Reporters In Conflict Zone Tell Their Story

By Salbiah Said KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Journalists do not usually write or broadcast the dangers they face in pursuing their stories, except in the most extreme of cases. They prefer to relay the stories of others than their own. There may not have been war correspondents from Malaysia along the likes of Ernie Pyle, William Russell or even former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who became the first celebrity war reporter during the Anglo-Boer War in 1899. However, Malaysian journalists have risked their lives by voluntarily accepting assignments in conflict zones especially in humanitarian aid missions organised by NGOs. The late Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, a Bernama TV cameraman, was the first Malaysian journalist killed while on a assignment in a conflict zone. Noramfaizul died on Sept 2, 2011 after being hit by a stray bullet while covering a humanitarian mission in war stricken Mogadishu, Somalia. HIGH STAKES FOR REPORTERS The stakes are high for reporters covering conflict zones, as well as for the editors who assigned to them the task. Bernama journalist Mohd Faizal Hassan who travelled to Gaza on a humanitarian mission months before Noramfaizul's fateful trip also had a close call with danger. He left Malaysia on May 3, 2011 along with 12 other passengers via the Malaysian-owned ship MV Finch. The cargo ship, also known as the Spirit of Rachel Corrie, left the Piraeus Port of Greece on May 11 and entered the Mediterranean Sea heading towards Gaza, carrying plastic sewage pipes to help restore the 7.5-kilometre sewerage system damaged during the 2008-2009 Gaza Massacre. The Malaysian aid ship was in the waters off Rafah on May 16, when it was followed by Israeli naval boats for about half an hour before four warning shots were fired in the air. Mohd Faizal said Israeli naval forces intercepted the MV Finch while it was in the Palestinian security zone, about 400 metres from the Gaza shoreline, and forced the ship to retreat and seek anchorage. TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE He said one of the shots almost hit crew member Mohd Jaffery Ariffin, causing the others to panic and run for cover. "The Israelis asked us to stop the ship and withdraw to Egyptian waters. We managed to radio in the Egyptian army for help. Upon realising the presence of Egyptian naval forces, the Israelis departed," said Mohd Faizal sharing the terrifying experience with the participants of a workshop on Digital and Multimedia Journalism at Bernama recently. Mohd Faizal, who was involved in the Malaysian humanitarian mission to Afghanistan with the Armed Forces in October last year and the aid mission to Japan in March, 2011, said it was a terrifying experience. He said he was on the lower deck of the ship with New Straits Times (NST) journalist Iskandar Alang Bendahara and a volunteer from the Prime Minister’s Department, Mohd Radzillah Abdullah, during the incident. It was only after the ship entered Egyptian waters that the passengers breathed sighs of relief and went back to the upper deck. “We were grateful that the Israeli soldiers did not come onboard our ship,” he said. VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAWS The Egyptian Naval ship escorted the MV Finch to Egyptian territorial waters. They anchored off the El Arish Port where they stayed for over a week as they were denied disembarkation. "We were so close, and yet so far. We could watch our Muslim brothers going for Friday prayers at a nearby mosque," he recollected. Mohd Faizal said the Israelis violated international law by blocking their ship and firing the shots. "They were using anti-aircraft .50mm shells. "No words could express our fear during that time. We were all praying to the Almighty for protection," he said adding that the NST had managed to capture a video recording of the ordeal. PREPARED FOR THE WORST TV Al-Hijrah journalists Aimy Nor Halimah Abdul Halim and cameraman Muhammad Syafiq Azman understood the risks involved and were prepared for the worst when they joined similar missions to Lebanon and Jordan respectively. Aimy Nor Halimah said her 'Return to Aqsa - Ramadan Relief Mission' from July 19-26, 2014 to Lebanon was an eye-opening experience. The humanitarian aid mission was an initiative of the NGO Aqsa Syarif and a supermarket chain to provide US$138,051 (RM500,000) worth of food, medical supplies as well as the educational needs of Palestinian children at the refugee camps in Lebanon. Both Aimy Nor Halimah and her cameraman understood that they were risking their lives going into war-torn Lebanon to help highlight the plight of Palestinian refugees there. "It was heart-rending watching Palestinian refugees in crowded camps. I am so grateful that I'm Malaysian and can enjoy peace and live comfortably back home," she said. According to the United Nations Welfare Relief Agency (UNWRA), some 450,000 refugees are registered with the agency in Lebanon as of July 1, 2014, with slightly more than half of them living in the 12 refugee camps. The problems they came across included poverty, overcrowding, unemployment, poor housing conditions and lack of infrastructure. The ongoing conflict in Syria has forced many Palestine refugees to flee to Lebanon in search of safety. ACCUSTOMED TO ENVIRONMENT Muhammad Syafiq said he was originally scheduled to leave for the West Bank in mid-2014, but had to stay in Jordan due to delays in getting approval for entry into the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He believed that the Israeli authorities intentionally delayed the process as he was from Malaysia, a country that strongly supports the Palestinian cause. "Our mission took place during the escalating tension between Gaza and Israel after a Palestinian boy was kidnapped, burnt and killed by the Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem, early July last year," he said. "It was indeed very challenging for the both of us, spending two weeks inside two of the world's largest refugee camps in Jordan, Al Azraq and Zaatari," he said. PALESTINIAN CAMPS Muhammad Shafiq said much of the filming and interviews were done hastily due to the restricted time given to them inside the camps amid tight security, with some of the footages captured from inside their vehicle. He managed to interview third generation Palestinian children who grew up in the camp. "Some of the refugees who survived the Israeli shelling saw the camp as a source of misery, suffering and sad memories. Each had undergone some form of torture or witnessed death and other atrocities first-hand. "Our focus (at TV Al-Hijrah) is to give them hope and strength. Many Palestinians, who were forced to leave their land and homes, believed deep in their hearts that ultimate justice cannot be achieved unless they are allowed to return to their homeland," said Muhammad Shafiq. -- BERNAMA