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News/Notices Notices Notices for Members ‘Wrong to confiscate press cameras
News/Notices Notices Notices for Members ‘Wrong to confiscate press cameras 
| ‘Wrong to confiscate press cameras |
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| Friday, 10 August 2012 09:26am | |
 ©The Sun Daily (Used by permission)by ALYAA ALHADJRI KUALA LUMPUR: A police officer who headed an arrest team during the Bersih 3.0 rally admitted that it was wrong for policemen to confiscate cameras belonging to media personnel on duty that day. ASP Ong Seng Keong from the Cheras police contingent headquarters told the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry panel that there were two briefing sessions held for cops on duty a day prior to the rally, but no specific guidelines were given on how to deal with the media. “We were only given orders to monitor the situation and to only take the ‘softest’ action in accordance with provisions under the law,” Ong said. The panel headed by Suhakam vicechairman Dr Khaw Lake Tee had previously heard a testimony from online portal Malaysiakini journalist Koh Jun Lin, who said his camera was confiscated upon arrest, only to be returned later without its memory card. Several other press photographers also reportedly had their equipment seized or memory cards confiscated by the police. Ong, who was stationed at the Daya Bumi building, nearby Dataran Merdeka, however denied witnessing any incident of assault by police on protesters who were brought to the historic square after being arrested. “I received orders to move my team and be on guard at the site (Daya Bumi) at about 1pm. We were there until midnight. “From my location, all I could see was police bringing arrested protesters to the base of the flagpole at Dataran (Merdeka),” he said, adding that the method of arrest also depended on the reaction of protesters. Asked whether the power to arrest also gave police the right to hurt protesters, Ong said: “We will use the necessary approach to make an arrest.” He later agreed to a suggestion by ACP Jamaluddin Abdul Rahman, who held a watching brief for the police at the inquiry, that a tactic to “weaken” those arrested can be used if there was resistance. Set as favourite Share Email This Comments (0)
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