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Chris Hondros gave his life for his truth in the Libyan war

21 April 2011 / 20:04:09  GRReporter
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Spyros said that 192 reporters and technicians lost their lives during the war in Bosnia. "At least 10 colleagues have disappeared now in Libya and we do not know where they are." He is no longer a military photographer since 2003 and the only "hot" point where he shoots is the Gaza Strip and Palestine and he says that he would go there until "the liberation of Palestine." His decision was influenced by the change in the working conditions on the battlefield. "In Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, if you are not "attached" to the US forces or NATO, you immediately become their target, i.e. you have no protection from anywhere. When you are "attached" you become the victim of censorship. In that case, why should you participate in something like this?" He said there are examples of correspondents who work without such protection, but they usually know very well the area where they move and they usually do not go there just to "cover" an event.

The danger for the life of the photographer is everywhere, but the war in Bosnia was the most fearful to Spyros Tsakiris. "It was a very brutal civil war in which the groups operated uncontrolled, independently, and as it was appropriate to them. There were two survival opportunities: either to establish contacts with them, or to rely on God's help."

Coincidentally and tragically, as it turned out later, the screening of the documentary Dying for the Truth began in Greek cinemas in the early months of the year. The author Nikos Megrelis, who is one of the most prominent Greek journalists, presents the story of journalists and members of news teams who lost their lives in Iraq since the beginning of the war in 2003 until today. The film presents the unknown side of the events, the responsibility of the governments, the atrocities conducted by fanatical terrorist, but also the examples of courage, altruism and humanity that emerged over the horror of war.

"The first victim of war is always the truth." The phrase belongs to the ancient philosopher Aeschylus, he himself a participant in the Greco-Persian Wars. Have Chris Hondros and the hundreds of other journalists, operators and photographers who died thought it was worthy to die for it? The answer perhaps lies in what they wanted to show in the photographs that they have left behind.

Tags: MediaPhotographersPhotosBattlefieldChris HondrosSpyros Tsakis
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