OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND JOURNALISTS IN EQUAL DANGER

Tim Hetherington, Photographer

Although I never had the privilege of knowing Tim Hetherington, his death today in Libya is nevertheless a grim and salutary reminder of the price that freedom exacts when we are in the business of dealing with dictatorships and tyranny.

Tim Hetherington is an outstanding Photographer, who insisted on using traditional 'old fashioned' equipment, development through negative, so as to truly capture the visciousness of war, that we at home might become more aware and educated on just what price is being paid in the various theatres of war in which this country is currently engaged.

His unique ability lies also in his method of reporting; his style, his humanitarian and compassionate approach, all with one aim: to alert all of us to the sacrifices being made and to bring the full facts to us.

It is absolutely essential that our photographers and journalists be allowed access to areas of operations. We, the general public, must know what is going on. The presence of photographers and journalists just might be that final lifeline to a community that, without their presence, would be in even greater danger and possibly facing mass slaughter.

This is the horror of war.

It is the scenario upon which human nature plays itself out; and our photographers and journalists are that vital check and balance that might stay the hand of a tyrant, and which enables our own troops to complete the operation in Afghanistan, or the rebel forces on the ground in Libya, and the NATO air forces enforcing the no-fly zone above.

Captain Lisa Jade Head

Equally tragic this week is the death of Captain Lisa Jade Head from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, who died at Queen Elizabeth NHS Hospital, Birmingham of wounds suffered in Afghanistan on Monday. The second female British soldier to have been killed in action in this war and the 364th soldier to have been killed in action since operations began in Afghanistan.

The extraordinary bravery of soldiers called upon to clear minefields cannot be overstated. Few are able to even stay the intsenive course of training. Those who do and then take up operations in the field are very brave people indeed. For let us not forget that often, whilst they are very carefully and methodically defusing an explosive device, they are doing so under fire; not occasional fire, but systematic fire, a full blown battle that involves sniping, mortar fire and even hand to hand fighting; something that is not fully reported.

Let us keep the bravery of these courageous people in mind.

Ian Bradley Marshall
LIVERPOOL
21 April 2011