Bangkok: Vows To Uncover Truth

[webfact]

Bangkok: Vows to Uncover Truth

As criticism mounts of the Thai government’s response to the deaths of two foreign newsmen during recent political violence in Bangkok, the sister of slain Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi says she will not give up the search for the truth behind her brother’s death.

“I don’t really care about how it happens, I just want to get to the bottom of things,” said Elisabetta Polenghi on Friday, speaking Italian through a translator at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in Bangkok.

Isabella Polenghi, sister of slain Italian photograher Fabio Polenghi, pays her last respects at his funeral at a temple in Bangkok on May 24. (Photo: Getty Images)

“If there are no breakthroughs and there is no further information sent to us, that means that I will probably return to Thailand in the near future because as a family, it’s important for us to be close to the investigation and see that there’s something being done,” she added.

“I hope I won’t have to come back too soon and I will receive the information that I’m seeking.”

At least 90 people were killed and 1,800 injured in April and May when a political struggle turned violent and troops clashed with anti-government “Red Shirt” protesters. Japanese cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto was also killed during the battle, while nine other journalists and photographers were injured.

Fabio Polenghi was shot on May 19 despite making himself recognizable as a journalist by donning a green armband and a blue helmet with the word “Press” written front and back.

A report released on Thursday by the press freedom group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) accused the Thai government of failing to bring anyone to account for the deaths and called for transparent investigations to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The report quoted Bangkok-based documentary film maker Bradley Cox, who had been with Polenghi and was himself shot in the leg, possibly with the same bullet that claimed Polenghi’s life, saying soldiers had that morning rained bullets seemingly at random, “firing at anything or anybody.”

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s government says troops fired only in self-defence. Leaders of the “Red Shirt” movement maintain that their supporters eschewed violence.

CPJ’s Asia Programme Consultant Shawn Crispin, speaking after Polenghi on Friday, said both sides in the conflict bore responsibility for the deaths and injuries.

“Our research found that contrary to government and protester groups claims of using the utmost restraint and a commitment to non-violence, that actually both sides were involved in lethal recklessness that resulted in deaths and injuries to reporters during the protest,” he said.

CPJ’s research also found that in certain instances, the authorities had, at times, obstructed private investigations into the deaths and injuries, Crispin said.

“We strongly urge the government to cooperate with these investigations and not obstruct them,” Crispin said. “Recognising that the recent deaths and injuries occurred between two and three months ago, there are still early indications of a potential official cover-up.”

Speaking at the Asean Regional Forum in Hanoi last week, Japan’s Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada called on the Thai government to show itself more active in the investigation into Hiroyuki Muramoto’s death.

Meanwhile, Bangkok remains under a State of Emergency along with nine other provinces, effectively banning public gathering of more than five people in those regions.

Source: scandasia.com

-- SCANDASIA

2010-08-08

[chainarong]

yeah right !

[SomTumTiger]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Edited August 8, 2010 by SomTumTiger

[Arjay]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

[SomTumTiger]

There is no way to tell - and there never will be be. Frankly, trying to is a non-starter.

[jayjay0]

Not sure where Bangkok is vowing any thing. As for the death of a reporter in a war zone whats to investigate. Was he brain dead and thought a sign on him would stop a bullet.

You got to laugh at the way they claim the soldiers were just firing wildly. Common sense tells us that that many soldiers just firing wildly at that many people would have left a he--l of a lot more dead and injured. But that little fact will not sell a news paper.

[kevc]

Wasn't this the guy who was dressed in black that put himself in the middle of a battle at the same time the men in black were firing back at the soldiers.

R.I.P.

[jfchandler]

That's a pretty thoughtless comment offered below....

It is exactly the job of journalists and photographers, and the personal conviction of many as well, to try to record the truth of such events for the public's knowledge and for the record of history.... In the recent events here, that included bringing to light the role of the black shirt militias....

When a city is undergoing riots and violence, it is the job of journalists and photographers to witness and record it... Trust me, as someone who did that job for almost 20 years in the U.S., no reporters or photographers think they are bulletproof, as you say. They just hope to do their job and get back alive to file their reports.

Unless you simply want to rely on the government to tell you the "truth" all the time, you might consider being a bit less cavalier toward journalists and the important role they play in any civil society.

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

[steve187]

R.I.P

But reporters do go into some really dangerous places and its a sad fact that it is par for the course.

Will anyone get to the bottom of what happened - I doubt it very much.

[sevenhills]

These sorts of killings are not just committed in Thailand, happens all around the World.

I'm sure that the perpetrators in most of these killings have never been bought to justice.

Therefore, the killers in Bangkok will never be caught and bought to justice either. Nothing surer.

http://www.google.co.th/#hl=en&q=news+reporters+killed+at+work&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=news+reporters+killed+at+work&gs_rfai=&fp=d2f23210bfd11918

Cheers.

[rubl]

That's a pretty thoughtless comment offered below....

It is exactly the job of journalists and photographers, and the personal conviction of many as well, to try to record the truth of such events for the public's knowledge and for the record of history.... In the recent events here, that included bringing to light the role of the black shirt militias....

When a city is undergoing riots and violence, it is the job of journalists and photographers to witness and record it... Trust me, as someone who did that job for almost 20 years in the U.S., no reporters or photographers think they are bulletproof, as you say. They just hope to do their job and get back alive to file their reports.

Unless you simply want to rely on the government to tell you the "truth" all the time, you might consider being a bit less cavalier toward journalists and the important role they play in any civil society.

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Right, right, but there remains the clear fact that in cases of mayhem journalists put themselves at risk. With anti-riot personel and 'peaceful' protesters clashing anything can happen. No-one involved will protect a journalist because of his holy mission. They've got other things to do, like trying to stay alive themselves. When journalists move around, make pictures they may even be more at risk than anyone else present. No wonder some folks think them crazy with a deathwish.

[UberBraun]

What's with the headline  "Bangkok: Vows to Uncover Truth"?

There was absolutely nothing in that article where ANY government official made any such statement.  Very misleading.

[BSJ]

Sadly nothing will be done because nothing can be done. The family should grieve for their loved one, build a monument and try to put it behind them.

[jayboy]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

[way2muchcoffee]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Indeed. And another option is that PAD mercenaries shot them. And yet another is that they shot themselves. Or perhaps southern separatists shot them.

Edited August 8, 2010 by way2muchcoffee

[jayboy]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Indeed. And another option is that PAD mercenaries shot them. And yet another is that they shot themselves. Or perhaps southern separatists shot them.

Yes there there umpteen possibilities.But most will recognise that your alternatives are comic fantasies.Most will equally know mine needs to at least be considered seriously.

[way2muchcoffee]

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Indeed. And another option is that PAD mercenaries shot them. And yet another is that they shot themselves. Or perhaps southern separatists shot them.

Yes there there umpteen possibilities.But most will recognise that your alternatives are comic fantasies.Most will equally know mine needs to at least be considered seriously.

I would place the likelihood of government troops targeting foreign journalists at about the same level as the possibility of PAD mercenaries. I don't think that it does merit serious consideration.

There is no conceivable motive for government troops to target journalists. There are many reasons why this kind of activity by the military would work absolutely and totally against their interests as well as those of the government.

Edited August 8, 2010 by way2muchcoffee

[OzMick]

That's a pretty thoughtless comment offered below....

It is exactly the job of journalists and photographers, and the personal conviction of many as well, to try to record the truth of such events for the public's knowledge and for the record of history.... In the recent events here, that included bringing to light the role of the black shirt militias....

When a city is undergoing riots and violence, it is the job of journalists and photographers to witness and record it... Trust me, as someone who did that job for almost 20 years in the U.S., no reporters or photographers think they are bulletproof, as you say. They just hope to do their job and get back alive to file their reports.

Unless you simply want to rely on the government to tell you the "truth" all the time, you might consider being a bit less cavalier toward journalists and the important role they play in any civil society.

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

"They just hope to do their job and get back alive to file their reports." And when their hopes are not fulfilled they want govt enquiries, private enquiries, royal commissions.................ad infinitum. Perhaps if he'd swapped his green armband for a bullet-proof vest, or had a little more situational awareness, And perhaps not. If you stand around in the middle of a gunfight, no matter how important the job, there has to be a fair chance that you'll end up dead.

[TAWP]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Nonsense, for what god-forsaken reason would the soldiers be targeting the unarmed protesters instead of all the armed or rioting ones?

Or even less, the journalists. Talk about 'shooting themselves in the foot' if they did.

[jayboy]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Nonsense, for what god-forsaken reason would the soldiers be targeting the unarmed protesters instead of all the armed or rioting ones?

Or even less, the journalists. Talk about 'shooting themselves in the foot' if they did.

The army has a record over many years of murdering civilian protestors, and equally there has never been proper investigation of these crimes.The Thai army is not accountable, and doesn't care about "shooting itself in the foot" to use your slightly unfortunate metaphor.

Your statement about the latest incident (Clearing the Reds from Bangkok) is simply untrue.It is known unarmed Red civilians were gunned down by the army.The question is what were the circumstances.I have always accepted that by and large this exercise was done professionally, but that doesn't give the army carte blanche.Or at least it shouldn't.

As to the targeting of journalists I simply raised this is a possibility, albeit a serious one.The mindset and possible psychology is well evidenced by some of the earlier posters in this thread (i.e If you don;t go looking for trouble you won't find it syndrome.Clearly the current elite(government/army etc)has a horror of international scrutiny and exposure of repression.How convenient that one or two journalists on the scene were gunned down.Still one never quite knows.Could just be the fog of war.

[rubl]

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Indeed. And another option is that PAD mercenaries shot them. And yet another is that they shot themselves. Or perhaps southern separatists shot them.

Yes there there umpteen possibilities.But most will recognise that your alternatives are comic fantasies.Most will equally know mine needs to at least be considered seriously.

I beg to differ. Although lots of possibilities are mentioned, most fall under 'personal opinion' or 'wishful thinking', or just plain old 'government conspiracy'. The last seems to come automatic for some. Till now no proof of any theories, still time to think up more

Edited August 8, 2010 by rubl

[yesdavy]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Your words "targeted deliberately" conjure conjecture as to what may have been on the ccd or memory cards in their cameras and why have we not seen their last images. The first thing any forensic officer would do in reconstructing a homicide is see what their final images were because those images might have contributed to their murders, if they documented something that could prove culpability that would embarrass or imprison people doing what they shouldn't. If the cameras and images conveniently disappear, then the agency in control of the bodies and the investigation must be considered at the very least incompetent, and from there you can use your imagination as to any competent levels of actions taken. Do you think that, if any images showed the opposition committing human rights violations, the images would have made every front page around the world? Then again, maybe the images were benign, so then why have we not seen them to demonstrate a thorough investigation? If these images have been circulated, please accept this apology in advance for not being able to stay on top of everything, and please provide a link to the images.

[OzMick]

They were shot, by solders, or reds, while being in a crossfire, in a place the should not have been. What more needs to be solved? Grieve for your loss, and hope that in the future, more reporters don't pretend they are bulletproof.

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Your words "targeted deliberately" conjure conjecture as to what may have been on the ccd or memory cards in their cameras and why have we not seen their last images. The first thing any forensic officer would do in reconstructing a homicide is see what their final images were because those images might have contributed to their murders, if they documented something that could prove culpability that would embarrass or imprison people doing what they shouldn't. If the cameras and images conveniently disappear, then the agency in control of the bodies and the investigation must be considered at the very least incompetent, and from there you can use your imagination as to any competent levels of actions taken. Do you think that, if any images showed the opposition committing human rights violations, the images would have made every front page around the world? Then again, maybe the images were benign, so then why have we not seen them to demonstrate a thorough investigation? If these images have been circulated, please accept this apology in advance for not being able to stay on top of everything, and please provide a link to the images.

My friend was knocked unconscious in a motorcycle accident. While lying on the ground in front of a busy market and with a black spot CCTV camera on him, his wallet, phone and shoes were stolen. Nobody saw a thing. What chance would you give an expensive camera amongst a pack of redshirts?

[yesdavy]

Question is did government soldiers shoot by accident or "red" shirts shoot to create an incident to blame the government?

Those are not the only two possible options.Another option is that the murdered journalists were targeted deliberately by the army just as unarmed civilians were targeted.

Your words "targeted deliberately" conjure conjecture as to what may have been on the ccd or memory cards in their cameras and why have we not seen their last images. The first thing any forensic officer would do in reconstructing a homicide is see what their final images were because those images might have contributed to their murders, if they documented something that could prove culpability that would embarrass or imprison people doing what they shouldn't. If the cameras and images conveniently disappear, then the agency in control of the bodies and the investigation must be considered at the very least incompetent, and from there you can use your imagination as to any competent levels of actions taken. Do you think that, if any images showed the opposition committing human rights violations, the images would have made every front page around the world? Then again, maybe the images were benign, so then why have we not seen them to demonstrate a thorough investigation? If these images have been circulated, please accept this apology in advance for not being able to stay on top of everything, and please provide a link to the images.

My friend was knocked unconscious in a motorcycle accident. While lying on the ground in front of a busy market and with a black spot CCTV camera on him, his wallet, phone and shoes were stolen. Nobody saw a thing. What chance would you give an expensive camera amongst a pack of redshirts?

Sorry for being inquisitive, but if nobody saw a thing, how do you know your friend was ripped off by red shirts?

[Garry9999]

Bangkok: Vows to Uncover Truth

Now there's an oxymoron.

[Richard W]

My friend was knocked unconscious in a motorcycle accident. While lying on the ground in front of a busy market and with a black spot CCTV camera on him, his wallet, phone and shoes were stolen. Nobody saw a thing. What chance would you give an expensive camera amongst a pack of redshirts?

Sorry for being inquisitive, but if nobody saw a thing, how do you know your friend was ripped off by red shirts?

OzMick didn't say his friend was robbed by red shirts. He simply doesn't expect red shirts to be more honest than the general public.

[OzMick]

.

Your words "targeted deliberately" conjure conjecture as to what may have been on the ccd or memory cards in their cameras and why have we not seen their last images. The first thing any forensic officer would do in reconstructing a homicide is see what their final images were because those images might have contributed to their murders, if they documented something that could prove culpability that would embarrass or imprison people doing what they shouldn't. If the cameras and images conveniently disappear, then the agency in control of the bodies and the investigation must be considered at the very least incompetent, and from there you can use your imagination as to any competent levels of actions taken. Do you think that, if any images showed the opposition committing human rights violations, the images would have made every front page around the world? Then again, maybe the images were benign, so then why have we not seen them to demonstrate a thorough investigation? If these images have been circulated, please accept this apology in advance for not being able to stay on top of everything, and please provide a link to the images.

My friend was knocked unconscious in a motorcycle accident. While lying on the ground in front of a busy market and with a black spot CCTV camera on him, his wallet, phone and shoes were stolen. Nobody saw a thing. What chance would you give an expensive camera amongst a pack of redshirts?

Sorry for being inquisitive, but if nobody saw a thing, how do you know your friend was ripped off by red shirts?

please read the post again. There is not the slightest suggestion that my friend was ripped off by redshirts. As it was on Samui, it is not even remotely possible. The cameras in question were in red territory.

Edited August 8, 2010 by OzMick

[jayjay0]

Jayboy

Now you are not even making sense. You say

"

Your statement about the latest incident (Clearing the Reds from Bangkok) is simply untrue.It is known unarmed Red civilians were gunned down by the army.The question is what were the circumstances.I have always accepted that by and large this exercise was done professionally, but that doesn't give the army carte blanch.Or at least it shouldn't."

How do you figure that carte blanch done professionally is wrong. If you were a mechanic and you had carte blanch to loosen one bolt would you loosen them all. Of course not. That would be unprofessional..

As to targeting the journalist's tell me you are joking. The next thing you know you will be saying seriously Thaksin had nothing to do with it.

What were the circumstances lets see they were in a combat zone defying the law. They were actively displacing thousands of honest citizens of there livelihood. They might not have a gun but they had bombs and dangerous fireworks. They were active in building walls to try and keep the army from bringing civic order back to Bangkok. And there very presence there was giving the OK to there bosses henchmen to refuse to negotiate. Kind of like a two year old. He just demands wont negotiate and has a tantrum when he dosen't get his way. Sound familiar