Risky business<\/p>\n
With a sigh of relief Indonesians welcomed the news on Monday
\nafternoon that two of its nationals -- Metro TV journalist Meutya
\nHafid and cameraman Budiyanto -- were being released by their
\ncaptors in Iraq. The news must be of particular solace to the
\nfamilies of the two hostages and their colleagues. Hopefully
\ntheir release will be confirmed in the coming days with their
\nsafe return to their anxious relatives and friends in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
We commend the government, in particular the Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs, for its quick response during this seven-day
\nordeal, and also applaud the various community and religious
\nleaders who issued personal appeals for the pair's release.<\/p>\n
While the extent of the influence of these efforts on the
\ndecision to release Meutya and Budiyanto may never be known, the
\ncaptors in a video tape clearly noted that they had taken into
\nconsideration the various appeals along with Indonesia's
\nconsistent record of supporting the Iraqi people.<\/p>\n
The two journalists were the third and fourth Indonesians to
\nhave been taken hostage, and eventually released, in Iraq over
\nthe past year. Unfortunately, another Indonesian, engineer Fahmi
\nAhmad, was killed in an ambush in northern Iraq in August.<\/p>\n
While we cannot condone, and in fact roundly condemn, the
\nmethods used by the insurgents in Iraq, we can to some extent
\nrelate to the sentiment held by many there that their country is
\nbeing occupied by a foreign army.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has reflected the feelings of the
\nmajority of Indonesians who have rejected the invasion and
\noccupation of Iraq. This consistency in national policy would
\nhave surely helped sway the kidnappers in arriving at their
\ndecision to release the Indonesian nationals.<\/p>\n
It is eminently logical for those who claim to be Iraqi
\nnational insurgents to avoid inciting the ire of a nation that
\nhas been most sympathetic toward the plight of the Iraqi people.<\/p>\n
The kidnapping of the two journalists once again displays the
\nhazards of the profession. It is an avocation blind to
\nnationality or religion. The only currency valuable in this trade
\nis truth.<\/p>\n
We commend the efforts of local media companies who have the
\nwill and resources to send their reporters to hot spots such as
\nIraq. Their presence helps to provide a comprehensive picture of
\nevents and reduces dependence on "foreign" media providers which
\ncan slant news stories to fit particular interests.<\/p>\n
Even though local journalists have not been as celebrated as
\ntheir "Western" counterparts, it is a known fact that Indonesian
\npress men and women have been consistently present in many of the
\nworld's leading conflict zones over the last three decades --
\nfrom Cambodia, Rwanda, the southern Philippines and Russia, to
\nvarious hot spots in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Without much fanfare they have educated people here and given
\nvivid accounts as seen through the eyes of regular Indonesians.<\/p>\n
With a blossoming number of media organizations, enhanced
\nprofessionalism and the growing thirst of a public that has
\nbecome attuned to news, we have come to expect more coverage from
\nconflict areas both at home and abroad.<\/p>\n
As such, it is important for senior management of media
\ncompanies to be prepared with various support systems that ease
\nand facilitate the carrying out of dangerous assignments.<\/p>\n
Adequate insurance, company policies that ensure the well-
\nbeing of the dependents of the reporters involved, the necessary
\ntraining and briefings, and the provision of essential equipment
\nsuch as bulletproof vests, satellite phones, etc., all go toward
\nmaking the work of journalists in the field that bit easier.<\/p>\n
We would strongly urge media advocacy groups and professional
\norganizations to help encourage news providers to satisfy minimum
\nstandards before sending journalists out on assignment in
\nconflict zones.<\/p>\n
The business of journalism often demands that its principle
\nactors be willing to court danger, rather than run from it. But
\nit would be grave negligence to send reporters out without the
\nnecessary basic support, or for news organs to be driven solely
\nby profit.<\/p>\n
No news story is worth dying for, and fortunately in the
\nlatest case no one did.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/risky-business-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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