COX'S BAZAR
A team from the Anadolu Agency (AA) continues to carry the voice of Rohingya Muslims, who took shelter in Bangladesh after fleeing incidents of violence in Arakan (Rakhine) state of Myanmar, to the rest of the world.
The AA team, who arrived in the region to reflect the difficult lives of the Rohingya Muslims, includes the first woman war journalist Dilek Mermer.
Dilek Mermer talked about her impressions in Bangladesh and Myanmar as a female war journalist.
"Rohingya Muslims try to continue to survive in Bangladesh after fleeing violence in their country. As the AA team, we visited Cox's Bazar, Teknaf town at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border and the site of violent acts in Arakan in order to reflect the human tragedy in the region. We took photographs of the Rohingya Muslims while they were in a queue in Arakan or while they were running away from death," Mermer noted.
"We were there as the AA team during the recent Eid al-Fitr which the Arakan Muslims celebrated with their hearts broken and trying to survive by the aid materials sent from various parts of the world," Mermer stressed.
AA team's difficult journey to Bangladesh
"We arrived in Bangladesh after overcoming various difficulties to take photographs of the Rohingya Muslims. Following our arrival in Bangladesh, we had to wait at the airport for long hours for being journalists," Mermer stressed.
"We were able to receive visas thanks to the assistance of our (Turkish) embassy and we arrived in Cox's Bazar where the refugee camps are located," Mermer stated.
"During our trip, Bangladeshi troops stopped our vehicle every hour and we were searched," Mermer said.
"It is highly difficult to enter the refugee camps and take photographs. Bangladesh does not want the continuation of the flow of refugees due to economic reasons. Aid organizations want to leave the region immediately after distributing materials," Mermer indicated.
Bangladeshi troops on one side and Burmese troops on other side
"As press members, we tried to look at the incidents from within in order to carry the voice of Arakan Muslims to the world as a group of people trying to survive after painful events. During the process, we faced the risk of being arrested or deported," Mermer emphasized.
"As the region we were in was a dangerous one, we worked in groups with the aid teams. Everyone in the group was male except me. Our time in the refugee camps was highly limited and we could only work for half an hour. There are intelligence officials working at the camps. In order to be efficient under the circumstances, you have to know the region and conditions of work very well," Mermer stressed.
We shot photographs showing escape from Arakan to Bangladesh
"As the AA team, we were able to take photographs of Arakan Muslims fleeing Myanmar in boats at the Naf river," Mermer said.
"In order to witness the escape of Arakan Muslims, we went to the town of Teknaf at the edge of the Naf river," Mermer stressed.
"We went through fields of rice and swamps and had to run for a long time at night time without looking behind. During this process, we kept in mind what we learned as war journalists," Mermer noted.
"While going through the swamp, we got rid of all things we were carrying including our shoes," Mermer stated.
"We later got on the river in a boat and waited silently," Mermer said.
"We were aware of the fact that both Bangladeshi and Burmese troops were touring the river. Had the Burmese troops arrested us, we faced the possibility of death. Had the Bangladeshi troops arrested us, they could have fired upon us or could have deported us from the country," Mermer underlined.
"After waiting for some time, we succeeded in taking photographs of Rohingya Muslims running away from Arakan with no belongings or money," Mermer said.
Lives of Arakan residents from eye of a woman journalist
"As a woman journalist, working in such an atmosphere of tension is very hard. However, one forgets all difficulties when you witness the happiness of the locals and when you contribute to the solution of their tragedies," Mermer indicated.
"Our host told us that the people in the region were very happy to see a woman journalist trying to carry their voice to the rest of the world," Mermer noted.
"Many women in Arakan were in tears when they noticed me and you could see the happiness in the eyes of many others," Mermer stated.
"Some of the women gave a hug and some others invited me to their homes to talk about their difficulties," Mermer indicated.
"As a woman war journalist, I had to be as strong as my male counterparts in order to carry heavy equipment and had to avoid being emotional. When humans hug your feet, you know that you are there to help everyone," Mermer expressed.
"As a woman journalist, I had a chance to speak with many women and children running away from Arakan. These humans, running away from death, had confidence in me and told me about their problems and let me take their photographs," Mermer said.
"As a woman, you can have an opportunity to look at the incidents from another perspective. You can notice not only violence but the additional difficulties that the women are under. Despite the conditions, women have to protect their families, provide food to their children, and try to stand firm," Mermer said.
Necessity of training in war journalism
"The difficulties in the region, concern for life security, and risks you have to deal with all make training in war journalism a necessity," Mermer underlined.
"One needs to be willing to work in such a region, and work in details on the region to be visited," Mermer stressed.
"It is crucial to be aware of the developments in the country, and to be informed about the traditions and religious beliefs of the locals," Mermer said.
"It is a must to be dressed according to the conditions of a location," Mermer stated.
"Going to a region by knowing all conditions for protection and struggle carries high importance in addition to the knowledge of working as a correspondent in such regions full of risks," Mermer also said.
Reporting by Dilek Mermer / Duygu Ozbay
