Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

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CHAPTER 2War zones and conflict areasWhen Alex Perry and histranslator entered the fort atQala-i-Jangi, they stayedbehind a wall with membersof the Red Cross while thebattle was raging. Later theygot closer access to theNorthern Alliancecommanders, the SAS,American Special Forces andthe CIA.“The Taliban had thesouthwest quadrant of thefort and at the southeast endwas the Northern Alliancecommand post. There was agun battle all day. We werebehind 20-metre walls butyou could see people comingback shot. This was a bigstruggle. I had to be there.“A Special Forces translatorTranslator’s concernssaved reporter fromlethal ‘friendly fire’Reporter Alex Perry, fromTime magazine, was thefirst Western journalist toreach Qala-i-Jangi fort inAfghanistan, in December2001, when Talibanprisoners took over part ofthe fort. He was the onlyjournalist present for thewhole three day uprising.He learned that being closeto the action may benecessary, but sometimes your life depends on knowing when tolisten to a colleague and back off. Photo: Time magazineran away and they co-opted mine. I sat with the Special Forces as they called in bomb strikes.I put myself in their hands. I did feel quite safe as I told myself that the Northern Alliance andSpecial Forces did not want to die. For that day it worked, but the next day they movedposition to the northeast tower.“My translator wanted us to leave but I felt we could not. He asked an Afghani commander toorder us out. I and three other colleagues left under duress. Half an hour later a 2,000lb laserguidedbomb hit where we had been sitting, killing more than ten people.”Alex stayed for a week, putting together an authoritative report on the Taliban uprising for Time.However, he is very aware of how close he came to losing his life. “Over three days the battlegot closer and closer and the Taliban had got hold of mortars. One night I came out of the forttoo late – 100 yards away from the Northern Alliance who thought in the dark that we wereescaping Taliban and started shooting at us. We just ran until they gave up chasing us.”ITN reporter Andrea Catherwood was wounded at the same fort when a Taliban prisonerexploded a hidden hand grenade.Alex has since been on a safety course, and is very grateful for that. “I think the course hasbeen fantastic. I feel I have the confidence to make better decisions. Even simple stuff like therange of the guns is useful information and good background.”■32
Live News — A Survival Guide for JournalistsPhotographers in Orahovac, Kosovo, passing destroyed cars and houses afterAlbanian rebels withdrew in July 1998. Photo: AP / Srdjan Ilic◆ If other journalists start leaving, they might know somethingyou do not. Pay attention to civilians. If busy streets suddenlyempty, perhaps you should consider a rapid withdrawal.After the battle◆ If you visit the scene of a battle, be aware that there may bemines or unexploded shells and that buildings may be unsafe.◆ What goes up must come down. Militia often celebrate the endof battle by firing into the air. These bullets descend at terminalvelocity, around 190km/h (120mph). Many people have beenkilled or injured during burst of celebratory fire.MinefieldsThe UN estimated there were 120 million landmines worldwidewhen the campaign to ban landmines began in 1995. Since then,the 1997 Ottawa Treaty has led to the Convention on the Prohibition ofIN THE BATTLE ZONE◆ Do not be overconfident.Respect your own limitations.◆ Take responsibility for yourown decisions.◆ Closer is not always better.◆ Never carry a weapon.◆ Keep yourself clean and yourmorale high.◆ Don’t get too close to shelling— even if the fire is ‘friendly’.◆ Pay attention to what othersare doing.◆ Don’t pick up battle souvenirs— they may explode.◆ What goes up must comedown. Beware of celebratoryfire.33
Page 1 and 2: A SURVIVAL GUIDEFOR JOURNALISTSLIVE
Page 3 and 4: LIVENEWSA SURVIVAL GUIDEFOR JOURNAL
Page 5 and 6: ContentsPreface . . . . . . . . . .
Page 7 and 8: IntroductionOver the past 12 years
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Page 15 and 16: Chapter 1Preparing to work inhostil
Page 27 and 28: Part 2The Danger ZoneA cameraman ju
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Page 57 and 58: Chapter 4Abductions, hostagetaking
Page 77 and 78: Chapter 5Emergencymedical aidJourna
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Live News — A Survival Guide for
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Part 4The Campaign ZoneMacedonian j
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Appendix 2Statistics on deaths of j
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