– Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia The Malaysian Insider September 03, 2011
SEPT 3 – The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia mourns the death of BERNAMA TV cameraperson Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, 41, who was killed in Mogadishu, Somalia, while travelling with a group on an aid mission for the famine-struck nation. Our heartfelt condolences go to the family and friends of the late Noramfaizul.
We welcome the Somali government’s assurance that the circumstances of his death will be investigated and conveyed to the Malaysian public, and hope that justice will be meted out to those responsible.
On their part, Malaysian authorities and organisers of such missions to conflict areas must clarify the protection measures undertaken for accompanying journalists. This would include providing journalists with a thorough safety briefing and training, as well as protective gear that should also differentiate them as journalists or neutral observers.
Media owners, too, must fulfil their responsibility to staff in terms of basic protection, such as ensuring insurance coverage for tasks undertaken in the line of duty. As well, given the trend toward regional reporting and the concurrent need for journalist protection, media owners can work with organisations such as the International News Safety Institute to provide journalists with safety training and equipment.
Ultimately, with all the humanly possible preparations in place, the decision of whether to accept deployments to danger zones must be the journalist’s alone. Journalists must be fully aware of the conditions and risks of their assignment, and if they think the safety measures are inadequate, they must have the right to decline such tasks without fear of disciplinary repercussions from their employers. Journalists must take a stand and assert their right to protection while on the job.
CIJ urges Malaysian media organisations to ensure that those who accept assignments to conflict areas or danger zones are experienced journalists who have gone through appropriate hostile environment and risk awareness training and have the necessary safety equipment before going on these assignments.