Thursday, January 2, 2014

Fight beteween Pens and Guns



On September 10,1995, Mushtaq Ali an young ANI Photo Journalist from Kashmir, arrived as usual to perform his professional duties in Srinagar BBC Office. He opened a book parcel without knowing that it contained a bomb. Bomb exploded and within few minutes he got succumbed to the grievous wounds that he got from bomb blast. Later on investigations found that, the target of the bomb attack was another famed Reuters reporter Yusuf Jameel( who also got suffered severe injuries).It was also alleged that "renegade" militant brought the bomb disguised as a book to his office. This is glaring example to know that how Conflict Journalist’s life travels in a very dangerous path. 

For Journalists operating in the conflict torn regions, life is not just about scoops, interviews, deadlines and page one stories. While reporting from strife torn regions, the journalists especially photo journalists life always hangs between life and death. Journalists often face death threats from both government forces as well as rebels. This is literally a life surviving between “Devil and Deep blue Sea”. Journalists operating in conflict regions have always sword hanging over their head. They failed to keep the warring sides happy. If an atrocity by Government forces is reported, he may be dubbed as "anti- national" and highlighting the misdeeds of militants or extra-political activities of separatists would mean that he is anti-movement.

Nowadays South Asia is a dangerous region engulfed by lot of violence. In last few decades, almost every nation in south Asia including Afghanistan,Pakistan,India,Srilanka suffered enormous loss of lives due to conflicts surrounded in their region.  Report released by South Asia Media Commission says that the 22 Journalists are killed in 2013 in South Asia, with Pakistan topping the tally. India and Pakistan also got the dubious distinction of being among the world’s five deadliest countries for the media in 2013.In this article I want to give tribute to two brave south asian journalists who showed what “Fearless Journalism” means is.

Saleem Shahzad

In 1970’s,To hunt down the growing soviet union influence in south Asia, U.S and its allies(Pakistan,China) groomed the “Frankenstein Monster”. For the evil they groomed, the Pakistan is still at the receiving end and Journalists currently operating in the country also at perilous environment. In recent years, Saleem Shahzad, is one of the famed journalist who lost his life while uncovering the links between Islamist militants and the armed forces, a connection that Pakistan’s generals have denied for years.


Within few days after the above article got published in Asia Times , Saleem shahzad was summoned by ISI to explain the article which ISI felt it may tarnish its own image and country. Fearing for the wrath of ISI, Saleem shahzad wrote to HRW for his own security,. Eventually from 29th May 2011 evening, Shahzad got disappeared. Two days after then, his body was found floating in the canal. Pakistan media strongly condemned his killing and demanded a probe in the dubious role of ISI in his killing. Bowing to Pakistan media protests, Pakistan PM ordered a probe to investigate the circumstances that lead to shahzad murder. But the probe commission report was disappointing with commission putting blame on non-state actors like Al-Queda,Taliban without mentioning any single individual or organization, leaving the culprits to roam freely in open space. Asia Times also wrote an article on “Who Killed Saleem Shahzad” later his murder.


Lasantha Wickrematunga

Another important journalist who got killed during 2009 Srilankan War on LTTE was “Lasantha Wickrematunga”. Though by birth as Sinhala, Lasantha uncovered many truths related to human rights violations by srilankan forces on Tamil civilians during srilankan civil war. He wrote columns in his newspaper “The Sunday Leader” boldly criticizing both government forces as well as Tamil Tigers for country’s instability. For that he got assassination attempts from both groups. lasantha’s heavy criticism on Rajapaksa during 2008 for his ruthless war strategy, earned him nickname of “Terrorist Journalist” from Rajapaksa. Lasantha Wickrematunga was allegedly killed by Government forces on 8 January 2009. Weeks before his death, his a funeral wreath was delivered to him, along with copy of the newspaper reading "If you write you will be killed" in red paint.Sensing his death plot, Lasantha Wickrematunga wrote editorial "When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me." before his death, which was published posthumously.


Off course Pen is mightier than a sword, but in a conflict journalist’s life it is more dangerous, playing with their own life. Unless peace prevails everywhere in the earth, conflict journalist’s role and recognition is not of much significance.

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