"Student" Protester Swatted My Video Camera Today on Via España
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - There was a protest this afternoon down on Via España in front of the Banco Nacional. A small group of about 50 of the "regulars" who always come out to block Via Transistmica over by the University of Panama had marched down, and they were planning to join up with another group who was going to be marching down to this point on Via España. I went up on the pedestrian overpass and got a wide shot, then turned around and got a shot of the traffic backed up on Via España, due to both the ongoing construction of the Metro subway line, compounded by the protest which was blocking all but one lane of traffic. Then I went down to the street level and got a shot of the protesters from the front, moved to the middle and got a shot of the guy with the bullhorn who was leading the chants. Professor Juan Jované, who is one of the most active leaders of the left leaning movement in Panama was there, so I got a couple of shots of him. Then I got one more pan shot and was about to leave.
Guy Taking Photos Of Me: As I was about to finish up, I noticed one of the protesters was taking pictures of me. So, I shot some video of him. He apparently didn't like that and he came around and got in my face. He came straight up to me and smacked my video camera, asking;
- Moron: "Why are you filming me?"
- Winner: "Because you're out here on the street, so why not? Why are you touching my camera?"
- Moron: "Why are you filming me?"
- Winner: "Because you were taking pictures of me."
- Moron: "Yeah, because you're out here filming everyone and I don't know who you are."
- Winner: "Whatever. Take all the pictures you want. I'm a journalist."
- Moron: "Be careful or I'll break your camera, don't to that."
- Winner: "You be careful, or I'll break yours."
- Moron: "Yeah?"
- Winner: "Yeah."
(Then he smacks my camera again, for the second time)
- Moron: "Be careful, and don't film me again."
- Winner: "Get out of my face."
- Moron: "Don't be filming me again."
- Winner: "You're assaulting a journalist."
(And that's when Prof. Juan Jované intervened, and ordered the moron to back off.)
Short Conversation With Juan Jované: After the moron went back to the peanut gallery, I had a short conversation with Prof. Juan Jované. I told him my name, that I was from Panama Guide, that I've been in Panama for 25 years and I own the largest English language media outlet in Panama. Jované said "I know it." I explained I cover everything that happens, in a fair and balanced manner, both the good and the bad. I also said the "muchachos" should not be assaulting journalists, and he said "that's not a good idea" and apologized for the incident. Anyway, I took the opportunity to formally introduce myself because I had never exchanged words with him personally before. I got one more shot of "moron" and left. I didn't know it at the time, but when he smacked by camera he have moved the focus ring so the last video came out a little blurry. Here's the video of the incident. I'm uploading it to the TVN FTP server right now, so it might be on the 6:00 pm news on channel 2 tonight. Hey, the news is not supposed to be about the journalists. This "moron" guy screwed up. Also, if that guy's a "student" then I'm Donald Trump. There's a relatively small pack of "professional protesters" who always show up at these university events. Almost none of them are in the normal 18-22 age range for university students. These guys are paid antagonists, professional protesters. You can count on them to hit the streets and wave their flags at the drop of a hat.
Protester "Moron" taking pictures of me, while I'm filming the protest.
Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
