KAHAPAN

US soldiers apologize for closing Sulu hospital
            
            By Julie   Alipala
            Mindanao Bureau
            First Posted 16:47:00 12/31/2007
            
            

                        

                        

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — US soldiers in Sulu have apologized
for ordering health officials to shut down the government-run hospital
in Panamao town during night time, Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said
Monday.

Earlier, Dr. Silak Lakkian, chief of the Panamao district hospital,
said US forces led by a Master Sergeant Ronburg have threatened to
shoot anybody seen at the hospital premises after 6 p.m.

"I take back those words and I am apologizing, it’s unfortunate but
it was not really the real intention. Our real intention was to protect
the people but reception (how locals took the order), we were just
misunderstood," Tan quoted Major Eric Walker as saying during a "face
to face confrontation" with Lakkian on Sunday morning.

Walker is commander of Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) Sulu Forward Base based in Camp Teodulo Bautista in Jolo.

Tan said he set the meeting — attended also by other government
officials — after the incident, which was reported by the Philippine
Daily Inquirer, reached him.

The Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net, reported on the
November 30 closure order issued to Lakkian and staffers of the Panamao
district hospital but US officials denied there was such an order.

"I didn’t know how factual all that was and where you are getting
that information and I just wondered who your sources were," Lieutenant
Commander Melissa Scheurmann, public affairs officer of the Joint
Special Operation Task Force Philippines (JSOTFP) based here, said
Monday.

Scheurmann denied having a Ronburg in their list of US personnel in Sulu.

"I don’t know specifically who that is (Ronburg) it’s almost a
blunder at that point and I don’t know who gave you that name and how
you got that name," she said.

Tan, who told the Inquirer by phone that he considered the order
rude, confirmed that Ronburg is one of the five US servicemen assigned
in Panamao.

"We should not let it pass," he said.

Tan said during the meeting, he told Walker and two other American
military officials that they are not authorized to impose rules in Sulu.

"You don’t have the right to impose (rules) to any of our personnel
here, you don’t have any authority and if you have anything to impart,
inform the AFP and the AFP will deal with us," he said.

Tan said during the meeting, Walker insisted that there was a simple
misunderstanding between the hospital staffers and the US personnel.

He said Walker explained to Lakkian that the intention to shut down
the hospitala’s operation after 6 p.m. was for the protection of the
hospital workers.

"He said the military was then on red alert. But they did not
specify up to when the hospital should cease operating at night. When
the red alert status was lifted, the hospital staff was not properly
informed," Tan said.

"And the reception was not that good on the part of the hospital
staff kasi yung pagkakasabi was ‘we are going to shoot anybody who
comes after 6 p.m.,’" Tan added.

Lakkian said it was easy for US forces to shoot just anybody after 6 p.m. because the hospital was adjacent to their camp.

Tan said during the meeting, Walker gave assurance that the hospital can resume full operation starting Monday.

But for others, a simple apology was not enough.

Akbayan Representative Etta Rosales said a diplomatic protest is in
order because of the "outright intrusion of these foreign soldiers into
our internal affairs."

Rosales said while US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is known for her
goodwill, some of her countrymen are committing violations that are
"inhuman in nature."

She said she will write a letter, urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a diplomatic protest.

Millete Mendoza, formerly of Tabang Mindanaw and a volunteer
humanitarian worker in Sulu, also joined Rosales’ call for a diplomatic
protest.

"We should file a diplomatic protest, this issue should not be
allowed to die, we must all condemn it on the grounds of humanitarian
and sovereignty," Mendoza said.

Dr. Manar Saliddin, chair of the Jaga (Watch) Human Rights group in Basilan, said the incident should also be investigated.

"It’s a blatant violation of our rights as medical personnel, we are
here to serve the people anytime of the day, this must be protested by
all legal means locally and abroad," Saliddin, a dentist by profession,
said.

Edgar Araojo, a political science professor at the Western Mindanao
State University here, said the actuation of the American forces was
like "witnessing the timeless truism of the cliché that he who rides a
tiger ends up as its lunch."

Talk of US intervention prompts Sulu meetings
            
            
            Philippine Daily Inquirer
            First Posted 04:22:00 12/31/2007

            
            

ZAMBOANGA
CITY — A US military spokesperson denied reports that American
soldiers in Panamao town in Sulu province have been preventing health
workers from operating the district hospital there at night.

Dr. Silak Lakkian, Panamao District Hospital chief, earlier said the
American soldiers — led by a M/Sgt. Ronburg — have started
implementing the order on Nov. 30 without offering any reason.

She said a team of soldiers barged into the hospital, which is some
45 kilometers from here, on Nov. 30 and told the chief nurse to close
it not later than 6 p.m.

Threats

Lakkian said the American soldiers had threatened to shoot anybody seen inside the hospital’s premises after that time.

But Lt. Commander Melissa Scheurmann, the public affairs officer of
the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines based in this city,
denied the report.

“All those (pieces of) information are pure allegations and that allegation is not true,” she said.

She said Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan has ordered an investigation of the report.

Scheurmann also said she still has to look into reports quoting a soldier named M/Sgt. Ronburg.

“Personally, I don’t know, I still have to look into that and that name is unfamiliar,” she said.

Summoned

On Saturday, Hadja Jainab Abdulmajid, Sulu disaster coordinator,
said Governor Tan has called on Lakkian and a certain Major Walker for
a meeting.

“Andito sila ngayon, gusto kasi ni governor na magkaroon ng
harap-harapan na usapan at ma-thresh out itong problema (They’re here
now because the governor wants a face-to-face meeting and for this
problem to be threshed out),” Abdulmajid said.

“She is consistent in her position. In fact, she again mentioned the
name of Ronburg and reported it to his superior, Major Walker,
especially the shoot-to-kill order,” Abdulmajid said, adding that it
was unlikely for Lakkian to invent stories.

“Lakkian is one of the respected health officials in the province,” Abdulmajid said.

Embassy words

Rebecca Thompson, spokesperson of the US Embassy in Manila, said
“the US government has had no role in any discussions or decision about
the opening hours of the Panamao District Hospital.”

“US soldiers have not been involved in keeping the hospital closed
or open,” Thompson said in a text message to the Philippine Daily
Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

Lakkian said she was really surprised about the order.

“I thought these Americans are here for humanitarian purposes. Our
hospital caters to all the indigents in the town who cannot afford the
transportation expense to the Sulu Provincial Hospital,” she said.

Lakkian said they found that the American soldiers were serious when
they tried to turn off the generator set in the evening of Dec. 2.

She said she got a call from Ronburg asking her to turn off the generator.

American orders

“My two staffers were instructed by phone to get through the kitchen
door to the genset with their left hands on their heads. After they
were able to put off the genset, they were instructed to get back
immediately,” Lakkian, who was at the hospital at that time, said.

Lakkian said in the morning, she immediately went to Panamao Mayor Abdugafur Abdurajak “because I could not bear it anymore.”

“It is useless to stay here because we cannot do anything,” she said.

As of Friday evening, the hospital remained closed at night as staffers are afraid to defy the order, Lakkian said. Julie S. Alipala with reports from Ed General, Inquirer Mindanao

Windang ako, na praning pa nang mag cover ako ng hearing ni
convicted felon Romeo Jalosjos sa Hall of Justice nuong Biyernes December 28,
2007.

 

Paano kasi may isang reporter na umastang public relations
officer ni Jalosjos, kung hindi ko lang siya kilala baka napagkamalan ko pa
siyang PIO ng mga Jalosjoses.

 

Since Jalosjos was brought to

Zamboanga

City

last December 23, magiging ingrata ako kung di ko aamining nakapag-established
ako ng good rapport sa prominenteng pamilyang ito.

 

Ang totoo diyan sila ang nagbibigay ng mga impormasyon pati
ang mga hakbang na kanilang ginagawa upang patuloy na malagay sa pahayagan ang
nasabing convicted rapist.

 

Mapa-positibo o negatibo, bukas ang pamilyang Jalosjos sa
anumang interview. Sabi nga ng ilang kamag-anak tulad ni Sir Bella at Sir
Fernandez, gustong-gusto raw ni Jalosjos ang makisalamuha sa media, lalung lalo
na sa mga nagsusulat sa pahayagan.

 

Para sa akin, ang pahayagan kasi nasusulat lahat na hindi
kinukunsidera ang oras, di katulad ng telebisyon na kailangang mong sumunod sa
time requirement na minuter news maliban na lang kung isasalang ka ng live at
ang primary source.

 

Nang ma-incarcerate si Jalosjos sa San Ramon Prison and
Penal Farm Colony, bukas pa rin siya sa anumang interview pero may caution na
tulad nang iwasang magtanong laban sa gobyerno.

 

Pero nang magsampa sila ng kasong petition of Writ of Habeas
Corpus, siyempre tightlipped na dun si Jalosjos, baka kasi ma subjudice ang
kaso.

 

At lahat nang reporters mapa radio, television o pahayagan
ay nakaka-alam sa ganitong policy or rules.

 

Anyway balik tayo dun sa reporter na nauwing public
relations officer.

 

Ganito po ang nangyari:

 

We were all covering inside the sala of Presiding Judge
Jesus Carbon. After about four hours of first hearing, we were all trying to
catch up with a few quotes or sound bytes from the former solon.

 

Habulan, siksikan, eksenahan hanggang siyempre naka pwesto
ang nasabing reporter sa tabi ng dating kongresista.

 

Rumatsada na ito ng mga tanong regarding health of Jalosjos.
Go! Pagbigyan si reporter kasi naman nagpasko siyang kumo-cover ke Jalosjos and
she deserves the break.

 

Matapos niyang makunan ng pahayag si Jalosjos we thought it
was her end of interview and she was just moving around with Jalosjos as part
of video requirement, suporta sa kwento.

 

Pero pagkalabas namin sa Hall of Justice at habang
naghihintay ng sasakyan ang kampo ng kongresista akmang magtatanong na rin ang
local reporters nang biglang pumalahaw ang reporter.

 

“Media ha, bawal magtanong tungkol sa kaso ni Sir Jalosjos,
personal questions lang!”

 

Windang kami, lahat nagtinginan at medyo nabigla.

 

First time kaming naka-encounter na isang national
television reporter na umastang spokesperson ng isang convicted rapist.

 

Teka… malapit na akong umalma dun, pero ang tapik sa balikat
ng isang kasamang reporter nagpatiklop ng sungay ko nang panandalian.

 

I was thinking then who the hell is this and what nerve she
got to define rules on coverage with Jalosjos!!!

 

Sabi ng isang kasamahan, hayaan mo na siya, baka overwhelmed
lang siya sa coverage na ito.

 

Yet I insisted na hindi niya dapat tratuhin ng ganun ang
local reporters at hindi siya dapat umastang information officer ng isang
source lalung lalo na’t respetado ang pinanggalingan niyang network, especially
the provincial network na naka base sa Zamboanga City.

 

Some media friends told me “matapang yan.” Pwes wala puwang
ang tapang sa akin, pero hindi ko siya papatulan sa tapang, sa etiketa ko siya
bubutasan.

 

Marami na rin akong naranasan na nakakawindang na pamamaraan
ng coverage ng ilang television reporters.

 

Yung bang pag pinapanood mo sila sa television akala mo sila
na ang magagaling pero kapag nakasama mo sa trabaho, masahol pa sila sa ibang
nagpapanggap na journalists sa local level.

 

Pasalamat sila dahil may pangalan silang kakabit ng kanilang
imahe, pero kung ako sa kanila, hindi mahalaga ang imahe kung hindi naman
sinusunod sa tamang paraan ang “proper observance and practice of code of
ethics in journalism.”

 

It was supposed to be a good holiday for me and my son but I am stuck with Jalosjos story because Manila editors and my bureau chief in Davao hammered me for daily follow-ups that almost blew my top.

Saturday December 22 until Tuesday December 25 calendared as “Family Day” for me and my son.

Every Saturday is marketing for our weeklong consumption Sunday is scheduled for “lamierda” such as window shopping at the mall, go to a food chain, do some ukay-ukay at Santa Cruz or stay at home and watch cartoon films.

But December 23 we skipped movies or food chain and instead scheduled for buying gifts.

Unfortunately, while pre-occupied with the Kalinggalang Caluang, Sulu encounter, I have heard from a friend that former Representative Romeo Jalosjos a convicted rapist reportedly “escaped” from detention and on his way to Dapitan City.

Since Dapitan is not really my area of coverage, I decided to shelve the story and let other correspondents nearby cover it.

However late that night, a friend from the PNP a native of Zamboanga City informed me that there’s an arrest order for Jalosjos and inquiring if I want to cover it. I said “NO” because it’s almost holiday. He didn’t told me other details and I didn’t care to ask.

When I woke up early dawn, I received many SMS I didn’t open the file because I presumed it’s more of Christmas greetings.

But at 7am December 23 one of the editors in Manila called up asking for details about whereabouts of Jalosjos and if he’s already in Zamboanga City.

“What?!!!” The editor repeated the same question and that day I sensed that my Christmas break will not be a break after all.

Manila and Davao editors kept pounding me for details so I was forced to re-schedule my plans for the day including begging for my son’s understanding.

“Heller! Mama pangako mo lalakad tayo at mamimili ng regalo, heller!”

I promised him that we still have time in the afternoon but my son knew once I start to click my keypads, “makakaalis lang kayo ng kwarto kapag tapos na ang mga report ni Papa David,” and that’s at 6pm.

I made several calls from my contacts arranged my itineraries and started covering the Jalosjos until he arrived here around 11am.

I know the PNP wanted my presence in that coverage while I was also torn between Jalosjos and the awarding of rewards to a civilian informant for helping the military in their campaign against ASG.

Finally I just stick to PNP at Camp Batalla and I managed to get a close interview with Jalosjos. I was bringing my videocamera and those required to join the group were cameramen and photographers.

While inside the camp’s office I was the only journalist then so I took the opportunity to interview the re-incarcerated solon.

It was past 12noon when I finished the coverage then start with my story. Like what my earlier feared, “natapos nga sa Mama gabi na.”

I knew he felt bad but I promised him on December 24 we will allot the entire day for “lamierda.”

I was wrong as my bureau chief didn’t stop asking for more development even late at night and early morning of December 24.

We ended up skipping the groceries and gift buying, fortunately my son found another interest as my sister brought home some kind of toys for her son and Kenjo is in-charge taking care of the baby.

What we did was cooked what is inside the refrigerator and didn’t bother to wrap anything as part of our family tradition.

I slept quite late because my bureau chief still has so many questions “naku magpatulog ka naman,” was my message to my chief.

The next day, I knew my chief could already imagine the meeting of two eyebrows as he demanded for more updates about Jalosjos.

I told him if he was just around “nasabunutan na kita,” and he just laughed off my anger.

At least the wrapped gifts for my son and the Narnia film made him quite busy.

In the end I realized that my holiday is not a holiday and my Christmas is literally spent with Jalosjos…

I wanted to unwind after beating deadlines on the story of convicted rapist former Representative Romeo Jalosjos.

Its about 6pm… six more hours to go and its Christmas day. I went out to check how my son is attending to carolers. He is in-charge of giving coins in behalf of me.

Actually it used to be my task then but since Jalosjos is a big story, I am oblige to follow my editors’ order.

Anyway, when I went out of the house savoring my smoke and coffee, several kids in their loud shrilling voices sought permission "BUENAS!!! PUEDE MAN AGINALDO?!!!"

Before I could nod for approval they started singing "HEY JINGOL BEL! JINGOL BEL! JINGOL OL THE WAY, O WAS PAN DIDITS TURAY, IN DA WANDER SOFEN SAY HEY… WE LAP EN SING WE LAPAHA WE LAPAHA LALALA JINGOL OL DA WAY!"

It follows with another song "JOY TO THE WORD THE LORD IS CAM LETHER BERTING BERTING…"

Somewhere at the dark corner of our gate, my son Kenjo kept on murmuring (huh like mother) saying "bakit didits turay?  oy dahan dahan kayo kumanta, pano napunta si berting sa joy to the world?"

Actually the children were not really singing, they were all shouting. Since Kenjo wanted to correct the lyrics, he is among those shouting (at least correct yung lyrics although nagkakamali rin mga kanta.)

They were all racing against time. After one group of carolers, I guess I entertained about 10 groups in a matter of 35 minutes… everyone was in haste… I know they wanted to earn more this night cause its the last night for their caroling.

Unlike last year, I saw a lot of people moving around, some with gifts, the others with huge plastic bag of groceries beating time to buy something for Noche Buena.

I hardly see people around and the mood is quite different. There were less public utility like tricycle stopping over in front of our gate (as our gate has a lamppost so most of our neighbors prefer to alight near our residence for security reasons).

Last year most of the fences and doorstep were glittering with christmas lights but this time, only those rich neighbors with such grand decors, the rest is contented with blinking bulbs in their respective christmas trees.

But one thing I hated most is the neighbors insensitiveness when it comes to firecrackers. They are complaining about the high cost of commodities yet they keep burning their money by buying firecrackers.

I decided to leave the task to my son as I need to check the kitchen. We didnt prepare much this Christmas because most of the people we have had last Christmas are either abroad or spending Christmas with other families.

My brother Toto is now in Canada based on the last call he made three weeks ago, my other brother Jose is spending Christmas with his in laws in Lamitan along with my four nephews and nieces. My other brother Jimmy is in Riyadh.

Inside this compound, my mother celebrating Christmas together with sister Emma and her adopted 4 months old son Kijam in her own house.

My brother Joel is in another unit at the back with his wife and three kids. Although he is not so with Christmas celebration because he is Balik Islam.

Me and my son Kenjo the most loneliest probably in the compound, although my son’s voice enough to wake the entire community.

I just cooked a simple pasta with tuna and cheese, baked marinated prawns with garlic and fruit salad. In our table good for two people just slices of bread, fruits, pasta, prawns and salad. Of course brewed coffee is always present.

My son refused to sleep "baka hindi ko ma open yung mga gifts."

But I insisted since he’s been exhausted shouting together with the carolers.

Last year, Kenjo along with my nieces and nephews went from house to house caroling and he earned a share of P145.00.

I remember he donated the funds to the Kapuso Foundation after he saw in one of its campaign a little girl who wanted slippers.

The other savings he got from Godparents he also donated to Bantay Bata Foundation for another boy whom he called Tweety because of the hydrocephalus.

This year he missed the caroling since all my pamangkin experts in caroling were not around. He is complaining saying "walang  bigat ang alkansya ko ngayon."

 

Nanay appeared happy while taking care of a baby boy my
sister Emma adopted a couple of months ago. We baptized the little boy as
Kijam.

 

As she pushed the baby trolley around with Kijam tucked in,
I can’t help but noticed her sad eyes.

 

After almost an hour of walking around our backyard, she
decided to bring Kijam to rest near the storage area. There I saw her took my
brother’s helmet and wiped the dust off.

 

Nanay is missing our brother Jimmy Boy terribly.

 

Jimmy or Bobong is the fourth sibling and one among the
millions of Filipinos who decided to join the throngs of OFW. He is presently
in Riyadh working in one of the hospitals there.

 

My brother left early this year and it’s his first time to
leave the country. Bobong is a devout Catholic but before he left to work
abroad I bought him several Islamic books from Barns and Nobles in Washington DC so he could use it in an Islamic state.

 

At first he objected saying his intention was to work and
his faith has nothing to do with it. Yet I insisted because laws in the Philippines  differ greatly as we stepped in to foreign lands.

 

Finally he conceded and brought along 2 hardbound books, one
is about the laws and the second is about the faith.

 

Three months in the said country, my brother called up
saying he did the right thing bringing the materials.

 

Oftentimes he called informing us that he along with other
Filipino workers where on fasting and recently everyone in the said country is
observing the Hajj.

 

My mother cried during the first ever call my brother did.

 

Bobong was lamenting about the food, “halos hindi ko
makain.”

 

He missed a lot of things about Filipino foods like “Gata
Nangka” a boiled fresh jackfruit with coconut milk and dried fish, “Sinigang na
Salmon” a one dish soup with Mustasa, Radish, Bell Pepper, Ginger and Lemon
Grass using Salmon as the base protein or native chicken adobo.

 

When my brother was around, he’s the official cook of my
mother. Now as mother inspects the Lemon Grass and the Chili “hindi na gaanong
nagagalaw ang mga sili at tanglad, wala na kasing taga luto.”

 

My mother though married to Catholic still practicing Islam
in the house. She joins us in celebrating Christmas and all other Christian
holidays and feasts.

 

Every Christmas, my brother Bobong would always request me
to buy Crabs, Shrimps and Fish for media noche.

 

If everyone is excited about Ham, Chicken, Spaghetti or
Cheese, in our homes, my brother always prepares the non-traditional menu,
Crabs with heavy sauce made of coconut milk and garlic, marinated Shrimps deep
fried with corn oil coupled with homemade dip made of eggs and black pepper and
fish either broiled or steamed or the common is Sweet and Sour.

 

Bobong is considered my Nanay’s backbone at home after my
father passed away. Other than being the cook, he is also the plumber,
electrician, driver, errand boy, carpenter, mechanic and lot of other menial
and manual chores.

 

When December comes, it’s always Bobong being sought after
for the installation of outdoor Christmas lights, marketing, fixing the sound
systems and in charge of the pyrotechnics.

 

This December for the first time, my mother and the rest of
the family in this compound will be celebrating Christmas without him. We
already got used to my other brother Toto away from us for more than a decade,
but with Bobong it’s different.

 

One time I saw my mother playing the Christmas songs from
the albums of Nat King Cole, Cosby and Andy Williams. Those songs usually
played by Bobong when he was with us last Christmas. She was crying silently.

 

I remember my mother was still maintaining a small store at
her veranda then and to ease my mother, Bobong will play those albums to make
her happy.

 

When I was still frequenting my mother’s house, she kept
blaming the government “dahil kung maganda ang kinabukasan mo dito sa
Pilipinas, hindi na mag-iisip ang marami na umalis, kung meron man — isang
ambisyon na lang yon at hindi magpakahirap para kumita at guminhawa.”

 

My son Kenjo asked why Filipinos have to leave Pilipinas to
work abroad and he asked me if I am interested to leave Philippines.

 

I told him that Filipinos have to leave the country to work
and earn more so they could provide a better life to their respective families.

 

But not all Filipinos working abroad ended up with a good
story citing several OFW cases returning home either raped, murdered, jailed or
simply dying with mysterious cause.

 

Even if you are abroad say United States, not all of them
really like the job they have. I met several Filipinos during my trip to US and
most of them longed for Philippines,
the people, the community, the environment, relationship, culture.

 

While young Filipino generation in this country adored the
likes of Dennis Trillo and Angel Locsin… second generation Filipinos in United
States still stuck with Sharon Cuneta, Pops Fernandez, Haji Alejandro, Rico
Puno, Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor.

 

A friend (he does not want to publish his name as he is
connected in the government) showed me his collections which he downloaded from
the internet and funny because his collections are more of standard Filipino
music “I am proud of my collection, you’ll never see these albums on music
video shops or malls back in our country.”

 

I explained to my son that even with all the opportunities
to work abroad, I still prefer to be in this country, “dahil gustong-gusto kong
kumain na naka-kamay, gusto ko ang daing at bagoong, gusto ko ng preskong gulay
na kinukuha lang sa likuran ng bahay, gusto kong pawisan araw-araw, gusto kong
makipagtsismisan sa mga kaibigan ko na hindi iniisip ang oras ke nasa coffee
shop kami o sa pamamagitan ng telepono, gusto kong mag-alaga ng boungainvilla,
gumamela, san francisco at iba pang tropical na tanim.”

 

“Higit sa lahat, kung anuman ang laman ng utak ko at kung
anumang lakas meron ang katawan ko, gusto kong gamitin ito dito sa Pilipinas
kahit maliit lang ang kita. Kapag didilim at magpapahinga na tayo, masaya mong
isasara ang mga mata mo dahil sa isang araw na kayod… hindi lamang tiyan ng
pamilya ko ang nagkalaman, kundi may natulungan rin kahit papaano.”

 

I know my son would not understand all what I am telling him
but every time he shares his encounter with me he keeps saying “at least tayo
Mama me bigas sa bahay, yung iba, mamumulot muna ng lata o basura para
magkaroon ng bigas na iluluto.”

 

But Kenjo is insisting why Tito Bobong has to leave when he
has no family to feed, “wala nga siyang asawa at anak.”

 

At my brother’s age 35 and an engineer, he hardly gets good
break in the country though he worked once with the American soldiers in Sulu
but we advised him to resign then because of security reasons.

 

In Riyadh his expertise is needed and paid well but like all other OFW, he has to
sacrifice a lot of things he got used to before so he could get good employment
and better life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A RECORD YEAR NEVER WITNESSED BEFORE

www.pressemblem.ch

   
GENEVA, PEC, December 17 – According to the Press Emblem Campaign
monitoring system (the PEC Ticking Clock), never before has so many
journalists been killed in one year, the total up to date is 110 as
compared with 96 in 2006 and 68 in 2005.

    Therefore the 2007 year causality figure reflects a marked by a new deterioration for freedom of the press world wide.

    This year’s tally represents a 14 percent increase over the 2006 figure.

   
In total journalists have been killed in 27 countries led by those
killed in Iraq, the most dangerous, for the fifth consecutive year,
with 50 journalists killed this year against 48 last year and at least
250 since the war was launched in Iraq in March 2003.

    The situation in Iraq represents an unprecedented situation of collective slaughter and
punishment of members of the media profession.

   
Somalia comes second to Iraq which witnesses a brutal deterioration in
the security conditions for the profession, 8 journalists killed this
year against one last year.

    Sri Lanka ranks third, seven journalists killed this year against four last year due to the intensity of the civil war.

   
In addition, the continued deterioration is clear in Pakistan where 5
journalists were killed; both Afghanistan and the Philippines have seen
four journalists killed in each country.

    Haiti, Columbia and Mexico flag at the Sixth, seventh and eighth positions with three killed in each country.

   
The tally continues: Nepal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
Eritrea, and India and Guatemala: two journalists killed in each
country.

    During 2006 Mexico was one of the most dangerous
places for journalists with eight journalists killed. This year’s PEC
monitoring of the situation shows an improvement in the situation.

   
One journalist was killed in each of the following countries: Honduras,
Uzbekistan, Salvador, Burma/Myanmar, United States, Paraguay, Gaza,
Zimbabwe, Russia, Peru, Brazil, Ghana and Turkey.

    It is clear that the majority of journalists killed were killed in conflict zones: Iraq,

Sri Lanka, Somalia and Afghanistan.

    69 journalists of the total of 110 killed in 2007 were killed in those four dangerous conflict zones.

   
PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen noted that the increase in the
number of victims among journalists is directly linked to the coverage
of major conflict marked by grave human rights violations of major
dimensions.

    In other situations, journalists were targeted
because of their political opinion, or because their coverage, the
living example is that of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaia killed
last year in October 2006, and others like Hrant Dink killed January 19
this year in Istanbul, Turkey, Edward Chikombo killed one April 2007 in
Zimbabwe, Francois Latour on 23 May, 2007 in Port-au Prince (Haiti),
Serge Maheshe, of Radio Okapi, on 13 June, 2007 in Bukavu, the DRC, and
the Japanese reporter Kenji Nagai, on 27 September 2007 in Rangoun
during the peaceful demonstrations that were followed by a brutal
crackdown.

   
In order to face this increasing deterioration in the security
situation surrounding the media profession, the PEC has launched a
global campaign on a draft international convention for the protection
of journalists in conflict zones, civil unrest and other situations.

     The PEC has sent out the draft convention to representatives of UN member states in Geneva.

   
PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi stressed that this draft convention, a
wide ranging exercise prepared by the PEC Board, could be the basis of
improved national legislation and could expand to include other matters
like wage, insurance and housing rights.

   
Those are issues, she added, that gravely affect the human security of
freelance journalists and are real issues in developing countries.

   
“When ratified, the draft Convention, shall stand as a tribute to all
journalists and media workers under attack, who are directly or
indirectly targeted, and are part of the news for sometime then
forgotten,” added Abdel Nabi.

    The PEC President noted that
this draft when adopted will be a token gift for those journalists who
have risked their lives, their families and their sacred profession to
uncover the truth, to ensure that victims are reached, and to guarantee
freedom of opinion and expression.

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