RSF and Ménard were described as "ultra-reactionary" by the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, "Granma". Tensions between Cuban authorities and RSF have been high, particularly after the imprisonment in 2003 of 75 dissidents, including 27 journalists, by the Cuban Government. Those imprisoned included Raúl Rivero and Óscar Elías Biscet. An article by John Cherian in the Indian magazine "Frontline" stated that RSF "is reputed to have strong links with Western intelligence agencies" and "Cuba has accused Robert Meynard the head of the group, of having CIA links".