A screenshot of the incident (right), and protesters on May 19
Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders has condemned what it said is the harassment of a journalist by the police during the recent electoral reform protest in Dominica.
In a press statement, the Paris-based organization called for an investigation into the matter saying that it had contacted the police force in Dominica but has received no response. It said it expects the police to provide a full explanation of what exactly took place and measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
“During the March 19 protests against an electoral reform project on Dominica’s Caribbean island, EmoNews journalist Soana Benjamin was harassed by police officers,” it said. “Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns this treatment and asks the police to open an investigation into this incident.”
According to the RSF during the protest, Benjamin took care to identify herself as a journalist.
“However, videos filmed that day show a Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force officer verbally abusing her and seizing her equipment,” the statement continued. “The journalist for the news website EmoNews told RSF that the police also insulted her and, at one point, threw her phone to the ground while it was mounted on a tripod. RSF contacted the Dominica Police Force but received no response.”
Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of RSF’s US Bureau said Benjamin had every right to do her job covering the police reaction to public demonstration.
“In such situations, law enforcement must ensure that journalists are identified and respected,” he remarked. “RSF expects a full and transparent explanation from the police, as well as concrete measures to prevent such attacks from happening again.”
The video of the incident was widely shared on social media and many people have condemned the police officer for his action, however, there has been little or no reaction from the media in Dominica.
On its website, RSF describes itself as “an international non-profit organization governed by principles of democratic governance.”
“We are neither a trade union nor a representative of media companies,” the site stated. “Founded in 1985 in Montpellier by four journalists, RSF is at the forefront of the defense and promotion of freedom of information.”
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