Delving into Tragedy of Humanity, Publicizing Every Peace Effort

AFP/SERGEI SUPINSKY

Servicemen take part in a joint tactical and special exercises of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ukrainian National Guard and Ministry Emergency in a ghost city of Pripyat, near Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on February 4, 2022.

It is more than 100 days since the humanitarian tragedy has gripped Ukraine. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 Feb. 2022, thousands of people have been killed and tens of millions of people, including the elderly and children, forced to live in refuge.

The Ukraine-Russia war has had huge impacts not only on the two countries in conflict, but also on the larger region and the world. The war, which leaves Russia tottering from the political blockade and economic sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies, has caused not only geopolitical tension, but also economic adversity due to the disrupted supply chain of fuel, food and industrial products.

Also read:

> Economic Impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War

> Russia-Ukraine Crisis and Deglobalization

Indonesia is not free from repercussions. People from all walks of life have been affected by the effects of increasing fuel prices. Slamet Ragil, a fried-food seller in a village in Magelang, Central Java, suddenly finds his livelihood insecure. He and his family are enduring a difficult time as they desperately struggle, in particular, to afford the bulk-cooking oil. It is all due to the war in Ukraine, a country he has never before been familiar with.

On the other hand, support in the form of advanced weapons from Western countries, led by the US, continues to pour into Ukraine. Some analysts worry about the conflict triggering a Third World War that could put life on earth at peril.

Up until now, there seems no sign of the war abating, with Russia continuing the assault on the eastern region of Ukraine. On the other hand, support in the form of advanced weapons from Western countries, led by the US, continues to pour into Ukraine. Some analysts worry about the conflict triggering a Third World War that could put life on earth at peril.

The noble task of journalist

The impact of the Ukraine-Russia war on humanity is so significant that Kompas has been moved to make a special on-the-spot report, sending journalists Harry Susilo and Kris Razianto Mada to seek to understand the war-wrought human sufferings in a firsthand exploration, by seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and feeling what is happening, to be reported to Kompas’ readers.

The news coverage on Ukraine-Russia is being done not without the over-arching life-threatening risk. However, considering it so important for humanity, we have embarked on this noble journalistic mission in line with the relentlessly fought-for vision of Kompas, which is to care about humanity.

In his book Belajar Jurnalistik dari Humanisme Harian Kompas: Harga sebuah visi (Learning Journalism from Daily Kompas Daily-Promoted Humanism: Vision at Stake), Sindhunata says journalistic work is not merely about writing skills, but it is an opportunity to show concern about humanity, which needed by society and nation.

AFP/ARIS MESSINIS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (2nd L) arrives to attend a military drill outside the city of Rivne, northern Ukraine on February 16, 2022.

Of course, feeling fear is human. However, driven by the noble objective of journalism, we try to shrug off the fear. A bout of fear may naturally arise, but that is the time when a journalist should challenge themselves to restrain it and answer the calls of humanity through conscience-driven observation and fact finding.

That is what was once expressed by Greg Marinovich, a photojournalist who won the Pulitzer Prize in the film The Bang Bang Club, which tells about him, along with three colleagues, struggling to cope with conflicts in Africa in 1990-1994.

Harry Susilo and Kris R Mada, who have built field expertise, journalism knowledge and conflict-covering experience, have volunteered to shoulder this tough task. Preparations to go to the war zone took about a month.

This special report on war is expected to give perspective on humanitarian issues and make public every effort pursued to bring the conflict to peace.

“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war,” Norman Schwarzkopf, a retired US four-star general Vietnam veteran, said.

The approach to pacifist journalism that is now being developed by mainstream media is different from the conventional approach to covering war. War is not seen simply as a hostility exchange between two warring sides, which leads to a win or loss. Instead, the press must be proactive in helping create a win-win solution in bringing peace.

They should feel themselves aboard the boat of a mission to bring about peace.

Journalists should not position themselves as onlookers, but as fighters who fight for peace. They should feel themselves aboard the boat of a mission to bring about peace.

We have also taken on this risky journalistic work as a response to readers’ wishes. The Kompas ombudsman’s meeting on 22 April, 2022 suggested that Kompas newsroom look firsthand into the ongoing war and provide facts from the Indonesian perspective with focus on universal humanitarian issues.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Newspaper content in digital form.

This special report is presented on page 1 and 4, as well as on Kompas.id for the next month starting today.

We ask for blessing and support for the reporting mission to be accomplished well and safely. Let us push together for peace in Ukraine.

(This article was translated by Musthofid)