[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) dan Kesatuan Wartawan Kebangsaan Malaysia (NUJM) mengambil maklum keputusan mahkamah baru-baru ini yang mengenakan denda RM2,000 terhadap individu yang menyerang wartawan Haresh Deol pada November tahun lalu.
Walaupun Geramm dan NUJM mengakui kes ini telah diselesaikan di mahkamah, kami berasa terpanggil untuk membangkitkan beberapa kebimbangan serius yang timbul daripada keputusan tersebut serta keadaan yang lebih luas berkaitan insiden itu.
Pertama, masih tidak jelas mengapa hanya seorang individu didakwa, sedangkan laporan menunjukkan terdapat seorang lagi individu yang berada di atas motosikal ketika serangan itu berlaku.
Ketiadaan penjelasan lanjut mengenai perkara ini menimbulkan persoalan yang sah mengenai sejauh mana siasatan dijalankan secara menyeluruh, serta sama ada akauntabiliti sepenuhnya telah ditegakkan.
Kedua, motif di sebalik serangan tersebut masih belum dijelaskan dengan memadai. Keadaan yang mengelilingi kejadian itu dilihat seolah-olah ditangani secara terlalu ringkas, tanpa penjelasan awam yang menyeluruh mengenai niat sebenar di sebaliknya.
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Tindakan keganasan terhadap wartawan tidak boleh dipisahkan daripada peranan profesional mereka, dan amat penting agar sebarang kemungkinan kaitan antara serangan dan tugasan kewartawanan diperiksa secara telus.
Geramm dan NUJM mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya segala bentuk gangguan, intimidasi dan keganasan terhadap wartawan. Pengamal media menjalankan tugas mereka demi kepentingan awam. Mereka mesti boleh melapor, bertanya dan menyiasat tanpa rasa takut akan pembalasan.
Persekitaran yang selamat dan kondusif untuk wartawan merupakan asas kepada kebebasan media dan kebertanggungjawaban demokrasi.
Sehubungan itu, kami menggesa pihak berkuasa berkaitan memastikan siasatan terhadap insiden sebegini dilaksanakan secara menyeluruh, telus dan setimpal dengan keseriusan kesalahan tersebut.
Wartawan mesti dapat menjalankan tugas mereka dengan yakin bahawa keselamatan serta hak mereka akan dilindungi sepenuhnya di bawah undang-undang. – Geramm/NUJM
English version
Geramm and NUJM condemn intimidation and violence against journalists
Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) take note of the recent court decision imposing a fine of RM2,000 on the individual who assaulted journalist Haresh Deol in November last year.
While Geramm and the NUJM acknowledge the conclusion of the case before the court, we are compelled to raise several serious concerns arising from the outcome and the broader circumstances of the incident.
First, it remains unclear why only one individual was charged, despite reports indicating the presence of another person on the motorcycle at the time of the assault.
The absence of further clarification on this point raises legitimate questions about the completeness of the investigation and whether full accountability has been established.
Second, the motive behind the attack remains insufficiently explained. The circumstances surrounding the assault appear to have been treated in an overly simplistic manner, without a thorough public accounting of the underlying intent.
Acts of violence against journalists cannot be divorced from their professional role, and it is essential that any potential link between the assault and journalistic work be transparently examined.
Geramm and the NUJM unequivocally condemn all forms of harassment, intimidation and violence against journalists. Media practitioners carry out their duties in the public interest. They must be able to report, question and investigate without fear of reprisal.
A safe and enabling environment for journalists is fundamental to press freedom and democratic accountability.
We therefore call on the relevant authorities to ensure that investigations into such incidents are comprehensive, transparent and proportionate to the seriousness of the offence.
Journalists must be able to carry out their work with confidence that their safety and rights will be fully protected under the law. – Geramm/NUJM
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
