記者被襲及被阻止拍攝影片合集 Compilation of reporters being attacked and intervened
Subtitles available in Traditional Chinese, English, and Japanese.
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Dear International Federation of Journalist,
We are Hong Kong citizens and journalists hoping to raise awareness against the deplorable treatment against journalists by the Hong Kong Police Force during the protests against the amendments to the existing extradition bill (here and thereafter, the “Extradition Bill”) on 12th June, 2019. Such treatment prevents journalists from capturing the truth in relation to the situation as they are forced to leave the area due to threats to their personal safety. Such treatment also violates the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Art. 19. We hope that based on this letter, the International Federation of Journalists will issue a statement condemning such violence and the organisation behind it (the Hong Kong Police Force). A similar statement has already been issued by Reporters Without Borders.
Excessive Police Violence Against Journalists
In light of the Chief Executive’s rejection of the people’s demand, further peaceful protests were organised for June 12th, 2019. Tens of thousands of individuals gathered around the Legislative Council building to peacefully protest this law. A number of journalists from local and international organisations provided live coverage of the situation. Contrary to the police statement and the Chief Executive’s statement stating that the police acted only because the protesters turned violent, the protesters were peaceful and just stood in front of the Legislative Council building. With experience from the Occupy Central Movement in 2014 as well as the lack of equipment, there was no incentive for the protesters to engage the police in violence. Such claims by the Chief Executive and the police are unfounded and are laughable at best.
At c. 15:30 Hong Kong time (GMT+8), the police unilaterally commenced their operation to clear the protesters via launching tear gas grenades at the protesters. Journalists were targeted by tear gas. As the police started marching forward, they utilised a variety of weapons (pepper spray, rubber bullets etc.) against unarmed protesters as well as journalists. Further, video evidence highlights how the police threw steel posts (broken off from signposts) and shot rubber bullets at the faces of unprotected protesters. Training dictates that rubber bullets should only be fired on the ground and should only hit areas below the groin. The individual mentioned above who was hit in the face is likely to be blind in the right eye now.
The police also surrounded an unarmed protester and beat him whilst another group of police surrounded a Caucasian individual who was just sitting on a bench and sprayed his face with pepper spray. Such actions clearly show the lack of professional training that the Hong Kong police force has. This, in turn, creates a situation where journalists' health and well-being can be endangered should they wander into the protest zone.
However, one would assume that the police would merely harass individuals around the protest zone. Post-June 12th, we have seen increased actions by the police in harassing “suspicious” looking individuals as well as shouting insults against / assaulting journalists.
Our Request
In light of recent police brutality and excessive force used against protestors and journalists in anti-extradition protests, we are requesting that the International Federation of Journalists issue a statement condemning the Hong Kong Police Force for their excessive violence.
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to a response.
Kind regards,
A Group of Concerned of Hong Kong Citizens and Journalists
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