Union of Journalists will formalize complaint in the Ombudsman against PSP

O Union of Journalists (SJ) will formalise a complaint in the Ombudsman's Office against PSP and ask for responsibilities for the aggression and intimidation of journalists covering the protests of housing in the camps in Porto and Lisbon.

In a statement, the SJ today condemned the aggression and intimidation of PSP elements to an image reporter who was covering the demonstration against the Porto housing crisis and announced the formalization of the complaint.

The union structure “has already contacted the assaulted journalist, who explained that he was perfectly identified with a helmet with the word ‘Press’ visible, as well as with all the video equipment he was wearing at that time.”.

The image reporter also said, according to the SJ, that it considers “impossible” to be confused with protesters, because at the time it was hit there was no scenario of widespread confusion that could create some difficulty in identifying it.

In view of this, the SJ regrets and condemns “clearly this episode, which in no way dignifies the security forces or democracy itself”, considering that “condition and act with violence against properly identified journalists is unacceptable”.

In addition to this “deployable episode”, the Union of Journalists “also received reports and videos from another journalist who was threatened and intimidated by PSP agents in the coverage of the demonstration in Praça do Rossio, in Lisbon”.

In this case, despite having the Professional Wallet visible as well as badges ‘Press’ in parts of the garment, “the agents tried to prevent that journalist from recording arrests that were taking place at that time, with several attempts to remove him from the site, as well as the use of pushes to condition the work.”.

The SJ considers this act “deployable and unacceptable” and “leaves a word of solidarity to the journalists concerned and reiterates the need to ensure free coverage of the police interventions that take place in Porto and Lisbon”.

In view of the “gravity of the situation, the Union of Journalists intends to formalise a complaint in the Ombudsman’s Office against the PSP and ask for responsibilities for the aggression and intimidation of journalists who covered the housing protests and the Camped in Porto and Lisbon.”.

For the SJ, “these aggressions cannot go unpunished” and the SJ demands “an inquiry into police action and expects the police aggressors to be held accountable”.

In addition, SJ rejects “the statements of the PSP spokesperson, who said that one of the reasons for this morning’s violent intervention was also the defense of the work” of journalists on the spot.

“ Not in our name! Not in the name of journalism and journalists. We do not accept this discourse that we consider full of demagogy and populism ", says the SJ.

Also because, if there is a situation that involves limiting the work of the media in protests, there are “legal mechanisms and appropriate bodies to respond to this situation”.

The SJ “does not approve or support the use of violence against demonstrators in this type of situation. We repeat the idea, so that it is clear: journalists do not accept violence against people who manifest themselves, invoking the names of journalists and journalism. Also because, as it became clear, journalists themselves have also been the target of this police violence in the last few hours”, the union structure is over.

PSP dispersed early today the camped by the right to housing in Rossio, in Lisbon, and in Praça D. João I, in Porto, removing about 100 tents. The intervention culminated in police charges and throwing objects, causing more than two dozen wounded between demonstrators and police.

In the camps, which began on October 10th, protesters demand the reversal of the new rental law, the end of demolitions and evictions without housing alternative, a brake on housing purchase by real estate funds, the increase in public housing, the recovery of vacant buildings for housing purposes and “truely accessible” ceilings to income.