Journalists condemn attack on photographer
Published: Sep 2, 2014 4:17 PM | Updated: Sep 3, 2014 12:17 AM
Three major journalist groups have condemned the attack on a press photographer during the arrival ceremony of the deceased from the MH17 crash today.
Three major journalist groups have condemned the attack on a press photographer during the arrival ceremony of the deceased from the MH17 crash today.
English daily The New Straits Times photographer Aizuddin Saad (right) was punched in the face by a family member of a crash victim, causing him injury.
National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Chin Sung Chew said the union does not tolerate any kind of violence.
"We urge our members to take caution and be more alert when they are out on the field. Our jobs have become increasingly dangerous," he said in a statement today.
He also urged the authorities to conduct a proper investigation into the matter as soon as possible.
"We clearly stress that nobody should take justice into their hands regardless of the circumstances. We will provide legal assistance for Aizuddin if necessary," he said.
In the police report lodged by Aizuddin, the photographer said he was standing beside a fellow media practitioner when the hearses carrying the remains of MH17 victims arrived at the Nirvana Memorial Centre.
"One of the family members attacked a media practitioner who was beside me.
"When I was taking pictures, another family member kicked my camera, damaging it," he said in the police report sighted by Malaysiakini.
He then took the broken components of his camera to another area.
When other media personnel took pictures of him with the broken camera, another family member suddenly punched him in the face, causing a two-centimetre tear across his nose.
He was then brought to the mortuary's lobby and had his injury cleaned by the mortuary workers.
Police urged to investigate
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Press Photographers Association (MPPA) also urged the police to investigate the incident.
In a statement, MPPA president Zainal Abdul Halim condemned the attack on Aizuddin and a near-miss on Utusan Malaysia photographer, Rushdi Salleh, during the funeral of the MH17 crash victims.
"Such attacks are inhumane," Zainal said.
Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm), which is made up of mostly online journalists, said that it is highly inappropriate for any quarter to inflict any form of harm or harass members of the media on duty.
The group added that the covering of tragedies is a challenge for the media.
"The coverage of MH17 (much like other tragedies) is a real test of the media's professionalism in managing the sensitivities of family members involved.
"Geramm urges all quarters to understand and cooperate with the media who are only performing their duties without intention to add on to the burden faced by family members."
Earlier, the remains of pilot Captain Wan Amran Wan Hussin was the first to be lowered from the MH19 aircraft, followed by those of passenger Subashini J Retnam and finally, Dutch national Fun Shun Po.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, cabinet ministers and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
According to Bernama, Najib also met with families and relatives of the victims prior to the ceremony.
Families members wept and comforted each other as the remains of their loved ones were lowered from the MH19 aircraft and carried to waiting hearses.
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English daily The New Straits Times photographer Aizuddin Saad (right) was punched in the face by a family member of a crash victim, causing him injury.National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Chin Sung Chew said the union does not tolerate any kind of violence.
"We urge our members to take caution and be more alert when they are out on the field. Our jobs have become increasingly dangerous," he said in a statement today.
He also urged the authorities to conduct a proper investigation into the matter as soon as possible.
"We clearly stress that nobody should take justice into their hands regardless of the circumstances. We will provide legal assistance for Aizuddin if necessary," he said.
In the police report lodged by Aizuddin, the photographer said he was standing beside a fellow media practitioner when the hearses carrying the remains of MH17 victims arrived at the Nirvana Memorial Centre.
"One of the family members attacked a media practitioner who was beside me."When I was taking pictures, another family member kicked my camera, damaging it," he said in the police report sighted by Malaysiakini.
He then took the broken components of his camera to another area.
When other media personnel took pictures of him with the broken camera, another family member suddenly punched him in the face, causing a two-centimetre tear across his nose.
He was then brought to the mortuary's lobby and had his injury cleaned by the mortuary workers.
Police urged to investigate
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Press Photographers Association (MPPA) also urged the police to investigate the incident.
In a statement, MPPA president Zainal Abdul Halim condemned the attack on Aizuddin and a near-miss on Utusan Malaysia photographer, Rushdi Salleh, during the funeral of the MH17 crash victims.
"Such attacks are inhumane," Zainal said.
Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm), which is made up of mostly online journalists, said that it is highly inappropriate for any quarter to inflict any form of harm or harass members of the media on duty.
The group added that the covering of tragedies is a challenge for the media.
"The coverage of MH17 (much like other tragedies) is a real test of the media's professionalism in managing the sensitivities of family members involved.
"Geramm urges all quarters to understand and cooperate with the media who are only performing their duties without intention to add on to the burden faced by family members."
Earlier, the remains of pilot Captain Wan Amran Wan Hussin was the first to be lowered from the MH19 aircraft, followed by those of passenger Subashini J Retnam and finally, Dutch national Fun Shun Po.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, cabinet ministers and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.According to Bernama, Najib also met with families and relatives of the victims prior to the ceremony.
Families members wept and comforted each other as the remains of their loved ones were lowered from the MH19 aircraft and carried to waiting hearses.
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