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Chris Lau

An Indonesian journalist blinded in her right eye while covering an anti-government protest in Hong Kong said she has forgiven the police officer who left her injured.
But Veby Mega Indah, 39, remains determined to pursue legal action to compel the force to name the officer, so that she can initiate civil action and, possibly, private prosecution against the officer.
She is believed to have been hit by a rubber bullet.
“I am pursuing justice in this case not only for me but for all the injured people in Hong Kong who cannot do the same,” said Veby, an associate editor of Suara Hong Kong News, an Indonesian-language publication based in the city.




She is being represented by human rights lawyer Michael Vidler and has applied for legal aid to pursue her case.
A journalist for the past 13 years, Veby came to Hong Kong in 2012 and has written regularly about the rights of Indonesian migrant workers in the city.
She became the focus of a story herself on September 29 when she was hit in the eye while covering a protest in Wan Chai.
During an emotional interview on Monday, Veby said she was still surprised that the incident occurred.
My faith tells me that I have to forgive
Veby Mega Indah
She was wearing her press gear that day, and was with about a dozen journalists who were well away from the protesters at the time. Just before the projectile hit her, a reporter behind her was shouting “kei che” – “journalist” in Cantonese.
She recalled collapsing into the arms of a journalist behind her, hearing voices telling her to stay awake, and thinking: “It’s going to be my end.”
She underwent surgery, but doctors could not save her eye. Discharged from hospital about three weeks ago, she said her ruptured eyeball may have to be removed if it deteriorates.
Hong Kong legislators launch bid to reform ‘draconian and out of date’ law
Wearing an eye patch and still adjusting to her new circumstances, Veby said her perception of depth has been affected, and her left eye gets tired easily.

More than two months after the incident, Veby attributes her Christian faith to helping her deal with her feelings about the officer who left her injured.
“My faith tells me that I have to forgive,” she said.
Veby said she decided to take legal action after getting nowhere in approaching police. She said she and her lawyer had been asking the police to reveal the identity of the officer in question, but the force had so far refused.
“I hope there will be justice, so the officer who shot me will face consequences according to the law, so police officers understand what they cannot do,” she said.
Hong Kong protests bring biggest retail slump on record
A police spokesman said earlier that the Complaints Against Police Office had “launched a comprehensive investigation”, but Veby was not fit to provide assistance at the time.
Last Friday, Kong Wing-cheung, senior superintendent of the force’s public relations branch, denied that the officer was being protected, saying that there were “legal points” to be resolved because the case involved privacy issues.




Vidler said they were not given that explanation earlier.
Veby said none of the key witnesses whom she knew were present at the scene had been asked by police to provide assistance. She herself had to volunteer to make a written statement.
Vidler said they were anxious because in cases of private prosecutions, the law required all procedures to be completed within six months.
He said Veby’s legal aid application was still pending seven weeks after being filed. The Legal Aid Department said it would not disclose details of Veby’s case for reasons of confidentiality.
Tears ran down Veby’s face when she was asked if she would return to the frontline of the protests.
“It’s one of the things that keep me up at night, wondering whether I can continue to be a journalist,” she said.


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Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong protests: Indonesian journalist who lost her eye while covering action in Wan Chai keen to pursue case against police

Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah says she has forgiven the police officer who caused her permanent injury. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

A member of the media (C) receives medical assistance after being hit in the face with a projectile fired by police during clashes with protesters following an unsanctioned protest march through Hong Kong on September 29, 2019. - Thousands of Hong Kongers defied police tear gas rounds on September 29 to hold an unsanctioned march through the city, part of a coordinated day of global protests aimed at casting a shadow over communist China's upcoming 70th birthday. (Photo by ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

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A masked protester throws back a round of tear gas. Photo: Sam Tsang

Anti-government protesters vandalize MTR facilities in Whampoa in Hung Hom after a ‘Never forget why we started’ rally that was held from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom. 01DEC19 SCMP / Edmond So

Anti-government protesters hold a ‘Never forget why we started’ rally from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom Coliseum. 01DEC19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

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Anti-government protesters march from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom on December 1. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Former lawmaker Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee speaks on forum titled future of rule of law at the Global Gateway Tower 1904 in Lai Chi Kok. 04AUG18 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Riot police fire tear gas rounds at anti-government protesters as they vandalize facilities in Whampoa in Hung Hom after a ‘Never forget why we started’ rally that was held from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom. 01DEC19 SCMP / Edmond So

Hong Kong police receive 1,200 complaints over handling of anti-government protests

There have been hundreds of complaints made against officers during the Hong Kong protests, all of which are still being processed, the city’s security chief says. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Clashes break out between riot police and students at the junction of Cheong Wan Road and Chatham Road South near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hung Hom as tear gas and petrol bombs are exchanged. 17NOV19 SCMP / Felix Wong

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Protesters throw petrol bombs at police outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Kowloon on November 17. Photo: Kyodo

This photograph provided by the Straits Times and taken on September 14, 2000 shows Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew holding a press conference in Singapore on the launch of Part 2 of his memoirs: From Third World to First. Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, one of the towering figures of post-colonial Asian politics, died Monday in hospital, the government said. Lee's son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a statement that he is "deeply grieved to announce the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore". "Mr Lee passed away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital March 23, 2015 at 3.18 am," the statement said. He was 91. AFP PHOTO / GEORGE GASCON/ The Straits Times SINGAPORE OUT ---- EDITORS NOTE ----- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GEORGE GASCON / THE STRAITS TIMES" NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

A police armoured vehicle has been set on fire on the flyover where a massive breaks out during clashes between riot police and students protesting at the bridge of the Cross Harbour Tunnel besides Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hung Hom. 17NOV19 SCMP / Winson Wong

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, consoles family members of the deceased in front of a grave marker during the 37th annual May 18 Democratic Uprising memorial at the Gwangju National Cemetery in Gwangju, South Korea, Thursday, May 18, 2017. The cemetery honors hundreds of citizens who were killed in the city during their protests against the military junta of Chun Doo-hwan in May 1980. (Kim Min-hee/Pool Photo via AP)

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Veby Mega Indah accuses police of being slow to probe, refusing to name officer
Police force denies protecting officer, says there are ‘legal points to be resolved’



Indonesian journalist accuses police of being slow to probe, refusing to name officer.


Hong Kong protests: Indonesian journalist who lost her eye while covering action in Wan Chai keen to pursue case against police

Veby Mega Indah accuses police of being slow to probe, refusing to name officer Police force denies protecting officer, says there are ‘legal points to be resolved’

Veby Mega Indah accuses police of being slow to probe, refusing to name officer

Police force denies protecting officer, says there are ‘legal points to be resolved’