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Dangerous Assignments Posted on: Tue, January 11 2005 - 1:05 pm Reporting on conflict is no walk in the park, but journalists can minimize their risks by taking precautions by Yvonne T. Chua IT WAS August 1987, and renegade soldiers were attempting yet another coup against the Aquino government. Naturally, GMA-7 reporter Jessica Soho made sure she was at the government-run Channel 4, which the rebel soldiers had taken over. But Soho sensed that fighting could break out any time, and she and her crew quickly sought shelter in the nearby Viva office compound. But she couldn't resist trying to peep through a window to see what was happening outside—only to be roundly scolded by a Viva employee. "You want to get shot?" he yelled at her. So Soho and her team stayed close to the floor. A few minutes later, Soho saw the employee sprawled on the ground, felled by sniper fire. Agence-France Presse photojournalist Romeo Gacad knew as well he was on dangerous ground when he had to drive through an oil field in Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War. That's why he made sure he drove over tire marks, and stopped once the marks ended. He then looked out the window and saw a landmine protruding from the ground beside his left tire. His companion, a British journalist, inspected the right tire, without getting off the car, and found another landmine. "We backed out right away," Gacad says. Gacad and Soho are veterans in covering conflicts. In the Philippines, they have covered the communist, military, and Muslim rebellions; people power revolutions; marches, rallies, and demonstrations; labor strikes, bombings, and hostage-taking incidents. Overseas, Gacad was assigned to the Desert Storm operation in the early 1990s and the war in Afghanistan more recently. Soho just got back from reporting on Israel. Earlier, she was in Pakistan. Both have emerged from all these assignments unscathed partly because they have taken this advice to heart: "No story is worth your life." While they take risks, as most journalists do, they avoid taking unnecessary ones that could cost their—or other people's—lives or limbs. Unlike many journalists in developed countries, who have taken courses on personal security, Gacad and Soho have had to rely solely on experience to learn to keep themselves out of harm's way. They both agree that conducting safety training for journalists would be a good idea, especially in conflict-prone Philippines. International press groups have identified the Philippines as one of the world's media hotspots: 37 journalists, mostly provincial reporters, have been killed in the country since 1986. Yet no local news organization has seen the need to follow the global trend of sending journalists to train for dangerous assignments. Big media organizations like the BBC, CNN, Reuters, ABC, NBC, Independent Television Network, Associated Press Television, and The New York Times have been sending their staff to hostile environment courses run by the UK-based Centurion Risk Assessment Services and AKE Ltd. Even before the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington, enrolment had leaped following the deaths of APTN's Miguel Gil Moreno and Reuters' Kurt Schork in Sierra Leone in May 2000. Then came the attacks and the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in February; now the hostile environment classes are packed even more. Centurion and AKE's five-day courses show journalists the operation of different weapons and ballistics, recommended procedures during abduction and captivity, recognition and avoidance of mines and booby traps and emergency first aid, such as how to prevent a colleague from bleeding to death, as well as coping with the post-traumatic stress disorder. Centurion now also conducts biological and chemical warfare seminars following the anthrax attacks. The courses are so realistic that one female journalist who was "ambushed and kidnapped" as part of the course bashed her arm on the door of her vehicle then split her bottom lip as she was thrown to the ground, face down. All that training paid off when she was assigned to Sarajevo. As many journalists cannot afford to pay for such courses, several groups have stepped in to help. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has sponsored safety-training courses for journalists in danger areas like Afghanistan, Palestine and Pakistan. In addition, the IFJ has an International Code of Practice for the Safe Conduct of Journalism and a safety manual called "Danger: Journalists at Work," which outlines steps to take to make sure journalists stay alive or out of danger. The manual also lists organizations to contact like the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Sans Frontieres if a journalist goes missing, or is captured or arrested. Plus, there is an IFJ safety fund for these beleaguered journalists. In memory of Kurt Schork, the Reuters Foundation last year began an annual program sponsoring local journalists from 12 countries to participate in Centurion's five-day hostile environment course. Freelance media workers, meanwhile, have the Rory Peck Training Fund to turn to for funding assistance. For Filipino journalists who may not get the chance to be sent to these special courses, here are some survival tips from Gacad and Soho: BEFORE YOU LEAVE Be mentally prepared. Research where you're going-the people, the climate, the road condition, the security situation. In foreign countries, Gacad gets briefings from the AFP bureau chiefs on the security situation before embarking on his assignment. Once in the field, he gets a daily security situation assessment from authorities, such as the mujahideen commanders in Afghanistan, before heading for the frontline. He also relies on radio communication to find more about the security conditions. For potentially risky provincial assignments, Soho coordinates with GMA's local stations. She also gets in touch with the mayor or governor to find out what's happening on the ground. For overseas coverage, Soho consults the embassy for an assessment of the situation and occasionally for assistance, such as booking a hotel room. Know the embassy's press attache or point person, she advises. Soho also says that journalists should learn the culture of a foreign place or any unfamiliar group they will be dealing with. She recalls her arrival in Pakistan as scary, having been one of the only two female passengers on board the airplane that landed at midnight in Lahore. Both she and the other woman passenger, who was Caucasian, stood out in the crowd and drew stern stares; they had no burkas. Be physically prepared. Gacad does basic exercises, especially to strengthen the body. A conditioned body is important for any travel condition. Pack a compass, map, flashlight, binoculars, and first-aid kit. If space permits, bring a bulletproof vest and a helmet. Gacad wears a watch fitted with a compass. Soho always carries a small flashlight in her bag. Gacad never leaves for a risky assignment without a map; Soho often has neither a map nor a compass leaves on local assignments. "We're not oriented to maps or compasses, and it's easy to get around the Philippines," she explains. But covering conflict in a foreign land without a map is a no-no, she says. A bulletproof vest enhances the safety of journalists, but takes up a lot of baggage space. Wearing a 15-kilo vest the whole day can also be impractical. "You'll be dead from exhaustion," says Gacad. "It's really a choice between wearing the vest and being productive the whole day." Soho, who has worn a bulletproof vest once or twice, says it's not comfortable to wear one in warm weather. Gacad is unaccustomed to bringing a first-aid kit, but pays attention to the locations of first-aid stations and medical teams. For the Gulf War assignment, Gacad made time to drive up to Pampanga to buy a chemical warfare suit. Choose your flight. Soho now realizes that flying the Israeli airline El Al to cover the fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians was a mistake. The likelihood of suicide bombers or hijackers on board the plane was great, she says. Be familiar with weapons. What are these? What are their effective ranges? This would help journalists assess their chances of getting out alive when the shooting or bombing starts, Gacad says. Journalists can learn from the experts, including the soldiers and rebels they normally come across. WHEN YOU GET THERE Hire a reliable driver and guide. In the absence of a translator or guide, the driver usually doubles as one. The driver or guide, Gacad says, can be the journalists' "translator, defender, and savior." A careless guide, Soho adds, can put journalists in harm's way. The Philippine embassy helped Soho hire a guide in Pakistan. But when her team reached Peshawar, the religious leaders demanded that they take a local guide. Soho was referred to a newspaper where she negotiated with the editor to provide a journalist as their guide for $100 a day. She made it a point to find out where the guide was from and on whose side he was. Gacad looks for a driver and guide on his own. He goes to the parking lot and checks out two or three drivers. A mental checklist helps him make his selection: Where is the driver from? Does he speak the local language? How reliable is his transportation? And of course, how much is he charging? Stay in a neutral and secure place. Journalists should avoid bunking with their subjects, as this leaves them open to attacks, as well as suspicion from the other side, says Soho. Still, there are times when journalists have no choice but to take up their subject's offer of lodging. At the height of the communist insurgency, Soho had to avail herself of arrangements made by the military, especially when then Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos went on his inspection trips. Ramos could cover three provinces in a day, hopping from a helicopter, Humvee, a tank. "If you stayed in a hotel of your choice, you'd fall behind," Soho says. Gacad checks out the place where he's to stay. Is it secure from possible attacks? Are there security personnel around? He examines windows in the room to see if they expose him to gunfire, and locates the exits. Staying in a place with a stable supply of electricity also matters to Gacad, as he has to work with computers, satellite phones, and other equipment. For journalists staying at the frontline most of the time, buy a tent and provisions, Gacad says. Don't draw attention to yourself. Gacad chucked his trousers for Afghan wear after he nearly got hit in the leg by sniper fire at a captured Al-Qaida camp. A mujahideen commander later explained that the Al-Qaida people who had retreated to the mountains targeted people in trousers, whom they assumed were foreigners. "I didn't have a bulletproof vest, but I felt more secured in my Afghan outfit because I blended with the locals," says Gacad. WHEN ON THE ROAD Travel with another person or in a group. While traveling in a group is ideal, safety-wise, it imposes certain limitations on journalists wanting to do stories on their own. Journalists who dislike traveling in a big group had best make sure they travel with a fellow journalist or a guide as their companion, Gacad says. Never travel alone in risky places. Stay alert, even when traveling in a group. One danger in traveling in a group is developing herd mentality. A journalist may emerge as the leader and start giving orders, and everyone follows. When the person who is leading puts his or her desire to get a story over personal safety, the group can be in big trouble. Avoid getting separated from the group. Soho issued this stern warning to a group of young journalists GMA had sent to Kabul. Gacad recalls that four foreign journalists who were killed while crossing Pakistan from Jalalabad to Kabul were separated from their convoy and attacked by bandits. Avoid traveling with a military convoy or in a military vehicle. Gacad is constantly reminded of how Reuters photojournalist Willie Vicoy died in 1986. Vicoy and several journalists were with a military convoy returning from a town in Cagayan that had been raided by the New People's Army when communist rebels ambushed them. If you do have to ride a military vehicle, get out of it the first chance you get. Gacad had to ride a military security jeep while covering the first meeting between government negotiators and the Abu Sayyaf leaders in Sulu. But once he got the chance, he transferred to a safer vehicle—an ambulance. Travel the main road; observe the traffic. In general, main roads are safer than others. A free flow of traffic is also a good sign. But the absence of traffic for about an hour or so may be a warning of trouble ahead. Binoculars come in handy to spot armed people along the road. It is advisable to stop at least a kilometer away from where the armed group is and find out if it is a "friendly force," says Gacad. Proceed if the group is one, get out if it's not. WHEN THERE'S FIRING Stay at a vantage position. Finding a vantage position, where journalists can cover the fighting without going too near trouble areas, helps. Powerful cameras allow journalists to cover conflict from a safe distance. Soho recalls that her cameraman set up his camera between two tanks positioned in front of Camp Cawa-cawa in Zamboanga City when Rizal Alih and his band laid siege on the military facility in 1988. Common sense guided her experienced cameraman: government helicopters were unlikely to bomb the tanks once they attacked the camp. He was right. Get out when you sense or you're told of an impending attack. Soho did not think twice when colleagues told her to get out of EDSA as the initial batch of helicopters sent by generals still loyal to Marcos were already on their way to fire on the crowd. She and her cameraman ran toward the unoccupied V.V. Soliven building and climbed 10 to 12 floors to the top of the building in total darkness in record time. But they began to worry again when they found that snipers the reformist group had sent to shoot down the helicopters were near the building. When the shooting begins, hit the ground. Or run in the opposition direction, if firing comes from one direction. Or find a good cover if you're in an open place. Stay under cover until the coast is clear. Keeping safe in a total ambush situation, with gunfire coming from many directions, is a tall order. But Gacad says it helps to find out who the most experienced person is in the group you are with, be they rebels, soldiers, or journalists. Follow what the person does or tells you to do. Of course, Gacad says, the best thing to do in an ambush or bombing is to get out of the place. IF YOU ARE TAKEN HOSTAGE Fortunately, neither Gacad nor Soho has ever been taken captive while on a dangerous assignment. Terry Anderson, the former Beirut AP bureau chief who spent nearly seven years as a hostage, tells news organizations: "They should never agree to pay ransom for a journalist, no matter what the circumstances." But Soho says that's easier said than done. When journalists are held in captivity, she believes they want to get out of the situation as soon as possible, even if it means paying. Centurion advises against fighting captors or trying to escape from a hostage situation. Be unnoticeable or "the grey man," it says. Centurion also advises women not to try to fight off rapists. "You may lose your dignity, but you stay alive," it says repeatedly in its training. OTHER USEFUL TIPS When you miscalculate, don't panic. When panic strikes, disaster follows, says Gacad. Journalists who, say, get lost should keep calm and alert and slowly retrace their steps, he advises. Be wary of all your sources. Some sources, even those that have proved reliable in the past, could lead journalists into a trap by dangling a chance at an exclusive. That is basically what happened to some journalists covering the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and Sulu, notes Gacad. In the rush of trying to get the story, journalists let down their guard. Soho says GMA has learned from reporter Susan Enriquez's unpleasant brush with the Abu Sayyaf in 2000. The Abu Sayyaf had refused to let Enriquez leave when she covered the negotiations between the bandits and actor Robin Padilla and broadcast journalist-turned-senator Noli de Castro; a member wanted to make her his wife. In the end the Abu Sayyaf was prevailed upon to release Enriquez, who is married with kids. Today, GMA carefully reviews invitations to interview the Abu Sayyaf. An unwritten rule is not to send women reporters to cover the group. Soho says arranged interviews by a big group is often favored over a solo interview. But it really depends on who the journalist is going to talk to, she adds. Don't give in easily to demands. The Abu Sayyaf, for example, is known to ask for shoes and watches. Gacad says journalists should try to stand their ground as much as they can. Once journalists buckle under, the groups start demanding for more. Yet the obviously wise thing to do when a demand is made at gunpoint is to just hand over what they want. Know where to draw the line. Journalists should not go beyond journalism like offering themselves as go-between of the opposing forces. That's inviting trouble, says Gacad. He adds that journalists should avoid cutting deals-offering money or agreeing to turn over pictures or videos- in exchange for access, he says. If they do, better honor it. Play out possible scenarios. Gacad and his French colleague had been fired on when they tried to get to the Tora Bora caves that had been taken over by the mujahideens and U.S. special forces and declared off-limits. But this didn't stop them from trying again the day after. This time, they were prepared to get caught. The worst scenario, they told each other, was that their equipment would be confiscated and they would be taken some place but wouldn't be killed. They rehearsed their alibi: they were on holiday and wanted to visit the caves. They hiked up a dirt road and down to a river. They ignored the U.S. Special Forces at a checkpoint, who apparently were too surprised to see them and did nothing. They then met the first mujahideen guard who, after some convincing, took them to the first cave, an ammunition storage, and the second cave. The two journalists ran into trouble at the second cave with another mujahideen guard, but they were ready to deal with the situation. Trust your instinct. Journalists who have covered conflicts somehow learn to sense danger. Gacad was with a group of journalists in Basilan tailing a military convoy deployed to intercept an Abu Sayyaf band when their vehicle got stuck in mud a kilometer off the main road. He examined the terrain and began to feel uneasy. He asked his fellow journalists to turn back. The following morning, they learned that the Abu Sayyaf ambushed the convoy and killed 12 soldiers. Of the 12, three were beheaded. AT THE very least, the days of sending journalists to cover conflict for two to three years, as newsrooms did during the Vietnam War, are long over. To avoid war shock, news organizations like the AFP pull out journalists who have spent two to three months at the frontline. Gacad spent almost two months covering Desert Storm, including the liberation of Kuwait, and 20 days in Afghanistan. But like many journalists exposed to violence, he is haunted from time to time by the gruesome images he has witnessed and caught on camera. He suffers from what he acknowledges as emotional fatigue. "I start to feel I'm not a normal person," says Gacad. "From all this exposure to conflict, I feel I have become desensitized to violence: everything is cheap; you can get easily killed." He carries emotional baggage as well, brought about by having been with soldiers and other people whom he discovers are later killed. In the fast-paced world of television, Soho says there is no time for journalists to even recognize the symptoms of the stress that may arise from their exposure to conflict. Yet sometimes, she is bothered by a "been there, done that" feeling she gets. Soho acknowledges the danger of journalists becoming jaded and casual about lives that are lost to violence. In the absence of professional help, Soho processes her feelings on her own. She demands of herself the following: Treat each story as special. Portray victims of violence as humans. Put emotions into the story. Make sure each story has impact. Says Soho: "You can't be nonchalant." Copyright © 2002 All rights reserved. PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM This article has been viewed 3568 times » List All Articles in the Archives

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