asia journalism focus

a publication of the temasek foundation asia journalism forum

MIGRATION
REPORTING
Telling the inconvenient stories

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

INSIDE
4
6

Asia Journalism Fellowship participants

and other visiting journalists with one of
the workshop leaders, Aidan White.

THE EVENT
The 2015 Temasek Foundation Asia Journalism Forum
conference and workshop on "Reporting Migration" was
held in Singapore from 13-15 August. It was organised by
Nanyang Technological University's Wee Kim Wee School
of Communication and Information and S. Rajaratnam
School of International Studies, and Hong Kong Baptist
University's School of Communication.

THE PUBLICATION
EDITOR: Sue-Ann Chia REPORTERS: Charmaine Ng,
Cynthia Choo, Godwin Ng, Lee Rou Urn DESIGNER:
Charmaine Ng PHOTOGRAPHER: Leong Wai Leong
PRINTER: Seng Lee Press
ISBN: 978-981-09-7568-5, 978-981-09-7567-8
PUBLISHED BY:

Asia Journalism Forum, c/o Wee Kim Wee School of

Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological
University, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718.
Email: admin@ajf.sg

FROM THE EDITOR

IN AUGUST 2015, more than 100 journalists, academics
and activists across Asia gathered in Singapore to discuss
the top trends and issues in covering the migration crisis.
There were many stories shared and lessons learnt.
What came through was that migration is not always
a pretty picture. For some, their lives are filled with
suffering and exploitation. But amid the sadness is also
some glimmer of hope for others who have survived
or found a better life. The key is how to tell these
inconvenient stories with the right words.
Here are some of the main points that were raised
during the Forum, organised by Temasek Foundation,
Nanyang Technological University and Hong Kong
Baptist University.
1. Cover all ground: It is complex topic with many
perspectives that is also coloured by racial and religious
overtones, but journalists have a duty to cover all the
moral issues. Be fair and objective, but also take a stand
for what is right. Peoples lives are at stake.

2. Saying it right: Migrants are called many things, from

refugees, asylum seekers, boat people, to even illegals. It is
important for journalists to use the right terms to describe
them and the issue, as it shapes the national narrative and
closes the empathy gap between migrants and citizens.
3. Humanise, not demonise: The issue can easily give rise
to feelings of xenophobia and even tip into hate speech,
if it is not reported objectively and sensitively. The media
has a responsibility to prevent corrosive and hate speech
from taking root in society.
4. Report the issue: Get people to pay attention to
the plight of migrants, some of whom are victims of
trafficking, by reporting the issue extensively and probing
the persisting problem. This could help ease the problem,
where only 0.04 per cent of trafficked cases are solved.
5. Give migrants a voice: It is good to hear what migrants
have to say about their life and circumstances, in their
own words. While some can share their experiences
directly with the public, others require journalists to go on
the ground and seek out their stories, not just of sorrow
but also of survival.
SUE-ANN CHIA

Pichai Chuensuksawadi: How to

cover the story of the year - the migrant
crisis
Ben Doherty: The power of words in
shaping national narrative on migrants

7
8
9

John Erni: Why the word "we" can be a

form of racism

10
11

Harsh Mander: Combating an empathy

deficit

12
13
14
15
16

Matt Friedman: Human trafficking is

modern day slavery

18
19

Mohan J Dutta: Respect migrants'

rights

20
22

Vitit Muntarbhorn: The right response

to hate speeches
Tan Tarn How: Call out the xenophobe
or racist

On the ground with Camelia

Nathaniel: Resettling those displaced
from the civil war in Sri Lanka

Sallie Yea: Sharing the sob stories

Victims or survivors?: The portrayal of
refugees in the media
Aidan White: 5 tips for migration
reporting
On the ground with Sim Chi Yin: The
underbelly of Chinese migration

Meeting the migrants: Touring a

dormitory for low-skilled foreign
workers
The local-foreign divide: How the
term "expat" creates a mental divide
On the ground with Chong Zi Liang
and Zakaria Zainal: A look at the
Gurkha community in Singapore

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

Covering the story of the year:

The migrant crisis

Pichai Chuensuksawadi (left),

editor-in-chief of Bangkok
Post, urges journalists to cover
migration's moral issues and not
let personal biases stop them
from taking a stand on what is
right.

he plight of the boat people is complicated and

has many dimensions. And this poses a huge
challenge to journalists in producing fair and balanced reports on this massive migration issue, said editor-in-chief of the Bangkok Post Pichai Chuensuksawadi.
Complexity, however, is not an excuse for the media
to deviate from covering the moral issues in the on-going
refugee crisis of stateless Rohingya people, he stressed.
For instance, religious and ethnic issues often colour
coverage of the Rohingya issue in Myanmar.
We need to reflect religious and ethnic sentiments.
But we shouldnt let these sentiments (stop us) from taking a stand from what is right, he said at the annual Asia
Journalism Forum which focused on migration reporting
this year.
We shouldnt be distracted from reminding our viewers or readers that fellow human beings, men and women
and children are vulnerable, are being abused and are being trafficked.
The veteran editor, who writes regularly on the topic
of migration and human trafficking, is keenly aware of
the constraints faced by journalists to reflect all perspectives of this multi-faceted issue that Europe also faces

with the influx of migrants and refugees from North Africa and Syria.
A key problem is the lack of understanding, even for
some Thai journalists located in the country which triggered the story of the year with the discovery of mass
graves belonging to Rohingya migrants from Myanmar
and Bangladesh in a camp on the Thai-Malaysian border
in early May.
Heres the thing: Its not new, he said, referring to
the years of human trafficking that was taking place from
Myanmars Rakhine state to the region, particularly to
support Thailands fishing industry.
Rohingya migrants, fleeing persecution in Myanmar,
are usually smuggled by boat to the south of Thailand.
Once in the Thai jungle, they are detained in camps by
traffickers who are awaiting payment of ransoms. Many
end up in forced labour in Thailand and Malaysia.
Human trafficking in Thailand has long been a problem. Last year, the US State Department downgraded
Thailand to the worst possible ranking tier 3 in its
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. It said Thailand is a
source, a transit point and a destination for trafficking.
This prompted Thai authorities to crack down on the

JOURNALISTS VOICES

There is a lack of independent and free

reporting about the Rohingya situation in
Myanmar, which results the lack of knowledge
and misinformation about Rohingyas. Not only
is the government censoring the use of the word
Rohingya, our newsroom has received threats
from the public our readers when we have
used the term in the past. Therefore, we have
had to use the term Bengalis sometimes.
YE NI, Myanmar
Editor, Irrawaddy News

trafficking route, which triggered a regional crisis. To of the puzzle in the story, he said.
elude the police patrols, smugglers refused to land on
Nationalist sentiments in Thailand also play an influshore, effectively holding up to 8,000 Rohingya and Ban- ential role in skewing coverage of human trafficking in
gladeshi migrants hostage at sea without adequate food, the country, he added, citing an example of how a govwater and sanitation, said Mr Chuensuksawadi.
ernment agency tried to plant a story with one of the
What prevents journalists in Thailand from obtain- younger reporters.
ing a complete picture of the regional issue, he shared,
Basically, the plant was there was a European
is their heavy reliance on government statements rather non-governmental organisation criticising Thailand for
than working the ground to discover the problems for illegal fishing, citing human rights abuses because they
themselves.
were working to favour a European country that was a
I think were at fault for accepting too easily an- competitor of Thailand in the industry. And if Thailand
nouncements from government
gets hit, this country would
agencies, for example, that hubenefit, he said. FortunateWe
shouldn't
be
distracted
from
man trafficking has improved.
ly, we realised that the story
Repeatedly, whenever there was reminding our viewers or readers
sounded fishy.
a Trafficking in Persons report that fellow human beings, men
Such nationalistic attitudes
coming out, the foreign min- and women and children are
divert attention away from the
istry will say theyve made im- vulnerable, are being abused and
problem of human trafficking.
provements, he noted.
He used the example of how the
are being trafficked.
The difficulty in understandsetting up of a dedicated court
ing the true extent of human
to handle human trafficking
PICHAI CHUENSUKSAWADI
trafficking can also be attribut- on journalists taking a stand
cases after the Tier 3 downgrade
ed to the involvement of many
led to some people questioning
government agencies, from the
why Thailand had to implement
police to social welfare agencies, that causes confusion.
such measures to appease the US.
Quite honestly, its overwhelming for journalists to
But that was not the point, he said. Because of this
cover this topic if they dont have the right contacts or the mindset, it was how things were reported.
time to do the proper research, he said.
This is where journalists play a critical role, he added.
One way to get a clearer picture is to get out (of the Instead of fueling such distractions, journalists should
office) more and do the work on the ground.
be focusing on the actual issue while reflecting as many
Another challenge in producing fair and objective views as possible in a fair and balanced manner, includreports of human trafficking in Thailand is the weak re- ing nationalist, religious and ethnic sentiments, even if
lationship between journalists and non-governmental they disagree with them.
sources for information. Many times, journalists lack
If we stay this course, then maybe journalism
regular contact with international agencies representing a can make a difference not only for the victims, but
global perspective in covering stories like migration. This going beyond the crisis to the societies that we serve.
basically means were missing out on a very crucial piece CHARMAINE NG

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

THE POWER OF WORDS

Three academics and a journalist tell why

words matter in reporting the migrant
situation, which could easily fan the flames
of xenophobia and tip into hate speech

Are labels such as "we",

"new immigrants" and
"south Asians" racist?

From asylum seekers

to illegals

Ben Doherty (left) believes using the

right words to describe and discuss
the issue will close the empathy gap
between migrants and citizens of the
host country.

ournalists should be conscious of the language they repeat uncontrollable floods, he noted.
in their reports on refugees or asylum seekers as words
It is a form of propaganda, he added, used by politicians
have the power to shape perceptions, said Guardian to create narratives of these refugees to suit the governments
Australias award-winning immigration correspondent Ben agenda. The long-term effect of these narratives is the creation
Doherty.
of stereotypes that are tough to undo once established.
Thirty years ago, they were called refugees. Today, they
And so, journalists should be conscious of and question
are called illegals. Previously, they needed to be rescued. Now, the language of politicians rather than simply replicating it in
there is a war to keep them out.
their reports.
Using the right words will close the empathy gap between
Is it sufficient for journalists to stand behind the shield
migrants and citizens, and avoid helping politicians manipulate of so-called accuracy and impartially a mentality that the
the narratives of these migrants, added Mr Doherty who is government said it so, and we will report it uncritically with
based in Sydney.
the language which is provided? he argued.
In Australia, the media are describing refugees as illegals.
Journalism must report the statements of the government,
But the media didnt come up with this (label) by themselves, but they cannot report only those views or without
he said. They are merely following the countrys legislation interrogation.
which refers to refugees as illegals.
While reporters need to resist pressure to reproduce
Since journalists repeat such language in the media, the narratives created by those in power and educate themselves
official discourse on refugees is inevitably shaped by the on the legal terms used in migration issues, he said editors
Australian government as an issue of border protection and a should also question if their organisations have represented
threat to national security, he added.
these migrants accurately.
Citing a recent example, he said the effort to keep out such
Journalists, he added, can be influential in bridging the
migrants was compared to a war by the government with empathy gap by writing stories that humanise, instead of
the word war used prominently in a newspaper headline.
demonise, individuals who are seeking refuge.
This has several implications, such as encouraging the
The reporting of migration as an issue of a huge mass of
condemnation of these people, said Mr Doherty who was people makes it very difficult to truly understand the nature of
twice awarded Australias highest
this migration, he said.
journalism honour and writes
Journalists
need
to
Journalism
must
report
the
extensively on child and forced
approach the issue with empathy
labour including the movement statements of the government,
themselves, with a willingness
of refugees.
but they cannot report only those to see another point of view and
Ministers and their public
above all, approach the issue on
views or without interrogation.
relations say asylum seekers
an individual level.
could be murderers or terrorists,
Each story as a person,
and report that poor villagers BEN DOHERTY
and each person as a story.
are coming into Australia in on reporting critically
CHARMAINE NG

Words that highlight ethnicity and

nationalist sentiments can contain racist
undertones, argues John Nguyet Erni.

EVERYONE uses words like We every day without sparing

much thought about its connotations. But John Nguyet Erni
wants people to think twice about saying it as the innocuous
word may contain undercurrents of racism.
When someone proclaims We, Americans or We, Hong
Kongers, the making of that proclamation, when underlined
by the ideology of nationalism, draws the line between whos
inside and whos outside, said Erni, Chair Professor in Humanities and Department Head of Humanities & Creative
Writing at Hong Kong Baptist University.
Such declarations of We-ness constitute hate speech
in the cultural, social and anthropological sense, he argued,
making a case that people with nationalist sentiments can be
identified as those who make their own ethnicity invisible by
highlighting that of others.
By saying You are the other, you are the migrant, what
Im trying to do is to mark your ethnicity so that I can hide
mine. To avoid that pitfall, we must first acknowledge that everyone has at least one ethnicity, he said.
When someone tries to mark the boundary between us
and them, one way to break it down is that everyone has multiple ethnicities.
The concept of ethnicity goes beyond bloodlines. Ethnicity can stem from practices such as language spoken, clothing
worn, and institutions like schools.
Putting the issue into context, he cited the example of
Hong Kong where ethnic Chinese make up 94 per cent of the
population. But to define Hong Kong by its dominant ethnicity would be myopic.
Ways to view Hong Kong would be to see it as a society of
migrants or a colonial cityWe and Hong Kong-ness stems
from all these things even though they may be completely contradictory to one another, he said.
Aside from We, he said another term that has racist undertones is South Asian, which is commonly used by the

mainstream media in Hong Kong.

It is a stereotypical racialised term used to refer to people
from the South Asia region and carry negative connotations
about their skin colour, he explained.
When consumers of these news do not challenge you and
society doesnt have a discourse in which these sorts of ethnic
differentiation and unique identities are being talked about,
then you end up with a society where the dark-skinned people
are all lumped together, he said.
Similarly, migrants who enter Hong Kong from Mainland
China are called New Immigrants. It insinuates that these
migrants are backwards and highlights the socio-economic
gulf between them and the locals, he noted.

We need to say no to labels and

step out of our comfort zones in
order to stop fooling ourselves
that we are not racists, when in
fact we are.
JOHN NGUYET ERNI
on curbing instrinsic racism

The prevalent usage of these terms, if left unchecked, leads

to intrinsic racism. It is the national expression of the feelings of the community, he said, adding that by having numbers on their side, the locals are not inclined to call it racism.
Society can play a part in curbing intrinsic racism by challenging, instead of taking for granted, the privilege of the majority.
We need to say no to labels and step out of our comfort
zones in order to stop fooling ourselves that we are not racists,
when in fact we are, he said. GODWIN NG

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

Do you have a right to call immigrants "insects"?

The right to free speech comes with some exceptions, notes Vitit Muntarbhorn (left) who uses international guidelines as a benchmark.

ree speech is a human right but it must be kept in check by

frameworks so that it does not cross the line into incitement
and hate speech, said Law Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn
from Chulalongkorn University.
For instance, some media organisations use the word swarms
to describe the influx of immigrants into the country, providing
mental images of migrants as insects, he pointed out. But is that
right?
Yet, while countries may wield the power to prohibit free
speech, he stressed that they must not be overzealous in exercising these prohibitions.
Stressing the need to strike the right balance between freedom
of speech and regulation, he said: We need a variety of approaches and actions where law, policy and practice come into play.
And some guidance is needed to avoid the subjectivity of
excessive nationalism and move towards international standards
(of freedom of expression), which are not perfect but do provide
some answers.
Highlighting how easily words can boil over into hate speech,
Muntarbhorn presented three scenarios from what is uttered in
private conversations to what leaders say in public that could be
construed as inciting hate, and the appropriate responses based

THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO HATE

AS HATE speech can manifest in many ways, law don Vitit Muntarbhorn offers countries a guide on how to respond to
three scenarios, based on international standards such as the United Nations (UN) International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
SCENARIO

RESPONSE

Telling someone I hate you in

private

Under Article 19 of the UNs ICCPR, everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference, subject to restrictions necessary for the protection of
national security or of public order, or of public health and morals.
In this case, the words I hate you endangers neither national security nor
public order or health, and therefore does not constitute hate speech.
Even though its not very nice, we cant really limit someone from saying it in
private. We have to deal with hate but not necessarily by prohibiting it and saying
its a criminal offence, said Muntarbhorn.

A minister labels a certain

group of people cockroaches
and calls upon the population
to rise up and harm them

Article 22.2 of the ICCPR states that while everyone has the right to freedom of
association with others, restrictions can be imposed in the interests of national
security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or
the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
Here, there is a triangular relationship where the minister incites the population
to harm a group of people, in clear violation of the ICCPR.
We need to prohibit the advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred which
constitutes incitement, discrimination or violence, said Muntarbhorn.

Denouncing a religion by
declaring I think this is a bad
religion

This constitutes blasphemy in some countries while other countries may not
consider it blasphemous.
Regardless, in accordance with Article 20.2 of the ICCPR, any advocacy of
national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination,
hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.

on international standards. (See table below)

He also offered his take on how countries can both protect
and govern peoples right to free speech to ensure harmony in
the community.
One, he made clear that the advocacy of free expression
must take precedence over instituting control and regulation. This means freedom of expression must come first as a
state-guaranteed right.
Any limitations to free expression, which include prohibitions against hate speech, cannot be left to the States discretion. These restrictions, he said, ought to follow international
guidelines such as the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which clearly prohibit hate
speech or any incitement of hate.
Two, while laws and policies are in place to protect, and at
the same time govern, free expression, countries should look
beyond these legal frameworks and strive towards a ground up

approach developing community-based self-regulation and

industrial codes of ethics.
Three, there are myriad forms of migration with some migrants deserving more protection than others, most notably
those who do not receive protection from their country of
origin. Driven out of their country by various circumstances
from persecution to warfare they are essentially refugees
and require international protection. A prime example would
be the Rohingya people, a Muslim ethnic minority group who
are refused recognition by the Myanmar government.
Four, as Asean countries increasingly adopt human rights
guidelines and become members of international treaties, they
must also look beyond the stringent frameworks and integrate
their migrant communities into their society.
This will invite a holistic response in terms of what we
need to counter both the hard and soft edges of hate speeches,
said Muntarbhorn. GODWIN NG

Call out the racist

or xenophobe
Corrosive speech can be as bad as hate speech,
and journalists should not simply repeat such
words in reports, says Tan Tarn How (right).
JOURNALISTS should prevent corrosive speech notably
against foreigners or specific races from gaining a foothold
in the social landscape in Singapore, said Tan Tarn How.
Corrosive speech, unlike hate speech, may or may not be
expressed with the intention of promoting hate, said Tan, a
senior research fellow at the Institue of Policy Studies (IPS), a
think-tank with the National University of Singapore.
But it has the potential to corrode the social fabric by creating misunderstanding and making worse existing tensions
among people.
Hence, journalists should not further fan the flames of xenophobia or racism with reckless reporting such as repeating
the corrosive speech without countering it with other voices
who speak out against such sentiments, he added.
As xenophobic discourse accumulates due to the proliferation of such topics on social media, he stressed that the role
journalists play in reporting such issues in the mainstream
media becomes more important than ever.
The rise of the internet has allowed people to say whatever they want without any mediation. Racist attitudes are
shared and xenophobic groups can form due to the immediacy of social media, he noted.
While that is an inevitable trend, what worries him is the
lack of social etiquette in discussing these issues online.

Singaporeans do not have the training to participate in

free discourse and mainstream media hasnt helped with its
reporting, added Tan who was a former journalist.
To keep xenophobia at bay, he offered journalists a few
general rules of thumb. One, disclosing the race of a criminal
in crime stories is a big no-no. This is a rule which Singapores
English-language broadsheet The Straits Times follows, he
added.
Two, always give context to stories and provide a multiplicity of voices an area which the local mainstream media has
failed at times, he observed.
In almost every story about xenophobia, only two groups
of people are interviewed: individuals and the government. It
looks like its a struggle between the individual and the government when other parts of the society also come into play,
he said.
While journalists should strive for balance in their writing,
they should also avoid the pitfall of affording equal weight to
racist speech. Instead, they should call the racists out and give
space to the good voices.
Lastly, Tan urged journalists not to wait for controversy before providing coverage of xenophobia or hate speech-related
issues. Work must be done during peacetime too, he said.
GODWIN NG

10

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

The age of
indifference
Is empathy passe? Harsh Mander (right) urges
journalists to cultivate a passion to report
injustices when reporting on migration.

ith a growing empathy deficit in modern society,

Specifically, he mentioned the attack on a Bengali-Muslim
journalists have an increasing responsibility to village in Assam that followed a hate speech by a nationalist
report truthfully and uphold social justice, said leader.
Indias civil servant turned writer and human rights activist
In the way that we report, this is hardly a story reported
Harsh Mander.
because hate killing as a result of hate speech didnt fit the largHe attributed the empathy deficit to normalised poverty er political discourse about illegal migration, he said.
where poverty is so rife that people become indifferent to it,
Other than the issues involving religious minority groups
and therefore, goes unreported.
in border states, Mr Mander also urged journalists to cover
This indifference increases when there is a growing rich- stories of minorities in the city migrants who moved from
poor divide. Mr Mander, who is a director at the Centre for the countryside to the city.
Equity Studies in India, gave the example of India where many
There is a large movement of population from the counare so focused on their careers and building better lives for tryside into the city [in India], he said, noting that these ruthemselves that they neglect those who could not keep up.
ral-to-urban migrants are treated as illegitimate citizens of the
People are living so distanced lives that they exile the poor city. There is a sentiment that the middle class are the legitfrom their conscience, and it is this indifference that charac- imate residents, whereas others who come in are infiltrators,
terises our times, he said.
and they face hostility and prejudice as immigrants to the city.
They would look away rather than confront the problem of
Yet, these migrants are the people who build the citys inpoverty or even the migration crisis. Under such circumstanc- frastructure, sweep the roads and provide these city dwellers
es, he noted it is a challenge for journalists to report the full with food.
picture accurately as journalistic objectivity has a tendency to
Despite their contributions, many of these migrants live
side with dominant groups.
in poverty and suffering which mostly go unnoticed by city
This means sidelining the narrative of the weak and disen- dwellers including journalists. These are people we see evfranchised, he observed, urging
eryday, but somehow we dont see
journalists to pursue justice over
them as people just like us, he
People
are
living
such
distanced
the false promise of objectivity.
observed.
He referred to the unchecked lives that they exile the poor from
Challenging journalists to be
and often under-reported atroci- their conscience, and it is this
keepers of objectivity as well as
ties happening in the states borvoices for those suffering injusindifference that characterises
dering India and Bangladesh like
tices, Mr Mander said: A journalour
times.
Assam, where Bengali-Muslims
ists basic responsibility is to truth,
are targeted by rebels and nationbut I think equally a journalist
alists who view them as infiltra- HARSH MANDER
has a responsibility to do justice.
CYNTHIA CHOO
tors in their land.
on the media's indifference towards poverty

JOURNALISTS VOICES

Jakarta is a melting pot for people from different parts

of Indonesia so we welcome diversity. But when we
report on the Rohingya for example, we feel a strong
sense of solidarity with them as Muslims ourselves
Thats how we identity with them, and what makes us
want to help them by writing their stories fairly.
ISMIRA LUTFIA, Indonesia
Editor, The Parrot

PROBLEMS OF RESETTLEMENT:
Displaced by the civil war, this
woman was given a new home
but without proper access to
water.

Back to normal?
On the ground with CAMELIA NATHANIEL
WARS are unquestionably traumatic and debilitating for all
those involved. Years after the armed conflict ends, citizens
still struggle to return to normalcy.
In Sri Lanka, more than 240,000 families have been displaced due to the civil war, between the government and the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which ended in May
2009, shared Camelia Nathaniel.
While the government has stepped up efforts to resettle
them, a good number of these refugees, also known as internally displaced persons, still do not have permanent homes.
The biggest challenge, however, lies in reintegrating
ex-fighters back into society, particularly female fighters and
former child soldiers of the LTTE, said Nathaniel, deputy editor with Sri Lankas The Sunday Leader.
Such stories are also the hardest to write for Nathaniel. As
a Tamil, she has been branded a traitor for writing stories that
show the LTTE in bad light.
Sri Lankas Tamil media take a pro-LTTE stance while Sinhalese media take the side of the government, she said, but her
paper publishes in English and reports both sides to an extent.

From bottom left: Former LTTE

fighter (left) and journalist Camelia
Nathaniel; A campsite for internally
displaced persons, fitted with
clothscreens for privacy
PHOTOS COURTESTY OF
CAMELIA NATHANIEL

Among the stories that the Tamil media will not run, she
said, is that of a former LTTE female fighter (seen in picture
with Camelia).
A combatant since she was a child, the woman crossed
over while holding her seven-day-old baby and was shot in the
face by one of her own LTTE soldiers.
She survived but lost her eye, her fingers, her nose and part
of her skull.
Nathaniel now helps pay for the womans elder sons education and boarding in a school, a young boy who is deeply
appreciative of the gesture as the rest of society including
the school is quite ready to give up on him.
While the government has done much to rehabilitate thousands of former LTTE fighters, she said it is also true that such
efforts are not enough and there have been abuses including
rape by the Sinhalese army.
Journalists pay a heavy price, with more than a dozen dead
after critical reports including against the government.
Our media is divided. But as journalists, we have to tell
the truth, she said. LEE ROU URN

12

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

ACTIVISTS SPEAK:
THE UPHILL BATTLE TO PROTECT MIGRANTS RIGHTS

Human trafficking is modern day slavery

Matt Friedman says the media must not shy away from using powerful terms to
evoke actions and solutions from readers.

or veteran activist Matt Friedthink about what we can do to help

man, it has been a long and
donate money, create awareness,
frustrating 25 years of fighthe said.
ing against human trafficking
A solution he offered was to
and helping only 0.04 per cent of
chase the money, by going after
the victims.
businesses that may or may not be
The world needs a stronger call
aware that they are perpetrators of
to action, a more sober wake-up
human trafficking and slavery.
call, and Friedman has no qualms
This means targeting big busiusing emotion-evoking terminolonesses and even multinational congy to do so.
glomerates. But how do journalists
As a former UN official, I realor activists get them to care?
ised that the use of the word mass
It boils down to money. If an isgraves and genocide made the
sue is likely to hurt their profit mar[Rohingya crisis] big news, he notgins, they would care.
ed.
Tell them its a business risk,
Sometimes that kind of termihe said, offering journalists some
nology is exactly what is needed to
practical advice during a two-hour
make people do something about
workshop.
the problem.
After all, these conglomerates
The other word that makes peohave profits to make and a brand
ple sit up and pay attention is slavimage to maintain. With the former
ery, said Freidman who is chief exhinging on the latter, companies
ecutive officer of the Mekong Club,
will have to clean up their supply
a not-for-profit organisation in
chain practices if they wish to
Hong Kong that fights slavery by As a former UN official, I realised
continue turning a profit.
helping businesses understand that the use of the word 'mass
And companies can clean up
the complexities of human traftheir act quickly, he said, adding:
graves' and 'genocide' made the
ficking.
It takes years for non-governTo him, human trafficking is [Rohingya crisis] big news.
mental organisations to change
modern-day slavery as most are
business policies, months for
forced into labour that either pay MATT FRIEDMAN
governments and 15 seconds for
very little or nothing at all, and on the using emotion-evoking terminology
private sector companies.
the job is far from desirable.
Companies can close down
What is worrying, he added, is
illegal garment factories in one
the increasing trend of trafficking in conflict zones, exploiting fell swoop because they are powerful.
vulnerable groups such as the Rohingya in Myanmar or acts
In addition, he observed that a single company with a bad
of terror by militant groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and reputation of using trafficked workers could smear the image
Boko Haram.
of the whole industry.
We are seeing a new kind of slavery that weve never
Hence, he urged journalists to encourage businesses to
imagine would happen, or exist again, he said.
check on each other, citing the example of website world
Friedman repeated his message at a workshop after the fo- check that allow banks to discern heightened risk individuals,
rum, urging journalists not to shy away from using words that in the light of increased financial crimes.
will resonate with their readers when reporting about issues
By getting more stakeholders involved, he believes that
like human trafficking.
it allows for much for reporting to be done as there will be
Call it what it is, but we need to focus on the call to action. more information and more voices to shape the narrative.
We have to get the general public to do more, lets move on and CYNTHIA CHOO

Probing what constitutes trafficking

THE lack of media coverage about the plight
of victims ensnared in human trafficking
frustrated academic Sallie Yea (pictured
right) who has been documenting their experiences for her research. So she decided to
help tell those stories.
Last year, the assistant professor from
the National Institute of Education published a book of first-hand accounts written by migrant workers who travelled from
Bangladesh and Indias Tamil Nadu to earn
a living in Singapore, but ended up being
exploited.
They were victims of contract substitution, deceptive recruitment, and debt bondage, where many
work without getting any salary as their wages were used to
pay off agents who brought them to Singapore.
Some of them wrote full exercise books worth of stories,
she said, adding that the funds from the book sales will go
towards looking at ways to achieve economic justice for these
workers.
She hopes the media will also tell more of such stories, as
well as take the time to probe whether certain cases should
be considered trafficking. According to Yea, the exploitation
of migrant workers in Singapore, particularly in the construc-

tion sector, is possible largely due to the

limited definition of human trafficking
adopted by the Singapore Government.
Weve only had the human trafficking laws here very recently, but theres
been no prosecution for labour trafficking in Singapore to date, which can be
quite surprising considering the number
of migrant workers here and the conditions in which they live, she said.
Among these conditions she cited include degrading and substandard living
conditions, underpayment and non-payment of salary, use of intimidation and
threats of deportation by companies.
While these conditions meet international definitions
of human trafficking, they are construed as not trafficked
enough to warrant support in Singapore, she added.
Such a perception can mask and trivialise human trafficking in Singapore. While non-governmental organisations are
documenting these incidents of exploitation, she said more
ought to be done.
She hopes the published diary accounts of these workers would spur more concrete change in the community.

CHARMAINE NG

INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES ON TRAFFICKING

Trafficking in Persons is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of
the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power
or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of
a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a
minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or
services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.
From Article 3(a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, under the United Nations
Office of Drugs and Crimes

JOURNALISTS VOICES

No doubt, we have problems, and this makes reporting

difficult. Balanced reporting is something we are aware of
but, sometimes, we cannot do in practical journalism. It is very
difficult to report in Pakistan, because we are very controlled, to
the extent that it leads to subconscious self-censorship.
VEENGAS MANGI
Journalist, Daily Ibrat Newspaper Karachi, Pakistan

13

14

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

Victims or survivors?

Top tips on migration reporting

and journalism

Avyanthi Azis urges journalists to consider writing more uplifting stories of

survival, while Lilianne Fan shares how refugee children view their situation
through drawings.

Aidan White from the Ethical Journalism Network identifies

some challenges preventing journalists from reporting the
topic objectively, fairly, accurately and ethically. He offers
some tips during the conference and at a workshop later.

he showed a picture of a Rohingya woman, happily married to a Malaysian man, living quite contentedly even
without proper documentation.
Are they victims or survivors? asked Avyanthi Azis, a
researcher from the Department of International Relations in
University of Indonesia in Jakarta.
Her point is for journalists to go beyond stereotypes and
consider more positive human- interest stories of migrants,
as the current narrative tends to revolve around the issues of
persecution, prosecution and other forms of prejudices.
The focus, she said, could be on their story of survival
instead.Azis, who spent a year with the displaced Rohingya
population in Malaysia for her research, urged journalists to
do the same and spend more time with migrants they interview to get a fuller picture of their lives.
The whole process of telling their stories is an important
issue and we have to accept that our story will never be complete, she said.
There is also mixed motivations behind migration.
Some might have crossed borders voluntarily for economic purposes, while others might have fled due to persecution faced at home, she noted.
Another speaker, Lilianne Fan, gave an example of how
migration can be voluntary.
In Bangladesh where there is a large number of people
unemployed, or underemployed, a lot of people are willing
to take dangerous journeys in search of a better life, said the
research associate from the UK-based Humanitarian Policy
Group.
Sometimes, these migrants are not aware that the journeys
they take are illegal, she added.
For Azis, she prefers and encourages journalists to describe them as irregular, or undocumented migrants instead of illegal migrants even though they may not have
valid work visas or travel documents.
There is no clear or universally accepted definition of irregular migration, but the United Nations Institute for Training and Research defines it as movement that takes place
outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit and receiving countries.
Azis, however, also pointed out that the term should not
mask the more sinister aspect of human trafficking and exploitation that many of them face.
The trauma from persecution and wars in their home
country to their epic escape - is hard to put down in words.
But for some children who made the perilous journey with
their parents, it can be seen in the drawings they produce,
said Fan. (See pictures)
Many countries were not prepared to respond to the
crisis of the boat people, she added, calling on journalists
and citizens to push their governments to act responsibly.
CYNTHIA CHOO

THINGS ABOUT COVERING

MIGRATION

1. Migration needs to be a beat on its own, to

ensure journalists covering it are as knowledgable
about it as possible
2. Reporting should be based on facts rather than
stereotypes
3. Journalists need to be aware of hate speech
and either challenge them or report on them
responsibly
4. Human interest stories need to have a more
optimistic slant rather than focusing on just the
negative aspects of migrants' lives

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
JOURNALISM & PROPAGANDA

1. Engage in accurate reporting, or fact-based

communication
2. Always be independent
3. Always be impartial and recognise that there
are many sides to a story
4. Being humane: Be aware that it is a journalists'
job to minimise and limit harm, even when
reporting freely
5. Always be accountable for your actions

5. Engage the international community and

government organisations to get the best
information on migration trends

WAYS TO KNOW IF IT IS HATE

SPEECH

1. The position or status of the speaker: Is the

person influential and representative of a larger
community? If yes, the remarks could incite hate.
2. The reach: If the speech is reported, it will
reach a much wider audience. Journalists have to
consider if it is worth reporting.
3. Intention: Even if a statement does not contain
explicitly hateful words, journalists must look
beyond the surface and the motives behind what
has been said.
4. Content or form: Journalists have to consider
how certain words, pictures, gestures and manner
of the speech can be likely to generate hatred and
violence

Drawings by the Rohingya refugee children on World Refugee

Day, June 20, in the camp at Kuala Langsa, Aceh.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LILIANNE FAN

5. Economic, social and political climate:

Journalists have to be especially cautious in their
reporting during times of political tension, threat
of war, and public anxiety.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. It may be necessary to highlight an image or

incident that is inhumane or unquestionably
violent, so as to spark debate and raise public
awareness of a particular issue
2. Give people the information that they need
3. Avoid the rush to publish, and focus more on
ensuring that the stories that are put out are
ethical and accurate
4. Be aware that governments and corporations
are not the only influence on the media agenda
today. Citizens' voices, disseminated through
social media, count too.
5. Insert disclaimers to explain the specific
context in which a story has taken place or a
picture is taken, to justify publishing disturbing
articles or those that advance someone else's
agenda.

15

16

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

Revealing the underbelly of Chinese migration

On the ground with SIM CHI YIN

Ever since former gold miner He Quangui, 41, became ill 10 years ago, his wife Mi Shixiu, 36, has had to take care of his
every need and the family. When he is too sickly to walk, she carries him, even up flights of stairs. They have a very close
relationship, and are "still like two teenagers who just fell in love", as a relative put it. This project was supported by a
travel grant from The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
Former gold miner He Quangui, who has incurable silicosis from years of blasting rock in
illegal mines, once weighed 65kg and is now a skeletal 44kg. This project was supported
by a travel grant from The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. PHOTOS: SIM CHI YIN / VII

hinas economy has been built

on internal migration that has
changed millions of peoples lives,
sometimes for the worse.
Singaporean photojournalist Sim Chi
Yin, who has been documenting the lives
of Chinese migrant workers over the last
few years, knows how bad it can get.
She has shone a light on the rat tribe,
thousands of migrant workers living in
Beijings dark and cramped underground
quarters. She has also captured the struggles of gold miners stricken with silicosis
a lung disease that is Chinas top occupational disease.
Its quite the opposite of the stories
you often see in the mainstream press
about China and its economic boom, said

Sim who is based in Beijing.

In a poignant project called Dying
to Breathe, she told the story of a former
miner He Quangui suffering from silicosis through powerful images that also
showed the love story between He and his
wife.
She spent more than four years - in between other assignments documenting
He who died earlier this year, but his story
lives on with her photos.
Migration labour has been a running theme in my work and I figured if
words cant make people see that these
migrants are people too, Ill go and take
photographs, said Sim who is a member of the prestigious VII Photo Agency.
GODWIN NG

With Beijing's sky-high property prices, living underground is often the only option for low-waged migrant workers. Left: Office worker Ji Lanlan, 25, and her 3-year-old daughter, Yu Qi,
enjoy a game on their computer in one of the largest rooms in this basement. Right: Originally from Heilongjiang, KTV lounge worker Big Rain, 21, seen in his basement room.

17

18

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

Meeting the migrants

Respect our rights,

say migrant workers

During a full-day tour of migrant nation Singapore, visiting journalists learnt about
the challenges facing low-skilled foreign workers here and visited a dormitory
where they lived.

It is more compelling to hear what

migrants have to say in their own words,
says Mohan J Dutta (right).
I WAS beaten up everyday. I had no off day. They made me
work in home and office. I was deceived. These four short and
simple sentences, told through the voice of a foreign domestic
worker, capture the cruelty of their work lives.
It is part of a campaign, Respect Our Rights, started by
Mohan J Dutta from the National University of Singapore
(NUS). This campaign stemmed from his belief that migrants
stories were too often told from the viewpoint of somebody in
a position of greater power a journalist, an academic, or a
documentary director.
He argued that this robs migrants of their voices and the
space to tell their own stories, which eventually becomes a
form of subjugation for these migrants.
In some sense, news media, civil society and academics
like myself profit from their (the migrants) stories. I can use
these stories to write up my next journal article on my way to
becoming a professor, said the Provosts Chair Professor and
Head of the Department of Communications and New Media
at NUS.
Journalists can use a story to win their next award, and
a documentary writer can use their stories to win their next
Oscar. But the question really ought to be, What is the ethical
commitment that we as storytellers have to the people whose
stories we take?
His remarks give reason for journalists to reflect on their
role, as many aspire to be a voice for the marginalised. But

Duttas argument highlights how this form of journalism can

sometimes be unhelpful to migrants.
By featuring them but framing their stories in journalists
own words, they further take away migrants autonomy, and
their basic human right to speak for themselves, he added.
The documentary shot as part of the Respect Our Rights
campaign featured foreign domestic workers speaking of not
only their struggles, but also stressing their rights to be treated
as dignified human beings.
This is a powerful image, he believes, as it paints these migrants as assertive and not helpless people who deserve to be
treated with less respect simply because they do work that the
locals here shun.
Dutta also spearheaded another campaign in June (2015)
to improve food standards for foreign construction workers.
The NUS Centre for Culture-Centred Approach to Research
and Education (Care) partnered with Healthserve, a non-profit community development organisation committed to the
needs of migrants.
Similarly, this campaign used the voices of foreign construction workers to assert their basic rights to safe and nutritious meals.
When stories of the struggle to survive in a foreign land
are fleshed out by the person, he said people will start to realise these workers are in fact, no different from the rest of us.
LEE ROU URN

(Above) LIVING WITH LESS:

Workers have few luxuries
in the dormitories.
They often sleep without
mattresses as it can
be expensive to buy.
According to Bakurdeen
A. Majid, twelve doubledecker beds are fitted into
a 42 square foot dormitory,
along with two shower and
toilet cubicles respectively.
According to regulation, up
to seven workers can share
a toilet cubicle.
PHOTOS BY CYNTHIA
CHOO

JUST A CALL AWAY: Migrant workers often use prepaid cards to call home, if they
can afford to own a handphone. Others use payphones around the dormitory.

LEVEL ABOVE: Westlite Dormitory is a top-tier, four-block foreign worker

dormitory in Singapore, constructed in 2013 and owned by Centurion Corporation.

STARK REMINDERS: Eviction notices outside security gantries that workers have to
pass. Evicted workers are usually shifted to another dormitory or repatriated.

19

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Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

Migration present...

...and past

The local-foreign divide

in Singapore

IN SEARCH OF
A BETTER LIFE

Visiting journalists went on a full-day tour of Singapore, a

migrant nation, where they met a wide range of foreigners
working here. In the morning, they learnt the issues facing lowskilled workers and visited a dormitory where they lived. In
the afternoon, they spoke to foreign professionals about how
locals perceive them.

From left: Foreign professionals Edmond Vo, Elina Yu Jia, Fredrik Haren, Paul D'Souza, Alena Arens, Hugh Mason
and Mike de Shazer sharing their Singapore story, with moderator Radha Basu (fourth from left).

person living in London is a Londoner while a New

Yorker is someone from New York. But what do you
call foreigners living in Singapore, asked Fredrik Haren, a Swedish writer living here.
Were not Singaporeans. Were expats, said Haren who
has been calling Singapore home since 2008 but still feels the
divide between locals and white-collar foreigners like himself
acutely.
Often slapped with the label expat a blanket term
commonly used by Singaporeans to refer to foreign Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs)
Haren finds the word, and the lack of a collective term, particularly exclusive.
Its a mindset problem. The term expat is creating a mental divide, he said, adding that such labels are driving an invisible wedge between locals and foreigners. When people

Swedish writer Fredrik Haren says the term "expat" creates a divide between locals
and foreigners.

meet me for the first time, their first question is always Which
country are you from? This actually highlights our difference.
The number of foreigners in the workforce was over 1.3
million last year (2014), sparking resentment among locals
about competition for jobs. But the Singapore government has
been assuaging such concerns and also curbed the flow of foreigners into the city-state.
In April, then-Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin dismissed talks of foreign professionals displacing locals, pointing to the fall in growth rate of foreigners holding Employment Pass (EP) for professionals and S-Pass for semi-skilled
workers. Their growth dipped from 20 per cent in 2011 to 4
per cent in 2014.
Still, Paul DSouza, an India-born Singapore permanent
resident, feels that the influx of foreign professionals will not
be easing anytime soon, citing the recent trend of multination-

ALTHOUGH migration has only

recently hogged headlines, it is far
from a new phenomenon. In fact, it
has been the main drivers of growth
within the region, and even played a
big role in the formation of some nations, said Amarjit Kaur from
the University of New England in Australia.
Around 15 million migrants from China and India entered
Burma, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore between 1870s and
1950s. Most were seeking work and a better life, noted the Emeritus Professor who works on issues from forced migration to how
countries should manage their borders.
Tracing the history of migration, she said it became prevalent
as early as the 1870s when Western powers colonised Southeast
Asia.
At that time, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing in Europe, and Southeast Asia naturally became the production site for
goods that were needed to drive industrialisation.
This inclusion of Southeast Asia as the factory or production
house of the West meant there were many job opportunities within
the region, she noted.
The prospect of lucrative jobs lured many migrants from China
and India, keen to escape poverty and social unrest in their home
countries, to embark on their journey sometimes perilous to
the then relatively unknown Southeast Asia.
Unlike now, those countries borders were relatively porous at
that time as authorities freely absorbed and accepted many immigrants whose migration motive was mainly economics. Today, migration is a lot more complex.
Many Chinese and Indian migrants subsequently chose to settle in the foreign land where they made their living, redrawing the
ethnic map of Southeast Asia forever. LEE ROU URN

al corporations sending core teams of foreign experts to other

countries to start new divisions as one of the main reasons.
This is a big factor behind the globalised migration of
skilled workers. People have to get used to it, said DSouza,
who heads a multinational team at American insurance firm
Chubb.
Encouraging Singaporeans to view foreign professionals
like himself as allies rather than adversaries, he said: For Singapores economy to be competitive, locals must embrace migration. Most global cities are melting pots of immigrants. If
you want to be a global hub, you must have foreigners.
On the other hand, he conceded that tensions between locals and foreigners are inevitable, given Singapores geographical limitations. Singapore is so small that any differences will
be magnified. And unlike those living in cities like London,
Singaporeans have no hinterland to escape to, he said.

But with the Ministry of Manpowers announcement in

July that it is raising the minimum income for foreigners looking to bring their family over to Singapore, immigration numbers could start to dip in the future.
Those seeking Dependants Passes for their spouse and
children must earn at least $5,000 a month, up from the current $4,000. The change will kick in in September and will affect EP and S-Pass holders.
Regardless, Haren believes he has found a permanent
home in Singapore for his wife and daughter. I came here not
to work, but to live. And in terms of quality of life, Singapore is
the best place to live in. New York and London may be capitals
of the world but Singapore is the world in a capital, he said.
If the 19th century belonged to Europe and the 20th century belonged to United States, then the 21st century belongs
to Asia and Singapores at the heart of it. GODWIN NG

21

22

Asia Journalism Focus

Reporting Migration

Giving voice to the

silent guardians
of Singapore
On the ground with CHONG ZI LIANG and ZAKARIA ZAINAL

igration opens the doors of opportunity,

but can leave families caught in between
cultures.
One community suffering from this identity crisis
is the Gurkhas Nepali men silently guarding Singapores security for the past 65 years who feel lost
when they return to Nepal after retirement.
Chong Zi Liang and Zakaria Zainal documented
the lives of different generations of Gurkhas in Singapore, following them from recruitment preparations
to retirement in their home country, in a book The
Invisible Force.
Their children are born and bred in Singapore,
go to local schools and speak Singlish just like the rest
of us. When they go back, they become strangers in
their homeland, said Chong, a journalist with The
Straits Times.

For Zakaria, a photojournalist, the book was his

way of giving the elusive Gurkhas the spotlight they
deserve.
If you were to trace all the newspaper articles
about the Gurkhas since 1949, you can count the
number with just one hand, he said.
They are invisible to the eye but they are always
there waiting to strike if anything happens.
In fact, it was this elusiveness that prompted
Chong and Zakaria to produce the book.
As Singapore was gearing up for its 50th birthday
this year, many individuals were recognised for their
contributions towards nation building. Yet, the Gurkhas, were left out of the picture, they shared.
This book is a small measure of giving them a bit
of recognition and letting them know we are thankful
for their service, said Chong. GODWIN NG

1
2

1-3: Photos from "The Invisible Force"

4: Photojournalist Zakaria Zainal (left) and journalist Zhong Zi Liang documented the gurkhas, from Nepal to Singapore

PHOTOS COURTESTY OF
ZAKARIA ZAINAL AND
CHONG ZI LIANG

23

Divers and miners head out to sea to catch a boat

that takes them about 3km away from the coast of
Rebo beach in the Sungai Liat subdistrict of Bangka,
to dive for tin from the sea bed. For their dangerous
and hard work, these divers get just 10kg of tin
per day for which they earn 100,000 rupiah (S$10).
PHOTO: SIM CHI YIN / VII