2nfor#ation *ct I('2*J, which has been around since 1077 and has served as a
&owerfu) investigative too) for both 6ourna)ists and the &ub)ic at )arge. 4o#eti#es when
agencies dec)ine to &rovide the reBuested infor#ation, 6ourna)ists have to resort to )ega) action.
Large news organi@ations have staff attorneys devoted to &ursuing (reedo# of 2nfor#ation
reBuests in the courts, but free)ancers or s#a))er &ub)ications have found )ega) su&&ort by
&artnering with grou&s that )itigate these issues, for exa#&)e the *#erican %ivi) Liberties
=nion, which does a )ot of its own records reBuests on a wide range of issues. 'f course, not a))
ty&es of infor#ation are sub6ect to ('2*, and those guide)ines vary by country. "his was the
situation with *afia<s case, where the )arge)y c)assified nature of the records 2 was seeking
#eant that fi)ing ('2* reBuests wou)d have been un)ike)y to yie)d #uch usefu) infor#ation.
/es&ite a)) the secrecy, there was a)so a co&ious &ub)ic record. 2n addition to the tria) transcri&t
and court docu#ents, by the ti#e 2 began #y re&orting there were hundreds of news artic)es 2
cou)d refer to on *afia<s case, both do#estic and internationa). When 2 found sources that )inked
*afia to a nu#ber of detainees at 1uantana#o, 2 read &ub)ic)y avai)ab)e re&orts on detention
conditions, and the #e#oirs of so#e of the detainees the#se)ves, which contained detai)s on the
network of re)ationshi&s that #ade *afia so interesting to )aw enforce#ent. "o get a better
understanding of the broader context in which her case was situated, 2 read u& on how the g)oba)
War on "error was being fought by =.4. and Pakistani inte))igence agencies I&articu)ar)y he)&fu)
were 4teve %o))<s Dhost 0ars, Lawrence Wright<s 'he Looming 'ower, ,ane Mayer<s 'he -ark
Side, and *h#ed +ashid<s -escent into 2haosJ.
2<ve found that for docu#ent research the 2nternet is a great resource, es&ecia))y in the ear)y
&hase of re&orting, but it<s on)y the ti& of the iceberg. "o this end, research )ibrarians are one of
the wor)d<s #ost undera&&reciated assets. "hey know where a)) the data is hidden. 2f you<re
working a beat, it<s usefu) to know what records are avai)ab)e in your sub6ect area. "hat said,
#ost of #y re&orting ha&&ens through interviews, which 2 &refer to do face to face whenever
&ossib)e. My ru)e is, take detai)ed notes and f)esh the# out as soon as 2 can after the interview.
"a)king to as #any &eo&)e as &ossib)e is the best way to ensure you<)) get )ucky in ter#s of
finding good sources. 2t<s often that )ast &hone ca)) on the )ist that )eads to the best infor#ation.
"hat<s why 2 a)ways ask &eo&)e who# 2 interview, who e)se can 2 ta)k to9
.efore 2 start writing, the out)ine is key. 2 can<t write a story un)ess 2 know where it<s heading.
"he biggest difficu)ty in writing about *afia<s case was figuring out how to fra#e a story that
did not fit the traditiona) investigative re&orting #o)d L we knew fro# the start that the
)ike)ihood that we wou)d uncover Gwhat rea))y ha&&enedH to *afia and her chi)dren was s)i#. 2n
100
this sense 2 was fortunate to work with a ski))ed editor who he)&ed #e to turn the #ystery of
*afia<s case into a broader inBuiry into the vagaries of our syste# of inte))igence gathering in
the =.4.
>>
#. Hearts4 minds and the same o"d war"ords
Ao up close to what$s happening in %fghanistan 7 for e)ample, in the city of
=andahar 7 and you find crime, corruption, tribal conflict and ordinary people
powerless to resist the armed might of the militias. 2o happy ending is in sight
by Stephen Drey
Introduction. 'he most influential war correspondent of the second half of the 9:th century was
surely Michael Herr who through his book /is&atches and his in%ol%ement in the films
*&oca)y&se Dow and (u)) Meta) ,acket defined the reality of the Qietnam 0ar as well as it
could be defined for anyone who wasn,t in it. Stephen Drey,s work 6much of which is collected
at http#MMwww.stephengrey.com7 reminds me of Herr in its rich te3ture its immersion in the
en%ironment of war and in the people who make and li%e in war. But Drey,s ambitions go
beyond Herr,s stunningly intimate portraits of ordinary soldiers. Drey is also seeking the
strategic implications of the acts and personalities he co%ers. Herr,s war seemed endless fro@en
in e3hiliration and horror. Drey is always pointing to what comes ne3t. His afterword can be
read among other things as a reminder of how singular and personal reporting can be. I,ll
admit it# Drey rejects key tenets of in%estigati%e reporting that I support. 'hough he has a
method of writing it doesn,t rely on organising factsA it relies on absorbing them. 'hat surely
e3plains why his work seems abo%e all deeply felt. 0e differ on another major point. I
personally think that in%estigati%e reporting is meant to change things. Drey doesn,t allow
himself that illusion. 'hat is refreshingly honest when you,%e heard the directors of
documentaries on %arious wars declare as they accept a pri@e EIf this film helps stop wars I
will be glad.F So would we all but it won,t happen. Drey knows that but it doesn,t keep him
from trying to understand the phenomenon of war in our time.
5irst published in Le Monde /i&)o#atiBue &uly I 9:<:.
-andahar, *fghanistan. We visited the snooker c)ub at the -andahar %offee 4ho&. 2t didn<t se))
coffee. *nd 2 can<t &)ay snooker. 4o we ordered burgers and fi)#ed street )ife fro# the terrace: the
traffic went around the roundabout and a #anic f)ock of doves circ)ed a hundred feet above. =4
so)diers drove by in huge ar#oured trucks, &o)ice#en sto&&ed white "oyota %oro))as and searched
their trunks for bo#bs, and gun#en of every s&ecies drove around in their 4=Es and &icku& trucks.
+ound the corner was our hote). Ha)f of it was destroyed ear)ier this year when a #an wa)ked &ast,
&ushing a bo#b on a cart. He was heading for another target but when cha))enged by &o)ice, he and
his cart L and the side of the hote) L were b)own u&. "he bo#b was detonated by the &o)ice#en<s
shots. "he hote) owner is busy rebui)ding. He<s ex&ecting an inf)ux of 6ourna)ists and trade when Dato
conducts what unti) )ate)y was ca))ed the Gsu##er offensiveH or even Gthe batt)e for -andaharH but
now, causing confusion, is 6ust a Gco#&)ex #i)itary;&o)itica) effortH.
8veryone is sti)) &)aying u& the ga#e in )ine with a recent *.% Dews head)ine, G%a#&aign for
-andahar May .e *#erica<s Last %hance to Win 'ver *fghansH. 'n a visit to -andahar, *d#ira)
Mike Mu))en, the chair#an of the =4 6oint chiefs of staff, described the city as Gas critica) in
*fghanistan as .aghdad was in 2raB in the surgeH.
4ad)y for the =4, a)#ost everyone su&&orts the "a)iban rebe)s. 8ven Dato co##anders. * senior
officer said: G2f 2 was a young #an, 2<d be fighting with the "a)iban.H 2n this heart)and of the Pashtun
&eo&)e, the idea of being a stooge to foreigners or an un&o&u)ar -abu) govern#ent hard)y a&&ea)s to
the young un)ess there<s serious #oney invo)ved. "hey ask the#se)ves if they want to take the #oney
>1
and work with foreigners, or fight and risk a courageous death. Most &eo&)e )oathe those who work
with the govern#ent.
2 #et a &rofessiona) #an in his 3>s, a generation that do#inates the ad#inistration Ithey were in
their >s when the +ussians were hereJ. He has a )ong f)owing beard. G"hat<s because he<s a
co##unist,H said #y *fghan co#&anion. G"he &eo&)e that 24*( a&&oint, #ost of the# are
co##unists.H I24*( is the 2nternationa) 4ecurity *ssistance (orce, the Dato #ission in *fghanistan.J
G"hey su&&ort Lenin and Marx9H GDo, not at a)), but they were the ones that co))aborated with the
+ussians. We ca)) the# the co##unists.H
G"hey<re sti)) in &ower9H G5es, they )ike working with foreigners. "hey<re a)) co##unists. Many of
the# got educated in +ussian too. We a)) des&ise the#.H
G*nd the beard9H G'h they do )ike their beards. "hey<re trying to cover u& their &ast.H
Who is fighting whom:
2n the coffee sho& 2 ta)ked with #y *fghan &artner;in;cri#e, with #e to #ake a fi)#, about whether
anyone rea))y has any idea of who is fighting who. "here are &)enty of assassinations, kidna&&ings and
bo#b b)asts. "he 6ourna)ists, who )ike a straightforward narrative, b)a#e the "a)iban. .ut )oca)s say
there are other darker forces at work, inc)uding cri#e bosses and the ar#ed #i)itias of war)ords in
)eague with the govern#ent.
(or Dato so)diers, the fight is confusing. 1enera) 4tan)ey Mc%hrysta) L their co##ander unti)
President .arack 'ba#a acce&ted his forced resignation )ast #onth, the resu)t of his candour L to)d
the troo&s that, in the counter;insurgency ca#&aign, their &ri#ary goa) is not to ki)) or even defeat the
"a)iban but rather to secure the &o&u)ation. "he ene#y is not even the "a)iban, said Ma6or;1enera)
Dick %arter, the .ritish genera) in charge of the -andahar ca#&aign, but rather a G#a)ign inf)uenceH,
a code for corru&t govern#ent. Mc%hrysta) was un&o&u)ar with his troo&s. "o &rotect the &o&u)ation,
he asked the# to avoid the esca)ation of force L firing on cars that a&&ear to be charging towards =4
convoys, or #aking night raids at nights on ho#es.
2 asked a =4 sergeant, when 2 6oined his =4 convoy heading down a road near the city, about
Mc%hrysta). G/on<t get #e started,H he said. 2 got hi# started: G2<# 6ust not going to risk the )ives of
#y #en. 2<# not going to )et the# down. 2f they<re in danger we<re going to &rotect ourse)ves.H .ut
what had been wrong with Mc%hrysta)9 GHe doesn<t understand this &)ace. He doesn<t rea)ise that
&eo&)e don<t res&ect weakness out here at a)). We<re not gonna win )ike this.H
;6o government here9
(ro# the rhetoric of co##anders, you #ight be)ieve that Dato and the "a)iban were fighting on the
sa#e side L natura) a))ies even as they are riva)s to de)iver security for the &eo&)e fight corru&tion.
"hat is the theory. .ut, in rea)ity, the #ain effort of tens of thousands of =4 troo&s is to find ways to
ki)) or beat the "a)iban. "he troo&s are bri))iant fighters, and often very &rinci&)ed. .ut, however hard
they try, they are not good anthro&o)ogists or deve)o&#ent ex&erts. *nd when they fight, they do so
on)y by consent of the *fghan govern#ent they say is corru&t.
Dowhere are these contradictions #ore evident than in -andahar. G2f we to)d you what<s rea))y
ha&&ening here, we wou)d not )ast the night,H said an e)der of the &rovince, s&eaking to President
Ha#id -ar@ai at a triba) gathering in the city. *nother added: G2t<s too easy to b)a#e the "a)iban.H
4hahida Hussein, a hu#an rights activist, said the govern#ent and Dato are in )eague with the bad
guys: G2f so#eone ki))s so#eone, the govern#ent itse)f says don<t touch hi#, don<t bother hi#, he<s
our friend, he<s our re)ative, he has a connection with us. "here is no rea) govern#ent here. -andahar
is run by &eo&)e in the drugs trade, ar#ed with wea&ons and backed by foreign countries.H
>
2 asked (a)aB 4afi, a senior investigating &rosecutor in the city who was the bigger threat to security,
the #i)itias or the "a)iban9 He answered: G2t<s hard to say[ 4o#eti#es the threats are fro# the
"a)iban, but #ost)y they are fro# &eo&)e whose own interests are being under#ined. Peo&)e are #ore
afraid of the &rivate #i)itia and those who have i))ega) wea&ons.H
Hearing that senti#ent, and often, #akes it co#&rehensib)e why the "a)iban see# )ike the so)ution.
"he #ove#ent was a born in a vi))age 6ust outside -andahar and fro# &eo&)e<s need to co#bat
corru&tion, restore basic security and a cohesive govern#ent, and have ru)ers who obeyed #ora) and
re)igious &rinci&)es. "hey fought the sa#e war)ords who have now returned, and who ru)e with what
a&&ears to a)) as the b)essing of the =4.
'n a drive to the #ain Dato base inside the city, the Provincia) +econstruction "ea#, where
deve)o&#ent and G#entoringH are coordinated, we &assed wide gates that )ed into a )arge #i)itary
base. 'ur taxi driver to)d us this was the Gco##ando co#&oundHK it had a dead dog hanging on a ro&e
fro# an outside wa)). "he base is run by a &rivate #i)itia, an ar#ed force said to be contro))ed by
*khtar Moha#ed, accused of being hench#an to *h#ed Wa)i -ar@ai, the brother of President Ha#id
-ar@ai. *W-, as he is known by Dato, or -, as he is ca))ed by others, has the re&utation of a #afia
godfather L accused of raking #oney fro# coa)ition contracts, running inti#idation rackets, sBuatting
govern#ent )and, and being a king&in in the heroin trade. He denies it a)) and says he is a victi# of
)ibe) by his ene#ies.
Mi)itias are everywhere. 8ven the P+" and other Dato bases are guarded by #i)itias.
* senior figure to)d us his ne&hew had 6ust been recruited to work with the *#ericans, and had been
a))ocated X!7# to recruit #i)itias round -andahar &rovince. G'f course he<s working with the
war)ords. "hey<re the ones who wi)) su&&)y a)) the &eo&)e. He has to get invo)ved with the worst kind
of cri#ina)s.H
"he ta)k at vi))age #eetings is what the *#ericans ca)) the G)oca) defence initiativeH or L/2. "he
&eo&)e ca)) the# #i)itias. "here are co#&)aints that these forces extort #oney and arrest &eo&)e. *n
e)der in the *rghandab district, near -andahar, said: G"hese #i)itia are fro# )oca) tribes. "hey don<t
care about their country. "hey are 6ust concerned about #oney. .ecause of these )oca) #i)itia our
govern#ent is not i#&roving. 4ecurity is worse now.H *t another shura Icounci) #eetingJ at a =4
base, we heard: GWe can<t te)) who<s #i)itia or "a)ibanK they<re a)) ho)ding guns, they don<t have
unifor#.H *n *fghan *r#y co##ander, working with the *#ericans, had a so)ution: set u& a #i)itia
to hand)e security. HLook, you know the good and bad guys in your vi))age. 2t<s entire)y u& to you how
you ru)e the#. 2<)) su&&ort you and &rovide you wea&ons and sa)ary. *t )east &rovide security for
yourse)f. H
+han'e en'ounters on"y
+ather than sca)ing back, the =4 is ex&anding the #i)itias. 4o#e aren<t i#&ressed: G2 was with the
ar#y for two years and so the "a)iban beca#e #y ene#y. 2 a# afraid of the#. Dow you say you wi))
give #e a gun L but to#orrow you wi)) take it away. .y then 2 wi)) have even #ore ene#ies.H
We fi)#ed that #i)itia, who )ooked "a)iban exce&t they had no beards and wore f)uorescent ye))ow
be)ts over their shou)ders, and a red rags on their rif)es, to distinguish the# fro# the ene#y. 'ne of
their )eaders said they are inde&endent of the *#ericans and aren<t &aid by the#. G"hey have asked us
to 6oin the# but we said no. We work with the# so#eti#es but on)y for the sake of our vi))age.
8veryone here is ha&&y with us, if you have any doubt then you can go and ask the &eo&)e fro# these
vi))ages.H
2 was going to ta)k to =4 4&ecia) (orces, since #any sensib)e &eo&)e argue this )oca) so)ution to the
"a)iban is an essentia) way forward. .ut the visit was cance))ed. 'n)y Gchance encountersH are
a))owed with 4&ecia) (orces. *ny G&re;&)annedH interviews have to be a&&roved at a high )eve), and 2
>!
wasn<t a&&roved. "oo sensitive a to&ic. "he ter# G#i)itiaH is a dirty word, suggesting &ara#i)itaries in
centra) *#erica and 2raB, i#&)ying these #en are Girregu)arH and outside the regu)ar structures of the
*fghan govern#ent.
2n -andahar, we #et an *fghan working with the 1reen .erets who said the &rocess was being
conducted in secret. G"hese #i)itias have not yet been introduced to the *fghan govern#ent,H he said.
G"hey obey our orders, *#erican orders. =n)ike President -ar@ai, who does his own thing.H %o)one)
Wayne 4hanks, chief of &ub)ic affairs for the =4 *r#y in *fghanistan, to)d #e: G24*( and =4 4&ecia)
'&erations (orces do not su&&ort #i)itia grou&s. We are acute)y aware of the history of #i)itias in this
country and re#ain confident that any security &rogra##e #ust be connected to the govern#ent.H *s
for the L/2, Gthis is &ure)y a defensive &rogra##e,H said 4hanks. G"he vi))agers are not &aid nor do
they have the authority to #ake arrests. 2f vi))agers detect insurgent activity, they notify *fghan &o)ice
or 24*( forces. 'ur infor#ation indicates that #e#bers of this &rogra##e are se)ected by vi))age
e)ders, wear distinctive ref)ective be)ts and are know by vi))age residents.H
.ehind this is a serious but sensitive debate about what kind of security force can be successfu) in
this war. (ew are convinced that the corru&t *fghan &o)ice or the "a6ik;do#inated, northern;biased
*fghan Dationa) *r#y can Bue)) this rebe))ion in the Pashtun;do#inated south. Mi)itary b)ogs and
6ourna)s are fu)) of artic)es by s&ecia) o&erations officers on the Buest for a Gthird forceH, &erha&s
different triba) forces that can &reserve security when =4 troo&s start to withdraw in >11 4o#e of the
*#erican 4&ecia) (orce units, &articu)ar)y the 1reen .erets, have a history of raising and working
with irregu)ar units. "hey were set u& by President -ennedy to do this in Eietna#.
What few have gras&ed is that the switch fro# an Gene#y;focusedH conventiona) #i)itary ca#&aign
to a G&o&u)ation;focusedH counter;insurgency I%'2DJ ca#&aign is not a soft o&tion. "he doctrine of
%'2D, e#erging fro# Ma)aysia, Eietna#, '#an and centra) *#erica, e#&hasises not on)y overt
#easures to win the hearts of the &o&u)ation. %'2D a)so #eans security #easures to contro) dissent
and se&arate the &o&u)ation fro# the insurgents. 2t has #eant #assive forced #igration, death sBuads
and #i)itias.
2 hear sensib)e &eo&)e ta)king of winning this war Gone tribe at a ti#eH with the use of irregu)ar
forces. Loca)s re#e#ber the +ussians tried to use #i)itias too, as they tried to &ro& u& the )ast
co##unist &ri#e #inister, Moha##ad Da6ibu))ah. Whatever is done has to be done very carefu))y.
"he concern in -andahar is that the creation of these forces, whatever the intentions, wi)) #ean
handing back guns to the bad o)d war)ords.
Who is in 'ontro":
2f not the "a)iban, who is rea))y in contro)9 Dervous )oca) 6ourna)ists reca)) a re&orter, ,awed G,o6oH
*h#ad ,o6o, who asked too #any Buestions about #i)itias and their )inks to *#ericans. "hey c)ai#ed
that first he was sent to .agra# airbase, then he was re)eased but wou)dn<t kee& his #outh shut. 4o
eventua))y he was ki))ed, not far fro# our hote). "he re&orters a)so #entioned a co))eague, *bdu)
4a#ad +ohani, a ..% stringer in Lashkah 1ah, the ca&ita) of neighbouring He)#and. He was digging
into the connections between the *fghan &o)ice, )oca) #i)itias and the drugs trade. "he &o)ice chief at
the ti#e was said to have warned hi# off. "hen he was ki))ed.
.ut there is no &roof of these connections. We tried to find out about the #ost notorious cri#e
co##itted by a #i)itia in -andahar, the #urder in ,une >>0 of the chief of &o)ice, Matiu))ah Uateh. 2t
was officia))y investigated by a &rosecutor based in -abu) and that has &rovided rare c)arity about a
#i)itia force known as the -andahar 4trike (orce.
"his is what we discovered: Uateh was gunned down in broad day)ight a)ong with other senior
&o)ice#en, by a #i)itia, based at the =4 4&ecia) (orces and %2* base known as %a#& 1ecko, around
the for#er ho#e of the "a)iban su&re#e )eader, Mu))ah '#ar. "he #i)itia had gone with =4;su&&)ied
unifor#s, wea&ons and vehic)es to a )oca) courthouse to try to force &rosecutors to re)ease one of their
>4
#e#bers fro# 6ai). .rigadier;1enera) 1hu)a# +an6bar, a senior #i)itary &rosecutor in -abu) who
investigated the case, to)d us he had issued an arrest warrant for a =4 4&ecia) (orces co##ander,
known on)y to hi# as G,ohnH or G,onnyH. He said a)) the #i)itia #e#bers arrested after the ki))ing had
c)ai#ed ,onny sanctioned the raid to free their i#&risoned co#rade. IHe did not suggest the
*#ericans ordered or a&&roved the ki))ings, but said they were gui)ty of creating an out)aw unit and
had refused to coo&erate with his investigation.J
*ccording to his investigation, and other witnesses in -andahar, the #i)itia fro# %a#& 1ecko cou)d
never have )eft the base in fu)) unifor# un)ess their #ission had been a&&roved. .ut a =4 s&okes#an
said: GDo =4 or coa)ition forces were invo)ved in the attackK the guards were not acting on beha)f of
=4 or internationa) forces.H
+an6bar said: G2f you go to -andahar, &eo&)e say these guys &retend to be inter&reters but carry out
night raids and assassinations.H *nd the #i)itia who carried out the raid were not 6ust a tea# of guards
fro# %a#& 1ecko. 2nstead the #en invo)ved c)ai#ed to be integrated into 4&ecia) (orce activities,
&artici&ating in arrest raids on ene#y targets by day or night.
We had been to)d about a #ore recent death, of a young #an, ,anan *bdu))ah, !, who was ki))ed by
grenade and gunfire, and his wife &ara)ysed, during a raid )ast Dove#ber )ed by *#erican so)diers,
according to *bdu))ah<s fa#i)y. "hey said the *fghans did the shooting. GWe were sur&rised. 2t was
our own &eo&)e L Pashtuns L doing this to us. "hey were so crue) to us. We thought not even the
*#ericans can be this crue). 2t was those fro# our own country doing this to us.H
"he fa#i)y said they had no idea why their ho#e or ,anan was targeted. "hey heard )ater it was a
#istake. * =4 s&okes#an cou)d find no record of the incident. .ut the inde&endent hu#an rights
investigators who studied the case )inked the force invo)ved to %a#& 1ecko. "his was a)so where
in6ured fa#i)y #e#bers were taken.
/very "a'e has a king
*h#ed Wa)i -ar@ai<s na#e was the one we heard #ost often. G8very &)ace has a king and you know
better than #e who is king of -andahar,H said 4hahid Hussein. G2t is *h#ed Wa)i -ar@ai, and he is not
doing it 6ust because he is the brother of the &residentK he is doing it because he is backed by the
*#ericans.H
Loca)s ex&)ained that the two &owerfu) tribes in the city are the Po&a)@ais, )ed by the -ar@ai fa#i)y,
and the .arak@ai, )ed effective)y by the fa#i)y of the for#er governor of -andahar, 1u)ab *gha
4her@ai, whose #i)itia 6oined =4 4&ecia) (orces in ca&turing the city in >>1. *)though 4her@ai is
now based in the eastern city of ,a)a)abad as governor of Dangahar &rovince, he retains inf)uence and
his brother, Ma6or;1enera) *bdu) +a@ik 4her@ai, re#ains in -andahar, doub)ing as a head of a
construction co#&any and a wing co##ander of the *fghan *ir (orce.
.oth the -ar@ais and the 4her@ais are said to #ono&o)ise )ucrative contracts with Dato L fro#
renting )and and bui)dings to coa)ition troo&s, to furnishing su&&)ies and staff, i#&)e#enting vast
deve)o&#ent &ro6ects, &roviding inte))igence to agencies )ike the %2* and guarding coa)ition bases and
Dato su&&)y convoys. *nd &roviding #i)itias to work beside 4&ecia) (orces. * &o)ice co##ander said:
G"his is a triba) war here. "he &eo&)e su&&ort the "a)iban because certain tribes are seen to get a)) the
6obs and a)) the inf)uence.H
-ar@ai was first #entioned to #e when a grou& of vi))agers arrived a &o)ice station and started
haranguing the )oca) &o)ice chief. "hey c)ai#ed an ar#ed war)ord was trying to evict the# and
bu))do@e their vi))age. "he )and be)onged officia))y to the govern#ent. *nd the co##ander was both a
re)ative to, and acted in the na#e of, *h#ed Wa)i -ar@ai.
*khthar Moha#ed, the #an who ran the Gco##ando baseH, is said to work for the -ar@ais: he was
first to arrive at the scene of the #urder of the &o)ice chief and his exact ro)e was never c)ear. He has
>3
never been arrested over the ki))ing. 4ources we interviewed inside the #i)itias said Moha#ed &)ayed
a key ro)e in recruiting the gun#en who worked with the *#ericans. He was a Po&a)@ai and ca#e
fro# the -ar@ai ho#e vi))age of -ar@. 4enior Dato co##anders, off the record, ca)) hi# a G#a)ign
actorH, but the =4 in -andahar is tota))y de&endent on hi#, and =4 contractors and s&ecia) force
co##anders regu)ar)y visit his ho#e.
Power va'uum
*fter Uateh<s #urder, 41 #e#bers of the -andahar 4trike (orce were arrested and 6ai)ed. *)) have
now been convicted, so#e given death sentences. *h#ed Wa)i was organising a ca#&aign for the# to
be re)eased on a#nesty. (a#i)ies of the victi#s had been &ersuaded to sign an a&&ea) for c)e#ency.
.ut !>> other #e#bers of the #i)itia were sti)) free. *h#ed Wa)i confir#ed in a te)e&hone
conversation that he su&&orted an a#nesty. He said he had no invo)ve#ent in #i)itias and there were
none in -andahar. "he city was under the ru)e of )aw. -ar@ai berated #e fro# not co#ing to see hi#
whi)e 2 was in -andahar.
* senior )awyer at a courthouse said it was a stressfu) ti#e as an ins&ection tea# had arrived fro#
-abu): there were a))egations that they were de#anding a bribe of tens of thousands of do))ars.
'fficia)s in the &rosecutor<s office co#&)ained the bi)) was too high: G.usiness is not that good. We<re
not getting that #uch in.H "he senior )awyer was )aughing because he had heard the .ritish were
going to Buit He)#and and co#e to -andahar. G"his is great news. 5ou have done such a great 6ob and
have beaten the ene#y.H
When the .ritish ca#e to He)#and in >>7, they arranged beforehand for the governor of the
&rovince, 4her Moha#ed *khund@ada, to be re#oved fro# his 6ob. Like *h#ed Wa)i, he was a
war)ord accused of invo)ve#ent in the drug trade. "hat was disastrous. He)#and had been &ro&&ed u&
by *khund@ada<s #i)itias. *s they were stood down, a &ower vacuu# deve)o&ed. Many si#&)y 6oined
the "a)iban or stood back as the rebe))ion took ho)d. Dow L des&ite four years of fighting L it is the
#ost vio)ent and unstab)e &rovince.
2n -andahar, ta)k of Gre#oving *h#ed Wa)iH, or the #i)itias, see#s &oint)ess without deciding who
wou)d take over. "here were re&orts that the =4 was seeking to work with *h#ed Wa)i. "hey cou)dn<t
think of a way to get rid of hi# safe)y. *nd that<s the troub)e with the big strategy. *h#ed Wa)i is not
the &rob)e#. He<s not the on)y &ower broker around. "he &rob)e# is that, after so #any years of
invo)ve#ent, the West has sti)) to find a workab)e strategy for &o)itica) intervention, for dea)ing with
war)ords and corru&t &eo&)e. 2nstead of tack)ing the roots of the issue, we are )eft with work;arounds.
>7
%fterword by Stephen Arey
2 have been trying to cover detai)s of the war in *fghanistan since >>$, so 2 was fa#i)iar with
#any of the issues and the &)ayers invo)ved. "his story began as an atte#&t to see what 2 cou)d
do to deve)o& the issue at the ca#&aign of raids by G4&ecia) (orcesH in *fghanistan that
a&&eared to exact a heavy to)) on civi)ians.
*s 2 )ooked into that 2 beca#e #ore and #ore intrigued by ro)e &)ayed by s&ecia) #i)itias that
acco#&anied =4 forces. 2 discovered not on)y that this was an under;re&orted story but that it
was &)aying a growing ro)e in the war.
"his wasn<t an easy story to cover but 2 sett)e on the southern city of -andahar as the &)ace to do
it. "his a)so had the virtue of a))owing #e to )ook at the ro)e &)ayed by the brother of the
President of *fghanistan. 2t a&&eared he had a #a6or ro)e in recruiting and running these #i)itias
with the *#ericans.
4o a very broad story idea was gradua))y refined into a #uch tighter ob6ective.
2 didn<t have #uch success with docu#ents. Most of the sub6ect 2 was )ooking at invo)ved
c)assified o&erations by the =4, inaccessib)e even to ('2* reBuests without so#e great
resources to fight the case. We did fi)e on one raid by =4 s&ecia) forces that took &)ace in #id;
>>$. *s of ti#e of writing, May >11, we are sti)) awaiting a res&onse to the ('2* reBuest,
des&ite a great vo)u#e of corres&ondence. *s for *fghan docu#ents, again there is not #uch
either written down or accessib)e, or 2 didn<t have any good ex&erience to get ho)d of it. 2n the
=-, where 2 )ive, there is a new ('2 *ct, but ty&ica))y not of great va)ue in ex&)oring nationa)
security to&ics, since there are great exc)usions bui)t in that &revent re)easing the ty&e of
infor#ation 2 a# after. 4o #ost of #y efforts were concentrated on traditiona) re&orting based
on eye;witness and shoe )eather and, in this case, air #i)es.
My first ste& was to get resources to cover #y story. (or this 2 decided to try to #ake both a fi)#
for te)evision and write about it for &rint in the 4unday "i#es and )ater Le Monde /i&)o#atiBue.
4o 2 #anaged to get funds fro# %hanne) 4<s 2nde&endent (i)# (und and a)so fro# the 4unday
"i#es to #ake the tri&.
(inding and raising a)) the #oney to s&end the )ength of ti#e 2 need on the work 2 do is the
hardest thing. 2 do it by working for severa) out)ets and raising #oney or he)& fro# each. .ut
that is hard work, not on)y to organi@e in the first &)ace, but to #ake sure you &roduce
2 a)ways start with a si#&)e one sentence ob6ective for investigation and then L after scouring a))
the #ateria) written a)ready after consu)ting the 2nternet and databases L write u& a si#&)e S4tate
of -now)edge Me#o< that su##arises in 6ust a few &ages what are the key &ieces of
infor#ation a)ready known, the key Sknown unknowns< and how 2 &ro&ose to uncover those.
My a&&roach re&orting in this conf)ict @one is to use an insider;outsider a&&roach, which #eans
to get as dee& inside the sub6ect 2 a# investigating as &ossib)e, so as to acBuire rea) testi#ony,
whi)e at the sa#e ti#e taking great care not to beco#e so Ge#beddedH with any sub6ect that 2
)ose &ers&ective. 4o 2 a# a)so organising &ractica) ste&s to obtain an outsider &ers&ective.
'ne of the #ost i#&ortant &oints was to recogni@e #y )i#itations L in )anguages, cu)ture and
&ersona) security. 2 knew 2 had to work in c)ose &artnershi& with others, in &articu)ar *fghan
6ourna)ists who cou)d he)& #e.
>$
4o fro# the beginning of this &ro6ect 2 decided to work with a London;based *fghan
6ourna)istM&roducer IDa6ibu))ah +a@aBJ and we &oo)ed resources and trave))ed out together to
*fghanistan.
We worked out that there were &articu)ar dangers in )ooking into this story if we worked direct)y
with )oca) assistantsM6ourna)ists, and that it was far too dangerous to carry out i#&artia)
investigative work into the &owerfu) cri#ina) grou&s o&erating in -andahar.
2n difficu)t and foreign territory, you on)y succeed with the he)& you find. 4o, bui)ding a tea# is
the key. 2"<s not about getting Sg)ory< as a re&orter. How to find good &eo&)e9 (irst be &re&ared
to consider tea# work, rather than #aking yourse)f the star of a)) you work on. 4econd, try
s#a)) assign#ents out with &eo&)e before you engage the# with your #a6or &ro6ect. "hat way
you know who you are dea)ing with.
.ecause of the conf)ict @one 2 was in, 2 had to #ake a security &)an with Da6ib about how we
wou)d &ro&ose to )ook at this sub6ect reasonab)y safe)y. 2 consu)ted wide)y on safe o&eration in
-andahar. 2 a)so went on a IrefresherJ safety course &aid for by the 4unday "i#es for techniBues
of o&erating in a hosti)e @one.
*s we researched this 2 wrote regu)ar u&dates that su##ari@ed what we had found so far.
2 wou)d #ention that it<s a great benefit not on)y to s&end ti#e on the sub6ect but consider ways
to a&&roach the sub6ect fro# #u)ti&)e ang)es. 2 was ab)e to gain substantia) access to events in
-andahar by ex&)oiting the security &rovided to #e by taking &art in D*"'<s S8#bedded
,ourna)ist< syste#. My &artner on the &ro6ect, Da6ib, #eanwhi)e s&ent ti#e Sune#bedded<
reaching contacts and &)aces that 2 cou)d not reach safe)y and &)anning a &rogra# for #e. "hen
when 2 did )eave the =4 e#bed syste# and #oved into a hote) Sun;e#bedded< and inde&endent
in the city, 2 was a)ready fu))y infor#ed about the security situation and had a &)an in &)ace to do
the re&orting we needed to do in as swift and efficient #anner as &ossib)e to gather infor#ation
we needed without ex&osing #yse)f, or #ore )ike)y those who were he)&ing us, to re&risa)s.
"he hardest thing was getting stuck due to 2ce)andic vo)cano c)ouds on the way ho#e and then
having a)) #y kit sto)en at 1eneva *ir&orts. 2t de&resses you being a free)ance when you have
wrest)e with such &rob)e#s )arge)y a)one.
When 2 write, having studied a sub6ect, written #e#os, su##aries and a)) sorts, 2 then &ut
everything to one side and start with a b)ank &iece of &a&er and write fro# #e#ory ; cross;
checking facts and Buotes afterwards. 2t<s a way of cutting to the heart of things and a))owing
your intuition to sift out a)) the extraneous dea)s that c)og u& and &revent the story fro# f)owing.
'r 2 go and ex&)ain the story to so#eone Ian editor or a friendJ and the act of trying to interest
the# or ex&)ain it, 2 fee) #y way to a coherent way of ca&turing the essence of things.
2##ediate)y after the conversation 2 write down what 2 re#e#ber of how 2 ex&)ained it. *nother
way is taking a ta&e recorder and 6ust dictating so#ething.
*fter de)ving dee& into the weeds of a sub6ect, these are a)) ways of extricating yourse)f and
trying to i#agine yourse)f in the &osition of being a reader who is not fa#i)iar with anything
about your sub6ect.
"his is a #a6or conf)ict and 2 was g)ad to shed so#e )ight on &arts of what is occurring. "he
re&orts and fi)# 2 did a&&arent)y caused Buite a stir on the *fghan "E and radio airwaves and in
-abu), with President -ar@ai vowing to crack down on the o&erations of #i)itias, which he has
to so#e extent since. 2<# not aware of anyone cha))enging the re&ort<s accuracy.
2 did not do too #uch to &ub)ici@e the story, a&art fro# #entioning it on #y ho#e &age. 2 a)so
sub#itted in an entry for so#e awards, one of which was successfu). However, #y ai# is not
>:
rea))y to #ake an i#&act. 2 a# trying to understand what is ha&&ening, and 6ourna)is# gives #e
the freedo# to ex&)ore that 2 en6oy.
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