Guerrilla diplomat

Nov 05

Episode

Guerrilla diplomat

"The Ambassador" goes undercover in Central African Republic's game of corruption to expose its players.

With hidden cameras and a black-market diplomatic passport, one filmmaker took on corruption in African diamond trade. Danish journalist Mads Brügger says his controversial documentary "The Ambassador" shows the harsh reality missed by conventional journalists covering this deadly trade. But does he go too far?

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to:

Mads Brügger
Director, "The Ambassador"
theambassador.dk

Members of The Stream community also join us via Google+ hangout.

What do you think? Do journalists have the right to cross moral & ethical lines to uncover a story? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

View the story "Guerrilla diplomat" on StorifyGuerrilla diplomat"The Ambassador" goes undercover in Central African Republic's game of corruption to expose its players.Storified by The Stream · Mon, Nov 05 2012 09:38:15"The Ambassador" is a documentary that follows Danish journalist Mads Brügger in the Central African Republic (CAR) as he navigates the corruption surrounding the diamond trade in Sub-Saharan Africa. Brügger poses as businessman who purchases real diplomatic credentials, which he uses to try to smuggle diamonds out of the CAR. Below is a trailer for the film: Ambassador Official Trailer #1 (2012) - Documentary HDmovieclipstrailers"The Ambassador" also showcases how easy it is for Western businessmen to acquire diplomatic status from nations seeking to further their business interests.Questions remain over Brügger's tactics and the roles he plays in his films. Is he a journalist or businessman? Unbiased observer or part of the story? The following post from the African Arguments blog examines this angle: the line between Brügger the documentarian and Brugger Cortzen the capitalist isn’t clear. As the businessman, Brügger uses his privilege to trample over less important people in order to attain more power. As a filmmaker he does essentially the same.The Ambassador: Mads Brügger uncovers Liberia’s elite corruption – By Aaron Leaf | African ArgumentsIn an interview with the African is a Country blog, Brügger speaks about his decision to pose as a diplomat and businessman: So if I were to ask somebody “Would you like to see a documentary about the Central African Republic and systemic corruption and neo-colonialism,” many people would say “that sounds nice but I will take a rain check on that one.” If you were to pitch them the idea of The Ambassador: a very white guy becomes an African diplomat to another African country involving himself heavily with blood diamonds and producing matches with pygmies, many people would say “now we’re talking business.”Is Mads Brügger a journalist? – Africa is a Country@AJStream Brügger is a good example of the contemporary unclear borders between journalism, activism & being an artist.@mmbilal @aaronleafMishaZandBrügger, pictured below, calls his style of story telling "performance journalism". He is best known for controversial documentaries such as "Danes for Bush", "Red Chapel", and as of October 2011, "The Ambassador."
mads3-300x0AJstreamIn "The Red Chapel", Brügger brings a small theatre troupe on a cultural exchange visit from Denmark to North Korea. The troupe is given permission to perform at special events for selected audiences.

Below is a trailer for the Red Chapel:The Red Chapel - EXCLUSIVE Official Trailer [HD]trailersThe below graphic explains the illegal diamond trade in Africa, which plays a central role in fueling conflict. Much action has been taken in the last decade to ensure that such "conflict diamonds", also known as "blood diamonds", are not available for purchase. diagramBAJstreamThis mini-documentary produced by the European Union on conflict diamonds details both the effects of the "blood diamond" trade and the actions taken by African nations to combat the illegal trade. Blood diamonds: the international responseEUintheWorldThis is a 2009 report by Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons on the state of poverty of the CAR's diamond workers: Diamond mine poverty in CAR - 16 Sep 09aljazeeraenglishWe asked netizens to give us their thoughts on corruption in Africa: @AJStream systematic corruption was instituted in most African countries by colonialism.#centralafricanrepubic #Nigeria #divideandruleFaisal Emetumah@AJStream Western industrials were always successful in exploiting the African nations; their sly hold on the riches there never ceased.J. Ray@AJStream absolutely not! Until #Africans take responsibility for their failures, they will not get out of the stinking hole they are in.ጉዱ ካሣ Gudu KassaThey also provided us with their thoughts on journalistic ethics: @AJStream journalists should be held to a higher standard than politicians; ethics and honesty matter.Villainous Superhero@AJStream As a journalist, nope. We have to have a moral high ground. It's as simple as that.Andrew Jerell Jones@AJStream I am a journalist, and I believe that crossing ethical and moral lines is not a right that I have. It's very unethical!Yusur Al-Bahrani@AJStream Isn't it as much about where one draws moral/ethical lines, and to whom one feels accountable, as about the right to cross lines?Andréa Schmidt@AJStream its okay, if it serves a gr8r purpose_ I'd lie about my identity to get @paedos, @corruptOfficials its called #UnderCover baby!rezaa käsu ㋛@AJStream #AfricanDiamond trade is an example of the #Africans being kept in the dark! By means of poverty, corruption & lack of education!Neslihan Kurosawa@AJStream It takes a certain kind of integrity, courage and sheer determination to report harsh realities like the #African diamond trade!Neslihan Kurosawa