JOURNALISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A risky profession. Media representatives often face extreme situations while covering news of conflicts and fighting, and it’s no wonder that in such a volatile situation they, too, might turn out to be easy targets and become victims. Despite such risks and dangers, there is no shortage of our brave colleagues around the world who do not hesitate to move forward and take those risks for the sake of informing the world what is happening when some situation somewhere suddenly turns volatile.

Reuters cameraman Hiro Muramoto had been a well-known face at the Club for quite some time. Though not a member of the Club, he frequently attended press events to cover the news on behalf of his agency. I’m sure many of you have seen him around with his camera and came to know him closely.

Hiro was an experienced cameraman who knew perfectly well from which angles shots should be taken to catch the pulse of the situation better. During his last official assignment in Bangkok, he was seen running with fleeing protesters and also catching glimpses of the police trying to force the protesters out of a downtown area. He was obviously aware of the risk that he was taking by filming so close the scenes of violence. But this did not deter him from doing what he intended to do – to tell the audience everything possible through reliable video images. But his brave act eventually turned out to be too risky, as a bullet came out of nowhere and struck him in the chest. With his untimely death we’ve lost a friend and a brave colleague who didn’t hesitate to risk his life to let us know what was happening right there on the spot. Hiro’s memory will remain with us and will encourage us to show courage and determination in times of need.

As we mourn the untimely death of one of our courageous colleagues in Bangkok, we are also increasingly worried about the safety of freelance Japanese journalist Kousuke Tsuneoka, who was kidnapped by gunmen in a Taliban-controlled region of Afghanistan in late March. He has not been heard from since then.

The profession of journalism had always been a risky vocation. But it seems in a world full of conflicts and clashes, such risks are suddenly on the rise, as various groups are resorting to the unhealthy practice of intimidating media representatives for their narrow self-interest. We can only hope that decency will prevail, allowing us to work in an atmosphere free of fear and intimidation.

– Monzurul Huq