The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the harassment of journalists by anti-Bersih 5.0 supporters and urged the police to immediately arrest the leader of the group.
NUJ in a statement on Sunday said that the anti-Bersih group did not understand the job of journalists.
"It is clear that this group is too emotional in their actions, until they are not able to think clearly like a rational person," according to its executive committee members.
NUJ said it was an embarrassment that this kind of "uncivilised behaviour" still exists in a democratic country like Malaysia.
"NUJ hopes the police will arrest the group and bring them to court," it said, adding that the leader of the group should also be arrested immediately.
"Media practitioners should deserve justice and protection from threats such as this that can interfere with their duty to report the truth," said NUJ.
"Our Constitution states our right to peaceful assembly. Therefore, we should gather cautiously without threat and provocation to ensure media practitioners do not become victims," it added.
The union will also lodge a police report against the anti-Bersih group as it involves members of NUJ.
Journalists from The Star were assaulted by an anti-Bersih group on Saturday while they were covering Bersih 5.0's convoy in Kuala Selangor.
The Star's journalists lodged a report at the Kuala Selangor police headquarters along with several members from Bersih 5.0.
Police will investigate the case under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.
Source -The Star Online-
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