The National Union of Journalists said that violence against journalists would interfere with how the media perform their duties and would also affect press freedom
NUJ president Chin Sung Chew said that working journalists covering such social unrest are called to uphold their professional duties and should not be subjected to such senseless violence.
“This kind of act would interfere with press freedom, preventing them from carrying out their duties effectively… the reporters were assigned to cover the event and I am sure the public, including the group, could identify members of the press on duty,” she said in a statement.
He said there were absolutely no reason to physically harm the journalist and photographer from local Chinese daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh, Adam Chew and Lee Hong Chun, who were allegedly struck with motorcycle helmets.
“NUJ condemns the unruly group, believed to be supporters of Perkasa and Umno, for assaulting two media members who were on duty to cover the solidarity gathering,” he said.
Chin added that the NUJ will not condone such acts of violence and inflicting injuries on journalists as “nobody can take the law into his or her own hands”.
NUJ called on the police to “act decisively” in their investigations into the alleged assault of the two media personnel during the Himpunan Hijau 2.0 gathering in Penang on Sunday. “Both have lodged police reports on the assault and we urge the police to spring into action.”
“The NUJ will monitor this case closely as we do not want such incident to become a trend where media workers are attacked while carrying out their public duty,” said Chin.
He also called on reporters and photographers especially NUJ members, covering “social unrest” events of this nature to adhere to guidelines in NUJ’s safety handbook, which outlines the “do’s and don’ts”.
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