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.