Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chang Ching-chung (張慶忠) yesterday said that a man caught on camera beating a television news cameraman at the KMT’s 121st anniversary celebration on Sunday afternoon was his youngest son.
Chang told the Chinese-language Apple Daily that it was his third son, Chang Chun-yung (張鈞詠), who was seen assaulting CtiTV cameraman Kuo Hsien-yang (郭先揚) at the event in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋).
Chang said it was the first time his son had attended such an event.
Photo: Yu Heng, Taipei Times
“My wife [KMT New Taipei City Councilor Chen Ching-ting (陳錦錠)] will take care of the matter and she is very sorry about this,” he said.
The lawmaker, his wife and Chang Chun-yung appeared together late yesterday, bowing and apologizing over the incident.
Chang Chun-yung works as an assistant to his mother.
The incident occurred as reporters, photographers and videographers rushed former KMT chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄), seeking an interview, who kept walking and not responding to questions. Kuo allegedly bumped into Chen or Chang Chun-yung in the process, and the young man reportedly began swearing at him.
According to Kuo, Chang Chun-yung wrapped his arms around his neck and threw him and his camera to the ground, which caused abrasions on his back.
“He then tried to snatch my camera out of my hand, causing some contusions and scratches on my left wrist,” Kuo said.
The cameraman said he has filed charges against Chang Chun-yung and demanded compensation for his damaged camera.
CtiTV’s news channel yesterday released a statement condemning the violence, adding that police are investigating the incident to determine who was at fault.
The incident is another blow for Chang Ching-chung, who is one of the three KMT lawmakers and legislative candidates targeted by the “Voting Out Candidates Movement” initiated by several activist groups.
The groups have cited his move to rush the contentious cross-strait service trade agreement through a legislative committee review in March last year, as well as his stand against lowering the recall threshold and the suspension of construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, as the reasons he should be voted out of office.
People First Party (PFP) Deputy Secretary-General Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) called on the public not to resort to verbal or physical violence against reporters, saying most of them are professional and diligent and are willing to risk their lives to get first-hand information.
“The culprit represents the city councilor he works for. If he dares treat a reporter in such a manner, how is he going to treat ordinary people? As the old saying goes: A crooked stick will have a crooked shadow,” Liu said.
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