Eye blinded covering Hong Kong protests, Indonesian reporter seeks justice
Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah
Hit by a projectile fired byHongKongpolice whilecoveringan anti-government protest nearly two months ago,Indonesianjournalist Veby Mega Indah wasblindedin oneeye, but that has not blotted out the traumatic flashbacks filling her mind.
Working as an associate editor for Suara, a newspaper popular withIndonesianmigrant workers inHongKong, Indah, 39, had been live-streaming in the Bahasa Indonesia language on the frontlines of demonstrations.
At the time of the shooting Indah was reporting on the streetprotestsalongside other journalists from the vantage point of a footbridge. She believes she was hit by a rubber bullet. Whatever the projectile was, it has caused the permanent loss of sight in her righteye.
"I felt like I could not bear it anymore. I thought it's going to be my end," she told Reuters.
Indah recalled hearing fellow journalists behind her shout: "We are journalists, stop shooting at us!"
The Chinese-ruled city has been roiled by more than six months of sometimes violentprotestsas activists call for greater democracy and an independent inquiry into police actions, among other demands.
Police, who have at times fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, say they have shown restraint in the face of escalating violence.
Indah and her legal representative told Reuters they have filed a legal request asking the police to name the officer involved in the incident so they can pursue a civil case, but that they have had no meaningful response so far.
HongKongpolice did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
While Indah still feels pain, she is adjusting to life with oneeye, although she is still haunted by the experience.
"When I was in the hospital, I keep waking up because some images (keep) flashing back the projectile keeps coming back and coming back to my righteye," she said, while holding back tears.
She has been unable to return to work.