I was relieved to see the United Nation report on Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi. Over the years, I have read many news reports about journalists losing their lives in the line of duty, but it seems likely that most of them do not even make the news, let alone headlines in the news.

I am aware that in some areas of journalism, such as war correspondents, the danger to life is an occupational hazard. But forgetting their valor and letting their names and their achievements fall from our memories are regrettable.

Especially, letting go of the perpetrators of such heinous crimes is nothing short of criminal irresponsibility. If we let the courage of news reporters be forgotten, then we embolden the criminals and threaten the very freedom we treasure.

The flame of “freedom of the press” should never be allowed to be smothered by bad elements of our society. Freedom of the press is our right. We need our reporters to be safe and report freely without fear for their own safety. Our reporters are nothing short of freedom fighters.

Birendra Singh Huja

Waialae Iki

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