By Laurel Chor October 27, 2014 / 11:44 HKT
An Al Jazeera journalist films a man who was harassing her as a police officer tries to stop him on Oct. 3 in Causeway Bay. (Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media)
On Saturday night, two cameramen and two reporters from TVB and RTHK were assaulted at an anti-Occupy Central Rally in Tsim Sha Tsui.
A RTHK reporter said that someone tried to grab her press pass and her backpack, and that she was kicked her in the leg and body after she fell down. RTHK stated that they would take legal action.
A reporter and two cameramen from TVB said that a group of people pulled on their clothes before assaulting them, reports RTHK.
The police told the press that a 61-year-old man was arrested for the assaults. They are currently investigating the four cases, which have been classified as “assault occasioning actual bodily harm”, “criminal damage” and “common assault”.
Six local news unions released a joint statement yesterday, declaring that “the violent acts have trampled on press freedom and threatened journalists' personal safety”.
A RTHK reporter said that someone tried to grab her press pass and her backpack, and that she was kicked her in the leg and body after she fell down. RTHK stated that they would take legal action.
A reporter and two cameramen from TVB said that a group of people pulled on their clothes before assaulting them, reports RTHK.
The police told the press that a 61-year-old man was arrested for the assaults. They are currently investigating the four cases, which have been classified as “assault occasioning actual bodily harm”, “criminal damage” and “common assault”.
Six local news unions released a joint statement yesterday, declaring that “the violent acts have trampled on press freedom and threatened journalists' personal safety”.
They called on organisers of rallies to shoulder the responsibility for ensuring the safety of journalists, and said that employees should provide them with adequate safety gear and insurance policies.
The statement also asserted that journalists have the “right to refuse to cover an event when they reasonably believe that their personal safety is at risk”.
CY Leung’s office also released astatement yesterday condemning the “savage act”, and saying that he and the government have “all along respect[ed] press freedom”.
It's an oddly defensive statement, but we appreciate the sentiment.
Hui Sir, the police officer who gives the daily Occupy Central press briefings, reminded the public of a rule that most learn in kindergarten: “Even if people hold different views, or have discontent, they should not resort to violence.”
Check out this video we took of an Al Jazeera cameraman being harassed by anti-Occupiers on Oct. 3 in Causeway Bay:
It's an oddly defensive statement, but we appreciate the sentiment.
Hui Sir, the police officer who gives the daily Occupy Central press briefings, reminded the public of a rule that most learn in kindergarten: “Even if people hold different views, or have discontent, they should not resort to violence.”
Check out this video we took of an Al Jazeera cameraman being harassed by anti-Occupiers on Oct. 3 in Causeway Bay:
And here's our Coconuts TV Raw Report for Occupy Central on Oct. 3, when our own cameraman was punched in Mong Kok:
