Chris Gelken has nearly 20 years experience as a photographer, writer, news editor and broadcaster.

For the past 11 years Chris has been based in Asia where he now works for Hong Kong's leading AM radio news station, Metro Plus.

Chris also contributes freelance material on a wide variety of topics to newspapers, magazines and radio networks internationally.

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Around the Newsdesk

Breakfast in Bangkok. High-tea in post-colonial Hong Kong. Supper in Shanghai. Luggage? Don't ask the baggage handlers at Chek Lap Kok.

In a few hours we should know whether Moshood Abiola died of natural causes, or if he was Kevorkianised, albiet unwillingly. Opinions are mixed around the newsdesk. When news of Abiola's heart attack first broke there was a collective "Get outa here!" But the apparent eagerness with which the Nigerian authorities welcomed an independent autopsy tends to suggest that Abiola's death really was just one of those tragic twists of fate. Or maybe they have advanced technology chemicals. Who knows?

And who the hell knows what is going through the minds of those self-destructive maniacs in Northern Ireland. As a Brit who has had to put up with 'the troubles' for 30-odd years, I am inclined towards the opinion of leave them to it and let God sort it out. Way, way back in the early days -- we're talking 1960's here -- the Catholics had a genuine grievance against the Protestant dominated local administration in particular, and the Protestant majority in general. Most people don't remember this, but when the British Army moved into the province as 'peacekeepers' in 1969, they were welcomed with open arms by the Catholic minority. Through acts of wanton and indiscriminate violance the nationalist 'hard men' of the IRA soon pushed the Army into the position of a virtual occupying force. And attitudes changed. Quickly.

As far as most Brits were concerned the Catholics had become the bad guys. The evidence of violence on both sides was quite clear but slanted reporting portrayed all Catholics as IRA terrorist supporters, while the Loyalist Protestants gave grudging allegiance to paramilitary groups that 'reacted' to IRA outrages. Those who saw through the charade got plenty sick of the whole thing. To draw an arguable parallel, the same sort of reporting demonized the Serbs during the Bosian War, portraying the Croats and Moslems as helpless victims.

Just as the Croats quite brazenly showed their true colours in what the United Nations has acknowledged as the most comprehensive act of ethnic cleansing in the Bosnian War -- the massive expulsion of Serbs from the Krajina region, the Northern Ireland 'Loyalists' are now demonstrating their total disregard for the sensitivities of the Catholic minority.

Both sides have their extremist factions eager to stir up trouble. Equally, both sides have their moderates who support peace. Unfortunately the general population tend to lend their support to rabble rousers who can't get a job because violence has seriously slowed down the economy - but who can recall their version of centuries of history better than an Oxford professor. But as I said before - and this is a province of my own country - I am inclined to support a 'Pontius Pilot' point of view. You've had your chance, now suffer the consequences. The province isn't worth any more investment in terms of the lives of policemen, soldiers or tax-pounds to support an economy wracked by three decades of sectarian bigotry.

It is a small province populated by people with small minds. Screw them.

Chris Gelken
9 July 1998
Hong Kong