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CIJ and WAMI deplore latest attack on media personnel |
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Tuesday, 05 August 2008 |
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers' Alliance for
Media Independence (WAMI) urges political parties to respect the role
of media professionals and to stop their personnels from using force to
restrict them from discharging their duties. The latest assault of a
photographer by security personnels of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat
(People's Justice Party), reflects a worrying trend of disregard to the
journalism profession and constitutes a job hazard that media
professionals are routinely exposed to.
On August 4, photographer Loh Hoay Hoon was assaulted by security personnels while on duty to cover a public talk by the party's adviser, Anwar Ibrahim. In the fracas that ensued after security personnels prevented Loh and other photographers from taking pictures of Anwar, they allegedly hit and grabbed Loh in a chokehold.
In a previous incident, on July 15, four photographers on duty to cover the televised debate between Anwar Ibrahim and the Information Minister Shabery Cheek were also assaulted by security personnels in the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Institute of Language and Literature), where the debate was held. The photographers, Zulkifli Ersal and cameramen Khairul Hasnor Mohd Khalili, from daily the Sun, Othman Abu Bakar from the Edge Financial Daily, and Hanafiah Hamzah from the Channel News Asia were also prevented from taking pictures of the speakers by the security personnels, who tried to block them from leaving the media room.
CIJ and WAMI assert that photographers, as media professionals, should be treated with dignity by all parties. Unfortunately, CIJ's monitoring reveals that they are the frequent subject of restriction and harassment by personnels of political parties. This indicates a lack of respect for the journalism profession and a lack of understanding of the role photographers play. CIJ and WAMI would like to remind all that the public's right to information is being undermined when photographers are routinely restricted to report visually to the public.
We urge the police to investigate the assault on the photographer, who has lodged a report on this matter. We call on all political parties to adopt a respectful approach in dealing with the media and prevent such incidents from happening again. They can start by educating their members and staff on the media's role as a disseminator of information of public interest.
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all people enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek, and impart information.
Issued by
Centre for Independent Journalism
and
Wong Chin Huat
Chair
Writers' Alliance for Media Independence
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