LETTER | End violence against journalists in conflict zones

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

- human rights activist Desmond Tutu

LETTER | On the United Nations International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, DAP sternly calls for the absolute protection of journalists in Gaza, in the state of Palestine and all over the world to bring us not just news, but the truth of what is happening, a vicious war crime which we bear witness today.

We reiterate our position that all members of the press must be accorded the right to protection in war, stand in solidarity with fearless journalists and mourn the deaths of those caught in the line of fire while performing their duties.

On Oct 9, an Israeli Apache helicopter was seen in the sky near Dhayra, a village near the Lebanese border before four Al-Jazeera journalists were struck by a missile next to their press vehicle.

Five days later, Lebanese Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah was killed in Alma el-Chaab, Lebanon while his colleague Christina Assi from AFP was injured when two missiles hit the very place they were standing, the second blew up an Al-Jazeera vehicle injuring others as well at cross border bombardments.

The same Apache helicopter was seen just before the air strike. Israel has apologised for the missile and said, “They were looking into it” and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières) is investigating this.

All seven journalists were wearing their helmets, body armour with their clear and visible “Press” vests and their vehicles marked with the same distinct words while covering tensions between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.

The strike was captured on film before the hit, and subsequently, a second bombardment was seen and heard dozens of metres from them.

Both attacks were clearly targeting the group of Al-Jazeera, AFP and Reuters reporters. They were on a hill, clearly visible and in the open for an hour.

Reporters Without Borders has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes against journalists in Palestine and Israel. This is their third complaint since 2018. Nine of their journalists have been killed since Oct 7 and many wounded, including the destruction of 50 media outlets in Gaza.

Shireen Abu Akleh, a prominent Palestinian journalist was killed by Israeli forces wearing her “Press” attire on May 11, 2022, while covering a raid on the Israeli-occupied West Bank on the Jenin refugee camp and to this day, her murderers have not been brought to justice.

These are only two examples of what is happening in the West Bank and in bordering Lebanon - it is clear that journalists were targeted and attacked in this war and there are countless stories of survivors on the battlefield.

Protection for important coverage

Protecting journalists is part of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals and while there is a UN plan of action on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity, the real litmus test is when war criminals are brought to justice for their violations against journalists. Or else it is nothing more than lip service.

Every minute, we are served with news brought by journalists covering the atrocities happening in Gaza, Ukraine, Myanmar and other places as well as solidarity gatherings all over the world for victims of war, injustice, oppression, transgressions and violations of human rights in real time.

Journalists must be given absolute protection, as without them being there in the flesh, risking their very lives, to not just be our eyes and ears in conflict zones but also a clarion call for us all to sit up and act against these crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes.

Without journalists, there would be a blackout of news and the truth, and we simply cannot rest and allow that to happen.

DAP has been a firm believer in freedom of speech, thoughts, words and expression and we call on the international community, especially pressure points for countries in conflict to exercise the highest level of care in recognising the presence and the role of journalists in crossfires, and in reporting news to the world and to be alert of their whereabouts while carrying out their duties.

We condemn, undeniably, the crimes and murders of innocent lives in Gaza and call for an immediate ceasefire.

The impunity against journalists must end as a denial of justice for reporters is a denial of justice for us all.

The world sees what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar through the eyes of journalists and reporters and a media blackout means that we are robbed of our sight of the war crimes happening around us.

DAP calls for an immediate ceasefire and to end all forms of violence and impunity targeting journalists and medical personnel and for absolute protection accorded to them.

The writer is DAP deputy secretary for international affairs and DAP Women vice chair.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.