The Peninsula Newspaper
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
My eyes well with tears and my heart grieves over the death of my dear colleague Ali; my dear friend “Bo Abdullah”. Your absence, my brother, is an enormous tragedy that has befallen us in the media -- the departure of a brother, a friend, and a fellow professional, Ali Hassan Al-Jaber, who died after he was targeted by treacherous Libyan militias. The traitors are struggling to the very last breath to feed the fires of dictatorship that have burned for over forty years.
Anyone who knew Bo Abdullah must have seen his high ethical standards, outstanding courage, sharp wit, and permanent smile even in the darkest, most bitter moments. It was no surprise to find Bo Abdullah, who was the manager of the Arabic CNBC office in Doha and director of the photography department in Al Jazeera, take his camera and travel to cover events in the most dangerous places on the face of the earth, filming battles that some may believe have nothing to do with him, and that someone else could easily be sent on his behalf! But it is not the first time that he offered his usual courage as he has done this before in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and countless places in the world that are rife with conflicts and wars.
It all lies in the secret, rare love for the profession and its troubles. It stems from the responsibility to document history, contribute to the industry, record the moment of separation, and witness points in time in all of their manifestations through the eye of his camera; his eternal love. It is a belief that the media is a weapon that makes a difference in contemporary history when all other mechanisms and mediums of change have failed in the Arab world, home to most of the world’s dictators!
The distinctive role played by the likes of Ali Al-Jaber with his brethren in Al-Jazeera, reporters, broadcasters, technicians, administrators, and officials has enabled the station to dominate the Arab media, and turned it into one of the most important channels in the world. It is one of the most followed channels by the people who have raised its slogan in a large number of demonstrations in more than one Arab country. The role played by the station is reinforced as it served most of the revolutions in Arab countries.
Therefore, Marc Lynch, a lecturer at George Washington University and a specialist in Arab media wrote, “they [Al-Jazeera] did not cause these events, but it is impossible to imagine all this happening without Al-Jazeera.” People behind the revolutions could not achieve the same success if Al-Jazeera did not embrace them and portray their movement with voices and images in the streets and in public squares. Dare we imagine what would have happened to the Arab media landscape without Al-Jazeera!
Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) division, confirmed that the Al-Jazeera team led by Ali Al-Jaber was targeted in a deliberate and brutal manner.
“Coming so soon after the detention and torture by Colonel Gaddafi’s forces of three BBC staff - who were subjected to beatings and mock executions - and the detention of other journalists, this killing is most disturbing.
“It is essential that this killing and the other abuses against journalists are investigated as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s investigation into the situation in Libya. Those responsible for the killing of Ali Hassan Al-Jaber must be held accountable for their actions.”
The last report prepared by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) points out that the killing of journalists has increased remarkably in countries that are in a state of peace because of disclosure issues relating to corruption, drug trafficking, and human rights violations, let alone the countries in a state of war and armed conflict! The international organization condemned the killings of 125 journalists and media professionals between the years 2008-2009. The Philippines tops the list of acts of violence against media personnel, while there is a significant decline in Iraq, which has known daily armed conflicts and clashes. The UNESCO report confirms that among the 28 countries where journalists were killed between 2006-2007. only 15 countries responded to the request of filing a detailed report on these crimes to the organization to investigate the backgrounds of the killings. UNESCO explains that it has developed a new draft resolution that will be discussed during the meeting of the International Council for the Development of Communication, calling for following-up on the murders of journalists and media professionals that are condemned by the organization. The organization also suggested the observation of a moment of silence in each newsroom in the world on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd to pay tribute to journalists who were killed while conducting their noble duties.
It is vital that we do not forget our real martyrs and heroes who sacrificed their lives to deliver the news to us. While they dedicate themselves to providing pictures of the battlefield in order for us to know what is going on in the world around us, we sit comfortably in our homes, condemning, deploring, supporting, or applauding. Society must remember these noble people and the community should recognize and honor them through naming streets after them and carrying their photos in public places and national buildings. Memorials should be erected in their memory, and their lives should be documented in films, books, and references that address the country’s history and present.
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