Government broadcaster TDM said in a statement Thirsday that it had submitted a complaint to the Public Prosecution Office (MP) over an incident in which several casino workers taking part in a demonstration outside the Venetian “harassed” the TV station’s journalists.
The statement, signed by TDM Executive Committee Chairman Manuel Gonçalves Pires Jr., added that protesters swore at the reporters and “surrounded the news coverage vehicle” and banged on the sides, adding that the reporters “only managed to break free from the siege following the intervention of a protest leader”.
TDM reiterated its criticism of the protesters’ behaviour, arguing it “clearly obstructed freedom of the press to report relevant events”.
This was the second statement that TDM issued over the incident which happened shortly after the station reported on its website that the Public Security Police (PSP) initially stated that 150 people joined the protest about casino workers’ salaries and working conditions. Some of the demonstrators spotted the vehicle and as they were angry at the report they surrounded it, banged on the sides and shouted insults at the reporters.
They left the scene shortly afterwards as they were stopped by members of the Macau Gaming Industry Frontline Workers (Forefront of Macau Gaming– FMG), who organised the protest.(macaunews/macaupost)
