Suspend, Probe 'out-of-control' Cops: Media Groups

Seven journalists’ organisations on Monday issued a joint statement demanding an urgent meeting with Police Commissioner Chris Tang over the “humiliating” treatment of reporters at the hands of officers during street protests in Mong Kok on Sunday night.

They also said the force should immediately suspend all officers who had “lost control”, and launch investigations into their actions.

During dispersal operations on Sunday, officers forced some reporters to kneel down and stop filming the scene.

Some were pepper-sprayed in the face at close range, others were made to state their names and organisations to police cameras, and many had their credentials checked again and again.

In one incident, one journalist was reportedly put in a headlock for 20 seconds.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association, together with the Hong Kong Press Photographers’ Association, the RTHK Programme Staff Union, the Independent Commentators Association, Journalism Educators for Press Freedom, the Ming Pao Staff Association and the Next Media Trade Union said they want the police to immediately stop officers from attacking media workers.

They also accused the police, and the SAR government, of using all means possible to suppress the media, even as they claim to respect the fourth estate.

The groups said the entire industry is indignant at the injustice that has been done to frontline reporters.

The statement also said journalists have all along exercised restraint, and have no intention to treat the police as enemies.

However, it added that tolerance doesn’t mean indulgence, and police officers should live up to their stated values of ‘integrity and honesty’ and maintain their professionalism.

Journalists have long been accusing police of suppressing media freedom by blocking or attacking reporters at protests, with the Journalists Association even taking the police chief to court over allegations that the force had unlawfully breached press freedoms.

However, the police have repeatedly countered that while they do respect the media and its work, journalists are not above the law.

They’ve also pointed to ‘fake reporters who they say are mingled in among the press to aid protesters and obstruct the police.