Protecting reporters in war zone
Protecting reporters in war zone
Ignatius Haryanto, Vice Executive Director, Institute for Press
and Development Studies (LSPP), Jakarta
After the world saw three weeks of the U.S.-Iraq war in March
to April this year, we now turn to Aceh. The Indonesian Military
is setting up a media center in Aceh in case of war and dozens of
journalists, who are undergoing basic training for self-
protection, are to be "embedded".
During the U.S.-Iraq war, at least 12 journalists were killed.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
released seven letters of warning regarding the bad protection of
journalists who covered the war.
Following the death of three journalists on April 7 at the
Palestine Hotel, CPJ and other journalists' organizations
protested the U.S. military action against the journalists' home
base and demanded an investigation into the incident.
Many think that if journalists are not prepared to encounter
violence, or death while on the job, they should choose another
profession. But there are ways to minimize and overcome risks,
and get the story too.
Still, in 2002, CPJ recorded that 19 journalists died during
social and military conflict -- eight of them in Afganistan.
There were also those who died because people did not like their
reports, such as in the Philippines.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) records in
the past decade that 1,000 journalists and other media workers
were killed on the job. Their deaths were attributed not only to
war situations, but also to neglect of journalists.
IFJ has published a manual on covering conflicts. One point is
according journalist safety top priority, also on the part of
their media organization. The journalists' own responsibility is
"to improve his/her safety instinct, as he/she improves his/her
good quality in interviewing or investigating news," the manual
says.
A journalist's job, the IFJ reminds us, is to get the story,
"and not become part of the story him/herself." In short, the
professional journalist is one who does not put his or her life
in unnecessary danger, and thus makes sure their report reaches
the public. IFJ has also facilitated safety training for
journalists in several places, which include technical assistance
in detecting awkward situations.
To avoid unnecessary danger, it is important for journalists
to bring with them some practical knowledge regarding the
conflict area, which should be provided by their news
organization or professional organization.
Surveying the conflict area, having high physical stamina,
knowing the parties to the conflict, having basic knowledge in
first aid, and ensuring a hotline communication system from
reporters to their editors in office, are keys for good
preparation.
Though being "embedded" may be rather safe, the IFJ manual
advises journalists not to go to war with the military because
they would inevitably be perceived as a party to the conflict.
So, in the eyes of the other group, the journalist is not in a
neutral position. This manual suggests that it may be better for
journalists to travel with the medics, who share the same
profession in that they must be impartial.
It is hard to expect this of "embedded" journalists who travel
with the military and rely solely on the military for their
safety. Once they wanted to cover the other side they would
easily become human targets. The journalists now being trained to
join the military in case of war in Aceh have even been asked to
don uniforms, which are almost identical to that of the military.
Medics are expected to assist all those in need, regardless of
nationality, race, political ideology or gender. If a journalist
is to serve the public on the similar basis of impartiality, then
it would indeed be better to go along with the medics into war.
The military, of course, aims to beat the enemy by any possible
means.