Thailand's DSI Denies Leaked Investigative Report Of Japanese Cameraman's Death

[webfact]

DSI denies leaked investigative report of Japanese cameraman's death

BANGKOK, Dec 13 - The chief of Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Monday reaffirmed the integrity of his agency's investigative documents relating to the case of a Japanese photo journalist killed during the confrontation between government troops and anti-government Red Shirt protesters in April, asserting that they were not leaked as earlier claimed by a key protest leader.

DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit made his remarks after opposition Puea Thai MP and core Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan told a news conference claiming that he received leaked investigation accounts on the deaths of Red Shirt protesters and the Japanese national killed during the March to May political disturbances and planned to distribute them to the foreign media, as well as to the Japanese embassy in Bangkok.

Eighty-nine persons, both security personnel and protesters, were killed and more than 1,900 were wounded in a number of clashes between troops and demonstrators of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) during their ten-week long rallies against the Democrat-led coalition government.

Among those killed were Italian freelance photographer Fabio Polenghi and Hiroyuki Muramoto, Japanese cameraman working for the British Reuters news agency.

Mr Tharit, speaking in his capacity as investigation chief on the terrorism and unrest cases, asserted that the investigations on the deaths during political unrest are still underway and no conclusion has been made, while also urging the Red Shirt leader not to raise the incomplete investigation to influence the public.

He added the documents that Mr Jatuporn had referred to, as seen in media, carried significantly different information from those of the DSI.

Regarding the investigation on the death of Mr Hiroyuki, the DSI chief said the investigation is still at the first step which is an autopsy by local police.

Mr Tharit elaborated that the case of the Japanese cameraman therefore was sent back to National Police Bureau to conduct the autopsy, together with the cases of six victims killed at Pathumwanaram Temple.

If police conclude that Mr Kiroyuki's death was not caused by state personnel, they will forward the case to DSI for further investigation, said Mr Tharit.

Mr Tharit explained that if state employees are found to have been involved with his death, police will send the case to court. Once the court rules that Mr Kiroyuki's death was caused by government personnel in their operations, then the DSI will work on a murder case and that will pave the way for bringing the culprits to court.

"For the time being, it is too early to conclude the case. I don't understand why Mr Jatuporn brought to foreign media what he claimed to be DSI's detailed investigation," the DSI chief said.

Mr Tharit added that officials at the Japanese embassy in Bangkok have met DSI investigators no less than five times to discuss the case and have also attended the witness hearings.

"The DSI has provided the Japanese diplomats detailed information on the case and how the witness hearings have been conducted," reiterated Mr Tharit. "They have got more information than what Mr Jatuporn said, and the Japanese ambassador to Thailand is satisfied with the clarification from the Thai authorities." (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-12-13

[otherstuff1957]

8 months have passed and the autopsy still hasn't been completed???

Edited December 14, 2010 by metisdead
Disrespectful comment removed from view.

[Buchholz]

He added the documents that Mr Jatuporn had referred to, as seen in media, carried significantly different information from those of the DSI.

From the same man that gave us doctored audiotapes and made false claims that Abhisit directly ordered the killing of protesters:

Red Shirt Leader and Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan

[asiawatcher]

He added the documents that Mr Jatuporn had referred to, as seen in media, carried significantly different information from those of the DSI.

From the same man that gave us doctored audiotapes and made false claims that Abhisit directly ordered the killing of protesters:

Red Shirt Leader and Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan

And he's still walking around after two bail payments! More deliberate misinformation from this ......

[webfact]

DSI: Red Shirt Evidence Does not Match

The Department of Special Investigation chief insists that evidence and information on the casualties from the protest crackdown that was submitted to the Japanese Embassy by red shirt leaders do not match the department's report which is yet to be completed.

The Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, Director General Tharit Pengdit said Pheu Thai MP and red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan's evidence on the 89 deaths during the May political unrest, as well as the death of the Japanese cameraman, that was submitted to the Japanese Embassy is not a match to the DSI's investigation report which has yet to be completed.

Tharit has urged all related parties to wait for the final report on the investigation which is being carefully processed.

He also asserted that the Japanese ambassador to Thailand is satisfied with the DSI's work.

As for the investigation into the 89 protest-related deaths, the National Police Office has forwarded its related reports to the DSI.

However, the DSI felt the report was incomplete and decided to send it back.

If the police conclude that government officials are not involved in the deaths, it will be re-submitted to the DSI, but if state officials are connected to the protest casualties, the report will be submitted to the judicial branch.

Meanwhile, red-shirt actor Methee Amornwuthikul, who is also a witness in the terrorism case and is under the protection of the DSI, has traveled to the City Pillar Shrine to swore that Jatuporn actually threatened him.

Tharit stated that Methee is a witness and not a suspect and the DSI has decided to release him.

The DSI has been trying to ask the court for permission to revoke Jatuporn's bail on grounds he has been intimidating witnesses in the terrorism case against his group.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-13

[ianf]

He added the documents that Mr Jatuporn had referred to, as seen in media, carried significantly different information from those of the DSI.

From the same man that gave us doctored audiotapes and made false claims that Abhisit directly ordered the killing of protesters:

Red Shirt Leader and Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan

And he's still walking around after two bail payments! More deliberate misinformation from this ......

He is a particularly horrible and manipulative individual and Thai politics would be 100% better off without this nasty piece of work.

[timekeeper]

He added the documents that Mr Jatuporn had referred to, as seen in media, carried significantly different information from those of the DSI.

From the same man that gave us doctored audiotapes and made false claims that Abhisit directly ordered the killing of protesters:

Red Shirt Leader and Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan

[SomTumTiger]

He is a particularly horrible and manipulative individual and Thai politics would be 100% better off without this nasty piece of work.

Amen

[apollo13]

something about his face that always reminds me of a circus clown...just needs the red nose and sad face lipstick.....coco prompan.

[hanuman1]

He is a soulless base-court varlet!

[timekeeper]

something about his face that always reminds me of a circus clown...just needs the red nose and sad face lipstick.....coco prompan.

[apollo13]

something about his face that always reminds me of a circus clown...just needs the red nose and sad face lipstick.....coco prompan.

not bad, timekeeper,..ummm...6 out of 10.......anybody else up for a try. 1st prize:1 packet tom yum mama noodles.

Edited December 13, 2010 by apollo13

[Soi Sauce]

But it is illegal for a Thai to do wromg in the eyes of the World, especially their so-called Hi So.

Imagine the terror it would cause in the rest of them if Thai wrong-doing was seen by the rest of humanity.

Oh,the shame. Oh, the loss of face.

Never understood the latter when the average politikal, chk Russian for kal, has thousands of them.

[rubl]

He is a soulless base-court varlet!

This I had to look up in my COD.

varlet - n archaic or joc.

1. a menial or rascal

2. hist a knight's attendant

With the 'base-court' in the quote both may be appropriate

Mind you I say nothing, I'd rather have my tongue beaten wafer-thin by a steak tenderizer and then stapled to the floor with a croquet hoop*.

(*: quote from well known hero captain Blackadder)

Edited December 13, 2010 by rubl

[hanuman1]

He is a soulless base-court varlet!

This I had to look up in my COD.

varlet - n archaic or joc.

1. a menial or rascal

2. hist a knight's attendant

With the 'base-court' in the quote both may be appropriate

That insult comes courtesy of the Shakespearean Insult Generator I posted a link to on another thread. It's a great way to insult people without fear of litigation as no-one really knows what it means as the language is archaic and now defunct. I'm trying to start a new trend with this, but then again that would probably be self defeating....

[webfact]

DSI says shooting of Japanese photographer still unclear

By The Nation

Details given to embassy came from red shirts, 'not DSI findings

The head of the Department of Special Investigation disputed claims yesterday by a Pheu Thai MP adisputed claims a red-shirt activist made to the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok on the death of a Japanese photographer during the anti-government rallies earlier this year.

DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit, as chief investigator into the shooting, said initial verification found the version of events claimed by Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan did not match the DSI's findings and could not have been leaked by it.

Jatuporn had claimed leaked DSI reports to the Royal Thai Police had revealed the Japanese cameraman was shot by a military officer.

Tharit said the DSI's investigation into the deaths had not finished and it was too soon to conclude who were the wrongdoers. Pre-judgement of the case would only cause society damage.

Seven months after the shootings, the DSI said it still had inadequate information about the deaths of three people at Pathumwanaram Temple and Reuters' cameraman Hiro Muramoto, and has asked the police to help.

If the police find any involvement of state officials, they must file the case with the court before sending it back to the DSI to become a criminal case, Tharit said.

Tharit also said representatives from the Japanese Embassy had held five or six meetings with the DSI on the investigation.

Somyos Preuksakasemsuk, who leads the June 24 Group, and about 100 red shirt protesters yesterday went to the Japanese Embassy to submit information and call for justice for the over 90 deaths during the March till May rallies.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the more Jatuporn and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra tried to attack the government, the more scandals from Thaksin's era were being dug up.

Suthep said besides the DSI and the Royal Thai Police, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee led by Kanit na Nakorn would also be involved.

Following announcements by fugitive red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong and his attempts to mobilise support, Suthep said it was the government's duty to make the world understand the events.

New red-shirt leader Thida Tawornsate Tojirakarn yesterday went to see Kanit to give moral support and urge transparency in his committee's work . She also asked him to push for bail for detained red shirts, formerly a responsibility of the Justice Department. The ministry had sent officers from the Rights and Liberties Protection Department to visit them in jail, but did not discuss bail.

Kanit said his committee had already suggested the government consider temporary release for the red shirts, but it was up to the court to grant bail. He said his panel does its job freely and fairly and had faced no interference from any group so far.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

[SamritT]

No respect for the dead.

Edited December 14, 2010 by metisdead
Illegible quoted post removed from view.

[metisdead]

One post and a reply to it removed from view, discussion of HM the King is not open to speculation.

[webfact]

Red-shirt Leader Makes New Riot Deaths Claim

A key red-shirt leader claims there is an army general gathering information and evidence on the killings of civilians during the May riots to blackmail other fellow officers and prevent another coup.

He also insists that his earlier claim about protest-related deaths matches the authorities' investigation results.

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan insisted that the report on the deaths of protesters during the April and May riots that was submitted to the Japanese Embassy matches the results of an investigation being carried out by the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI. However, the report's details were not taken directly from the DSI.

Jatuporn claimed that DSI Director General Tharit Pengdit had admitted that the information was from the same report and Jatuporn is suspicious why Tharit announced yesterday that the findings did not match.

Nonetheless, the red-shirt leader is planning to release further information on December 15.

He also claimed he has information on an army general with a name initial T or D who has launched a private investigation into the killings of protesters in order to blackmail other army officers and prevent a future coup.

Meanwhlie, earlier today, Jatuporn traveled to the Criminal Court for a hearing into the defamation case filed against him by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva over his accusation that the premier has ordered a massacre of red-shirt protesters.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

[slapout]

Jatuporn is a busy little fellow. His mouth has overload his arse so many times in the past that he has about the same believability as his boss and and all those associated with him. Someone once compared politicians and their minions to whores with the latter viewed somewhat higher in society. Having met a few of each in my travels I am pretty sure which would swing my vote on morality and truth. plus I like the good feeling I get when I get f..ek from the real pros.

[SamritT]

I hate him (Jatuporn), but I think these are the only useful information the Japanese ever get. And the last of any news about their death. DSI & CRES will make sure of that.

Edited December 15, 2010 by SamritT

[whybother]

No plan to sack DSI chief: Suthep

By The Nation

The government has not planned to remove Tharit Pengdit from his position as director general of the Department of Special Investigation, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday.

"Tharit is a good man with satisfactory job performance," he said, dismissing the opposition's allegation as a groundless rumour.

Suthep said the government was satisfied with the way Tharit was handling cases related the red-shirt rally and bloodshed which caused 91 deaths.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit claimed that the government was poised to sack Tharit because the DSI report had raised a possibility that the military might be responsible for 13 of 91 killed.

Prompong said a senior police officer with an initial A might be Tharit's replacement. This triggered speculation that Police legal adviser General Aek Angsananond might be a job contender. Aek is presently the lead investigator in charge of additional forensic checks on the 91 killed.

Edited December 15, 2010 by whybother

[Emptyset]

Jatuporn is for the most part an incompetent moron but it's Tharit who's lying here. Reuters have the same reports leaked to them from the DSI, they were apparently leaked to Reuters before Jatuporn got them. I'm sure you can verify this by google because I'm not sure I'm allowed to post the link. Tharit is making a fool of himself telling one thing to the international press and another thing to local reporters. Why not just be honest? These denials are doing far more to discredit the government than anything Jatuporn says.

[rubl]

Jatuporn is for the most part an incompetent moron but it's Tharit who's lying here. Reuters have the same reports leaked to them from the DSI, they were apparently leaked to Reuters before Jatuporn got them. I'm sure you can verify this by google because I'm not sure I'm allowed to post the link. Tharit is making a fool of himself telling one thing to the international press and another thing to local reporters. Why not just be honest? These denials are doing far more to discredit the government than anything Jatuporn says.

In most instances k. Tharit said something it was sufficiently vague to be interpretable to almost anything. If you consider 'I don't know' and 'we're not sure yet' a blatant lie, I'm afraid we do not have many honest people.

As for telling one to this side another to another side, welcome to Thailand. Mind you politicians and other fools worldwide have build up an admirable reputation in this respect

[Emptyset]

Jatuporn is for the most part an incompetent moron but it's Tharit who's lying here. Reuters have the same reports leaked to them from the DSI, they were apparently leaked to Reuters before Jatuporn got them. I'm sure you can verify this by google because I'm not sure I'm allowed to post the link. Tharit is making a fool of himself telling one thing to the international press and another thing to local reporters. Why not just be honest? These denials are doing far more to discredit the government than anything Jatuporn says.

In most instances k. Tharit said something it was sufficiently vague to be interpretable to almost anything. If you consider 'I don't know' and 'we're not sure yet' a blatant lie, I'm afraid we do not have many honest people.

As for telling one to this side another to another side, welcome to Thailand. Mind you politicians and other fools worldwide have build up an admirable reputation in this respect

Yes, but here he's explicitly denied that the reports that were leaked were DSI reports. Whereas to Reuters he said he couldn't confirm it one way or another, since it's an "official secret". But Reuters themselves are pretty convinced they have the genuine reports & believe Jatuporn has the same ones. I confirmed this with a Reuters journalist myself. On the other hand, I suppose it's plausible that Reuters got the real ones and Jatuporn has totally different ones, but it seems unlikely given that what Jatuporn said today matches what was in the Reuters report (except Jatuporn named names).

[TAWP]

Reuters doesn't have proof their copy is an official leaked one - for all we know it could be the reds that faked it and then gave it to Reuters...and then pretended to be handed a copy too.

What would be the purpose of writing one report and then later re-write a new report, completely different? If they wanted to hide things, they wouldn't have put it in print in the first place!

[SamritT]

"Reuters doesn't have proof their copy is an official leaked one." Is there such thing as a certified leaked document? Ironic?

[webfact]

POLITICAL CHAOS

Japanese diplomat queries probe into cameraman's death

By The Nation

Police chief says DSI report 'incomplete', appoints adviser to investigate case further

A Japanese diplomat met national police chief General Wichean Potephosree yesterday to follow up on the investigation into the death of a Japanese cameraman killed during a clash between soldiers and red-shirt demonstrators in April.

The discussion between Nobuaki Ito, minister (political) to the embassy of Japan in Bangkok, and Wichean lasted for about an hour.

"The Japanese delegate wants to hear about progress in the case," Wichean said upon emerging from the meeting. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has reportedly sent an "incomplete" report to the National Police. Wichean said he had now appointed Pol General Aek Angsananont, who held a powerful advisory post at the National Police Office, to be chief investigator in the case.

"I have instructed him to speed up the investigation, but with maximum care," the police chief said.

Wichean admitted that the Japanese delegate had presented some documents given to the embassy by red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan.

"The documents have already been given to the investigation team," he said, adding that at this point it was not possible to determine who killed Hiroyuki Muramoto. "I cannot say when the investigation report will be completed either," he added.

Muramoto was shot dead while covering the clashes at Bangkok's Khok Wua intersection in April.

According to testimonies filed with police, two witnesses saw bullets coming from the soldiers' side. One of the witnesses, who was also shot, was just two metres away from Muramoto when shooting erupted.

In a related development, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday dismissed as groundless claims by the opposition Pheu Thai Party that DSI's director-general Tharit Pengdit would be removed in connection with alleged leaks of the agency's probe into deaths during the political unrest.

"It has never been an issue. He is doing a good job," the premier said.

Abhisit added that he was aware that DSI had a large workload and that his government had approved DSI's request for more staff. The premier rejected Pheu Thai spokesman Promphong Nopparit's claim that the government was unhappy about the DSI's performance, adding he had told the agency to deal with the matter in a straightforward manner and in accordance with law even though some state officials might be found involved.

When asked if he was confident about Tharit's was effectiveness, the prime minister said: "Yes, I am. I have told him not to be anxious as Deputy PM Suthep [Thaugsuban], the government and myself believe he is doing the best he can."

Earlier yesterday, Suthep said the government had no plans to remove Tharit from his position. "He is a good man with satisfactory job performance," he said, dismissing the opposition's allegations as a groundless rumour.

Suthep said Tharit's handling of the cases related to the red-shirt rally and the bloodshed that resulted in 91 deaths was satisfactory.

Promphong has been claiming the government was poised to sack Tharit because the DSI report suggested the military might have been responsible for 13 of the 91 deaths.

He said a senior police officer, with A as an initial, might be Tharit's replacement.

This has triggered speculation that police legal adviser General Aek Angsananont might be a contender for the job, because Aek is currently in charge of forensic checks on the 91 killed.

-- The Nation 2010-12-16

[Buchholz]

Reuters doesn't have proof their copy is an official leaked one - for all we know it could be the reds that faked it and then gave it to Reuters...and then pretended to be handed a copy too.

What would be the purpose of writing one report and then later re-write a new report, completely different? If they wanted to hide things, they wouldn't have put it in print in the first place!

Additionally,

Fabio Polenghi, an Italian freelance photographer, and Hiro Muramoto, a Japanese cameraman for Reuters, were killed in crossfire between Thai security forces and anti-government protesters.

In July, a CPJ investigation concluded that both government troops and demonstrators engaged in recklessness that led to the two deaths.

December 15, 2010 report continues here:

http://cpj.org/reports/2010/12/journalists-killed-pakistan-deadliest-nation-press.php

(CPJ) is the Committee to Protect Journalists

[TAWP]

According to testimonies filed with police, two witnesses saw bullets coming from the soldiers' side. One of the witnesses, who was also shot, was just two metres away from Muramoto when shooting erupted.

I really hope the witness talked about how the bullets hit the person and not that they saw the bullets...