IFJ Protests Treatment of Journalists and Human Rights Observers in Hong Kong

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has joined with Amnesty International (Hong Kong) and the Asian Human Rights Commission to express concerns about the detention of journalists and human rights defenders who were observing protests in the region on July 1.

 

Kiri Choi, an intern journalist with New Tang Dynasty Television, and David Cheung, a citizen journalist with Green Radio, were detained by police on the night of July 1 after they took photos of police escorting protestors from a demonstration earlier that day in Hong Kong. They told the IFJ they had disclosed their identities to the police but were unable to produce their press cards when questioned. They were arrested and detained at a police station in Aberdeen, Hong Kong for more than 10 hours.

 

The July 12 joint statement also protests the detention of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor Director Yuk Kai Law, who was monitoring police behaviour at the demonstration a regular practice of the organisation.

 

“Mr. Law and Ms Choi have done nothing inconsistent with the role as impartial observers and reporters. They have not intervened nor obstructed police actions,” the statement reads.

 

“The denial of access of human rights observers to restricted areas as to thwart the purposes of human rights and humanitarian law by restricting the free flow of information is totally unacceptable.”

 

The statement urges the Hong Kong Police Force to cease any attempt to obstruct human rights organisations from observing protests, stop interfering with the press in their efforts to cover arrests at the scene and strengthen training on international human rights standards on policing, particularly for frontline police.

 

The IFJ fully endorses the statement, which can be read here:Hong Kong Joint Statement

 

 

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0919

 

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

 

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

 

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