Help us get Hammerl's remains, family asks Zuma

"President Zuma understands the pain and difficulty that the family is going through as every family wishes to know where their next of kin are buried," spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.

Possible location of the remains

Zuma, who visits Libya next week as part of the African Union high level committee, will be accompanied by state security minister Siyabonga Cwele. Kodwa said the president has received information from journalists indicating the possible location of the remains in Libya, for him to share with the Libyan authorities next week. The information has also been passed on to the SA mission in Tripoli.

"While not wishing to raise undue expectations, the President will do whatever is possible to assist while in Tripoli. The department of international relations and cooperation also continues to work on the matter."

"President Zuma extends heartfelt condolences to Mr Hammerl's wife Penny Sukhraj and the children Aurora (11), Neo (7) and Hiro (15 weeks) as well as his parents Freda and Ludwig Hammerl," the statement added.

Shown leadership

The National Press Club (NPC) has welcomed the Presidency's statement, saying the president's swift response from the Hammerl family has shown leadership.

"It was an emotional plea from Anton's wife and children and I'm pleased to see President Zuma's response," NPC chairperson Yusuf Abramjee said, who also addressed the Council of Arab Ambassadors in SA on Thursday evening.

"We hope the President will succeed and get Anton's body back for a proper burial as soon as possible."

Abramjee wants SA to raise its concern and disappointment with the Libyan government for lying about Hammerl, suggesting that Zuma demand an apology from them.

More than 80 attacks documented

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it has documented more than 80 attacks on the press since political unrest erupted in Libya last month.

These include, the CPJ said, five fatalities, at least three serious injuries, at least 50 detentions, 11 assaults, two attacks on news facilities, the jamming of Al-Jazeera and Al-Hurra transmissions, at least four instances of obstruction, the expulsion of two international journalists, and the interruption of Internet service.

Wary of the physical and emotional trauma suffered by journalists in zones of conflict, the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma has a 40-page guide titled 'Tragedies and Journalists'. The US-based organisation says the booklet can help journalists, photojournalists and editors report on violence while protecting both victims and themselves.

Booklet

"Journalists face unusual challenges when covering violent or mass tragedies. They interact with victims dealing with extraordinary grief," the organisation said.

Quoting from Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma said: "Reporters, photojournalists, engineers, soundmen and field producers often work elbow to elbow with emergency workers.

"Journalists' symptoms of traumatic stress are remarkably similar to those of police officers and firefighters who work in the immediate aftermath of tragedy, yet journalists typically receive little support after they file their stories. While public-safety workers are offered debriefings and counselling after a trauma, journalists are merely assigned another story."

The booklet may be downloaded in pdf format, copied and redistributed in print or electronically, provided the text is not modified, the Dart Centre is cited in any use, and no fee is charged. Anyone who wants print copies and DVD may apply, provided that they agree to pay shipping costs. For more, go to Tragedies & Journalists by Joe Hight and Frank Smyth.

For more:

• Financial Mail: Editor's note: Taken for fools

• National Press Club: The National Press Club welcomes the statement by President Jacob Zuma

See also:

• Bizcommunity Search: Anton Hammerl
  
• Facebook: Free Anton Hammerl
  
• Hammerl Trust: www.freeanton.org
  
• Google News Search: Anton Hammerl
  
• Twitter Search: hammerl OR antonhammerl OR "Anton Hammerl" OR RIPAntonHammerl OR bringAntonHammerlhome

Updated at 12.59pm on 27 May 2011.