No room in RP for woman journalist from Al-Jazeera?

Even in the world of journalism there is folksy camaraderie, especially when it comes to members of the tribe. I do not know Dima Khatib from Adam, uups, from Eve. But she is a friend of my bosom friend, AP-ITN bigwig and Filipina Maria Ronson. One morning last week Maria called to ask if I could do anything for her friend, an Arab woman journalist. Their offices are in the same building in Wanchai, Hong Kong so when Maria says she’s a friend, she’s a friend. They see each other everyday, they bump into each other in assignments – so there’s no pretence here or a sinister background for Maria’s cry for help. She said she cannot understand why Dima is being refused entry to the Philippines to cover the May 10 elections.

She sees Dima as a journalist more than she is a woman even if an Arab woman journalist can only be hailed as an outstanding example. She refutes the common belief that in the macho Arab world, there is no room for women, much less a woman journalist. Maria asked if there was anything I could do for her. I would have to disabuse the impression of influence. Here, too, if in subtler ways women journalists fight hard to get where they are and some continue to suffer in a predominantly for men only club. So my first reaction was "very little". I can mention it in my column and see what happens.

But then something struck a bell. Yes, I can do something for Dima and it has to do with the powerful stand taken by our feisty woman Secretary of Foreign Affairs Delia Albert. She prides herself in being a woman more than she does having reached the pinnacle of a foreign service career. Recently she gave a speech at the 60th session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva where she made a pitch for women. "The Philippines is committed to the promotion of women’s economic empowerment, advancement and protection of women’s rights. It would also promote gender responsive governance," Albert told the audience in Geneva. So what is a government with this policy doing to a woman journalist applying for an entry visa? Moreover, here is a potent example of a woman fighting her way in a macho society; so yes, Maria, I am ready to help. The case is now on the desk of Secretary Albert who is abroad. But May 10 is still some days off; perhaps by some miracle, we can convince her that allowing Dima into Manila would blunt any suspicion that gender concern is only a political ploy.

Here’s the story straight from Dima: I heard a lot about you. First let me start by thanking you for accepting to help me and Aljazeera get into the Philippines. Maria was so kind to put me in touch with you. In fact we wouldn’t like to file any official or even unofficial complaint. All I wish to know is if Manila has any problem with Aljazeera and minds us going to cover events out of the Philippines. I have never been refused a visa myself, as this is the first time I actually apply for one. However a colleague of mine had tried to go sometime back and he never made it. Anyway now I have filed an application for visa and got the impression that it might not be ready by May 10 although I applied as early as over 5 weeks in advance. So basically all I wish to know is an off-the-record indication whether there is a problem or not. If there is any problem, whatever it is, then maybe we can solve it.Aljazeera is expanding as you may know and wishes to make a more comprehensive coverage of Asia. This is what I am here for and I believe that the Philippines is one very important country not just for Asians but also for most people in the Middle East (for reasons you probably are already aware of). Please assure the person you will talk to that I am a very moderate and modern Muslim and represent a professional and neutral channel which is trying as hard as it can to be impartial.

Dima Khatib is a roving reporter/producer for Al-Jazeera and can be contacted in the channel’s web site http://english aljazeera.net. It may be because she works for controversial Al-Jazeera but what media outfit is worth anything if it is not controversial at times? Some of the most recalcitrant journalists against the coalition for the willing are from mainstream press like the New York Times in the US and the Guardian in the UK.

Secretary Albert has an opportunity to demonstrate political will by allowing Dima in. It may not be a case of physical violence against women but there is violence of a sort when a woman journalist is rejected because she comes from an Arab TV channel. Lately, Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya have come under fire for their coverage in Iraq. Why should Dima suffer because her male colleagues have been unpleasant? Dima is Dima and our government should investigate if necessary her personal credentials before rejecting her. The matter is now on the desk on Secretary Albert so Dima, just sit tight for the moment. Fine, if you are granted a visa, but if not then the RP foreign affairs department must come out with an adequate explanation why you have been rejected.

Baby Arenas is a driven impresario. Anyone who went through the travails of bringing in temperamental Pavarotti should have learned her lesson. But Baby is unfazed. To her, bringing in such world-famous singers is a kind of political act. At the time of Pavarotti’s performance she was still under the common impression that only music aficionados would appreciate great singing. So the Pavarotti show was limited to the perfumed crowd at the Cultural Center. Now Baby moves on to higher stakes. She has discarded this attitude. The Bocelli concert will be held in masa Araneta Coliseum on April 30. She will bring the voice of the blind, world famous Andrea Bocelli, adored by millions around the world, to a wider group of Filipinos. The choice of venue is daunting. How will she fill up the 20,000 capacity hall? friends ask. That’s precisely the importance of Baby’s feat. This is her way of making a political statement. Moreover, it is no mean feat with all the advisories against the Philippines to have convinced Bocelli to come. As it were, she kills two birds with one stone. She brings the crowds to hear Bocelli and puts the Philippines back into the radar screen as a great place where the likes of Bocelli are not afraid to perform. Music aficionados know the worth of Andrea Bocelli. He has replaced Pavarotti on the musical stage and to be present when he sings at the Araneta Coliseum will be a lifetime experience. But to go back to Baby’s new perspective on bringing the high culture of opera to a wider crowd. It brought me back to London memories of Pavarotti’s Nessum Dorma which became the theme song of football and its fans when the British won the World Cup finals some years back. You could hear Nessum Dorma being sung everywhere – in the pubs, in the streets. Opera came down from its high horse to enlighten and inspire the masses. I think that is what Baby Arenas hopes to accomplish with the performance of Andrea Bocelli.

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