The Timor-Leste Press Union (TLPU) has alleged that a police officer hit a journalist while on duty for taking photos, in violation of press freedom laws.
Freedom of the press and the right of journalists to cover events in public places is protected under article 41 in the Timor-Leste constitution, as well as the social communication law.
TLPU General Secretary Manuel Pinto, questioned the officer’s alleged actions, saying the journalist had the right to cover any event in a public place.
“If police are doing the right thing why should they worry? We have no personal interest, we (journalists) just want to defend public interest,” he said.
Journalist Jeronimo da Silva has alleged he was hit by a traffic police officer for taking photos of a checkpoint at Colmera on 25 July at 12.20pm.
He also called for the General Commander of National Police Timor-Leste (PNTL) to conduct an investigation into the incident
Timor-Leste Journalist Association (AJTL) representative Elisio Pinto has also called for an in-depth investigation.
He said the officer in question should also be sanctioned for his actions to prevent future incidents.
He added that police were responsible for implementing law and order and preventing crime and should not be involved in committing it.
“The investigation process should run so it will not happen in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, PNTL Second General Commander Commissioner Faustino da Costa called on journalists to ask permission before taking photographs.
“It does not mean they are banned, but they should inform [police] before taking photos,” he said.
He said that the media should refrain from taking photos in some situations when police were on duty. Another problem was that members of the public sometimes took photos and then posted them immediately on social media.
He said an investigation would be conducted to determine the circumstances of the alleged incident and that the case would be processed according to the law if it was established that a crime had been committed.
As a journalist, da Silva said he was disappointed by the officer’s reaction.
“I saw they (police) had set up a checkpoint and then I took a photo for my newspaper [and] the [officer] suddenly came and slapped me and we were arguing and then he slapped me again,” he said.
Da Silva said the officer and his friend then took him to the Commander of the Dili municipality Criminal Investigation Police (CIP) where he was asked to produce his press ID card.
“I said ‘I am journalist’, then he (the commander) asked me to show him my ID and he used my ID card to hit me,” he said.
Da Silva said his camera and mobile phone were also seized during the incident, but the items were later returned.
