Rights Group Says Thai Troops 'Murdered' Civilians During Red-Shirts Protest Last Year

[webfact]

Rights group says Thai troops 'murdered' civilians

BANGKOK, May 3, 2011 (AFP) - A leading human rights watchdog on Tuesday accused Thai soldiers of "cold blooded acts of murder" during political violence last year in Bangkok that left more than 90 people dead.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Thai army used snipers and crushed civil disobedience with disproportionate force during the April and May 2010 rallies staged by the anti-government "Red Shirt" movement.

"In plain view government forces shot protesters and armed militants shot soldiers, but no one has been held responsible," HRW Asia director Brad Adams said.

Troops fired "repeatedly and indiscriminately" into the Wat Pathum Wanaram temple -- a supposedly safe zone where several people were killed -- from a vantage point on the tracks of the capital's elevated train network, HRW said.

"The fact is that they did do it and these were, as far as we are concerned, cold blooded acts of murder," Adams said of the findings that at least one fatality inside the temple and two outside were caused by the army.

"When a soldier looks through his sniper at someone who is not armed and pulls the trigger, that is murder even if they are acting on government authority."

In the report, titled Descent into Chaos, the group also criticised the government's use of the term "terrorist" to describe protesters, as well as the designation of certain areas as "live fire zones".

"This was not a theatre of war. It was an area of severe civil disturbance," Adams told a news conference in Bangkok.

Well-armed "mercenaries" in the protest movement, known as the "Black Shirts", also attacked troops with assault rifles and grenades, fanning the violence and chaos, he added.

Nearly 1,900 people were injured in clashes between the army and demonstrators during the two-month rallies. Most of the casualties were civilians.

Thailand, which is soon to hold an election, remains deeply divided following the bloodshed.

"It is clear that both sides still have very raw feelings about what happened last year... The campaign period is going to exacerbate this problem," Adams said.

The report slammed government efforts so far to establish the circumstances of the deaths.

Adams said a Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up to analyse what happened during the unrest was not set to report for at least another six months, which he said was "entirely too slow".

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), tasked with the criminal probe into the protests, "looks very political and looks like it is controlled by the government", Adams said.

"It doesn't appear that the DSI investigation is likely to lead to major new facts being published," he added.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-05-03

[rubl]

Maybe the title of this topic is a bit too one sided. The post has

" "In plain view government forces shot protesters and armed militants shot soldiers, but no one has been held responsible," HRW Asia director Brad Adams said."

[whybother]

"This was not a theatre of war. It was an area of severe civil disturbance," Adams told a news conference in Bangkok.

Well-armed "mercenaries" in the protest movement, known as the "Black Shirts", also attacked troops with assault rifles and grenades, fanning the violence and chaos, he added.

I would have thought that "well armed mercenaries in the protest movement" made it pretty close to a theatre of war.

[timekeeper]

over a year later, with an election pending, a Human Rights Group from the USA decides to throw their hat into an already busy ring

do they really think they are helping?

what about the rights of the current (not dead yet) folks here whos rights are going to hurt by this groups inflaming of an already RED hot situation

could they consider the timing of their self promoting dramatic report thats likely been pushed in to the current arena by the moron Robert Amsterdam

maybe we should ask them for a comment in Human rights terms about the murder of Bin Laden and the murder by Nato of Gaddafi's son and grandchildren

what about their rights?

i expect they will have a sympathetic word for them too

they should Brad Adams on a plane immediately, tell him to mind his own business and revoke his visa permanently (if he has one) isn't what he is doing considered working?

the world would be a much better place without these overpaid, sanctimonious, holier than thou dickheads passing judgement on world situations from the comfort of a high rise corner office to justify their own inflated wages................

[aaacorp]

over a year later, with an election pending, a Human Rights Group from the USA decides to throw their hat into an already busy ring

do they really think they are helping?

what about the rights of the current (not dead yet) folks here whos rights are going to hurt by this groups inflaming of an already RED hot situation

could they consider the timing of their self promoting dramatic report thats likely been pushed in to the current arena by the moron Robert Amsterdam

maybe we should ask them for a comment in Human rights terms about the murder of Bin Laden and the murder by Nato of Gaddafi's son and grandchildren

what about their rights?

i expect they will have a sympathetic word for them too

they should Brad Adams on a plane immediately, tell him to mind his own business and revoke his visa permanently (if he has one) isn't what he is doing considered working?

the world would be a much better place without these overpaid, sanctimonious, holier than thou dickheads passing judgement on world situations from the comfort of a high rise corner office to justify their own inflated wages................

Sure, it's much better to just ignore the abuses of BOTH sides....Reds rampage and black shirts...but also army firing in a wat (sure this will bring them a very good karma) and killing people....It's amazing how people who are involved or take side for red or yellow tends to say > yes but look here in the world, they do worse.....please admitt that the army has abused its firepower by using smipers and real bullets....

[timekeeper]

over a year later, with an election pending, a Human Rights Group from the USA decides to throw their hat into an already busy ring

do they really think they are helping?

what about the rights of the current (not dead yet) folks here whos rights are going to hurt by this groups inflaming of an already RED hot situation

could they consider the timing of their self promoting dramatic report thats likely been pushed in to the current arena by the moron Robert Amsterdam

maybe we should ask them for a comment in Human rights terms about the murder of Bin Laden and the murder by Nato of Gaddafi's son and grandchildren

what about their rights?

i expect they will have a sympathetic word for them too

they should Brad Adams on a plane immediately, tell him to mind his own business and revoke his visa permanently (if he has one) isn't what he is doing considered working?

the world would be a much better place without these overpaid, sanctimonious, holier than thou dickheads passing judgement on world situations from the comfort of a high rise corner office to justify their own inflated wages................

Sure, it's much better to just ignore the abuses of BOTH sides....Reds rampage and black shirts...but also army firing in a wat (sure this will bring them a very good karma) and killing people....It's amazing how people who are involved or take side for red or yellow tends to say > yes but look here in the world, they do worse.....please admitt that the army has abused its firepower by using smipers and real bullets....

the deaths were the fruit of the same tree

no illegal violent protest

no army involvement

no deaths

no human rights issues

no problem

the reds came to Bangkok looking for trouble

they got what they wanted

so they should stop whining about how poorly they were treated whilst they were trying to seize power during the red revolution

they lost, man up and shut up............

[jonclark]

over a year later, with an election pending, a Human Rights Group from the USA decides to throw their hat into an already busy ring

do they really think they are helping?

what about the rights of the current (not dead yet) folks here whos rights are going to hurt by this groups inflaming of an already RED hot situation

could they consider the timing of their self promoting dramatic report thats likely been pushed in to the current arena by the moron Robert Amsterdam

maybe we should ask them for a comment in Human rights terms about the murder of Bin Laden and the murder by Nato of Gaddafi's son and grandchildren

what about their rights?

i expect they will have a sympathetic word for them too

they should Brad Adams on a plane immediately, tell him to mind his own business and revoke his visa permanently (if he has one) isn't what he is doing considered working?

the world would be a much better place without these overpaid, sanctimonious, holier than thou dickheads passing judgement on world situations from the comfort of a high rise corner office to justify their own inflated wages................

Sure, it's much better to just ignore the abuses of BOTH sides....Reds rampage and black shirts...but also army firing in a wat (sure this will bring them a very good karma) and killing people....It's amazing how people who are involved or take side for red or yellow tends to say > yes but look here in the world, they do worse.....please admitt that the army has abused its firepower by using smipers and real bullets....

the deaths were the fruit of the same tree

no illegal violent protest

no army involvement

no deaths

no human rights issues

no problem

the reds came to Bangkok looking for trouble

they got what they wanted

so they should stop whining about how poorly they were treated whilst they were trying to seize power during the red revolution

they lost, man up and shut up............

Ahhh how refreshing, the voice of reconciliation and reason, nothing like extending the olive branch to your enemy

[Asa]

The report is exact, and just, simple as that.

RIP all fallen men and women, Thais, foreigners, red shirts, and soldiers.

[animatic]

So men in uniforms fired into the wat,

and men out of uniforms fired at soldiers.

What is missing is even the slightest hint at who these men were working for in either case.

Is there any determination which army branch was on the elevated tracks?

Was it army, as some would choose to assume?

Or Watermellon army,

Or a faction acting on their own because of the previous street riot

Or ex army militants posing as army to embarrase the army?

Was it someone from behind and above the army on the tracks shooting past/over them.

Of of these four, if it was either of three the later,

then their objective was reached,

of making the army look bad when closing down the riot scene.

This was one of the obvious goals for the Red Side:

Embarras the army and make the masses turn on them.

If that is part of a whole concept,

then has Amsterdam brought this up on

the NY groups radar at this time,

for exactly this reason?

[maewrocks]

the deaths were the fruit of the same tree

no illegal violent protest

no army involvement

no deaths

no human rights issues

no problem

the reds came to Bangkok looking for trouble

they got what they wanted

so they should stop whining about how poorly they were treated whilst they were trying to seize power during the red revolution

they lost, man up and shut up............

The reds came to Bangkok to protest against injustice.

Anyone claiming that Thaksin, TRT, Samak, Somchai & PPP had fair treatment are obviously extremely biased.

The government ordered troops to kill unarmed protestors and those who made those orders will be in jail if PT win the election. They must be getting scared and rightfully so.

Pigheaded people like the one quoted above should realise that the reds did not lose, but in fact forced the government to give multiple fiscal concessions to the rural populace.

Also, they have shown the 'powers to be' that if they usurp power again they are going to face an even bigger uprising.

[londonthai]

it's the first anniversary of the deadly protests, so probably that's why hrw run this press conference.

there were regular soldiers shooting at the temple, they did admit it.

the other soldiers were shooting at canadian cameraman outside the lumpini park a few weeks before - him injured in the leg and screeming for help, and being shot at again and again. It was broadcasted all over the news channels

[Buchholz]

Maybe the title of this topic is a bit too one sided. The post has

" "In plain view government forces shot protesters and armed militants shot soldiers, but no one has been held responsible," HRW Asia director Brad Adams said."

Same subject, different international media reporters... different title, different tone...

Edit: Article moved to Post # 14 to separate comments from news.

.

[whybother]

The reds came to Bangkok to protest against injustice.

<snip>

Maybe they shouldn't have brought their armed mercenaries.

[Buchholz]

Human rights group questions aspects of Bangkok bloodshed

Bangkok - An international human rights group on Tuesday said both sides involved in last year's bloody riots in Bangkok probably used more violence than they have admitted to. A report released by New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) cast doubt on government denials that snipers were used, and also questioned protesters' claims that they were a purely peaceful movement. The group's Asia director Brad Adams was in Bangkok to launch HRW's 139-page report on the protests that gripped the capital from March 12 to May 19 last year, leaving at least 90 dead, including nine police and soldiers, and about 2,000 wounded.

The street protests, led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), known as the red shirts for their official clothing colour, ended in an army crackdown in the heart of Bangkok. Events on the final day have been the subject of dispute and denials on both sides. The UDD has accused the army of positioning snipers on the overhead tracks of the Bangkok Transit System (BTS) who allegedly shot civilians hiding at the Pathum Wanaram Buddhist temple, a claim the HRW report substantiated. 'There is no doubt that soldiers were based on the BTS track and they fired repeatedly and indiscriminately into the wat (temple) where people were killed.' Adams said. 'These were cold-blooded acts of murder,' he added.

The report also said the protest leaders were lying when they claimed to have been a peaceful movement. It also said they knew of the so-called black shirts, a secretive armed force blamed for many of the attacks on soldiers. Denying any knowledge of these fighters was 'propaganda,' Adams said. 'The red shirt leaders welcomed the black shirts publicly.'

Continues:

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1636680.php/Human-rights-group-questions-aspects-of-Bangkok-bloodshed

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - May 3, 2011

[jdinasia]

The reds came to Bangkok to protest against injustice.

<snip>

Maybe they shouldn't have brought their armed mercenaries.

whynot -- I assume you know Thaksin's nickname is "maew" (nothing like a new poster stating his agenda in his name!)

[geriatrickid]

Reminds me a bit of El Salvador during the height of its troubles.

[animatic]

the deaths were the fruit of the same tree

no illegal violent protest

no army involvement

no deaths

no human rights issues

no problem

the reds came to Bangkok looking for trouble

they got what they wanted

so they should stop whining about how poorly they were treated whilst they were trying to seize power during the red revolution

they lost, man up and shut up............

The reds came to Bangkok to protest against injustice.

Anyone claiming that Thaksin, TRT, Samak, Somchai & PPP had fair treatment are obviously extremely biased.

The government ordered troops to kill unarmed protestors and those who made those orders will be in jail if PT win the election. They must be getting scared and rightfully so.

Pigheaded people like the one quoted above should realise that the reds did not lose, but in fact forced the government to give multiple fiscal concessions to the rural populace.

Also, they have shown the 'powers to be' that if they usurp power again they are going to face an even bigger uprising.

Please show us ANY documented evidence for your statements:

"The government ordered troops to kill unarmed protestors ..."

"...the reds did not lose,

but in fact forced the government to give multiple fiscal concessions to the rural populace...."

The rest is purely opinions.

And regardless of these opinions;

holding illegal rallys for any reason, injustice protests or not,

does not suddenly make them legal.

As stated in the inner quote

Fruits of a poisoned tree,

no illegal and over the top violent rallies, and no deaths.

[dominique355]

The Thai Army, indeed, has to be blamed. For stonewalling any kind of serious investigation into the killing of demonstrators, soldiers and by-standers.

No wonder today wild speculations flourish and wild accusations are thrown at just about everybody and everything.

Equally, the Red Shirts and their political helpers Pheu Thai are also to be blamed for letting such a situation develop. Nattawut et al. called for arson and fire and the Red Shirts followed his speeches and burned down not only Central World, but also other buildings. Jatuporn et al. called for military support in the form of Sae Daeng and the "Men in Black" and they got them. And these "soldiers" shot at just about anybody and anything and used RPG to terrorize people (Silom BTS station). And what about the terrorizing of patients and personnel at Chulalongkorn Hospital?

It is unfortunate that HRW has prematurely made such a statement, it's unbalanced, not helping and it's only discrediting their otherwise great work.

[Robby nz]

the deaths were the fruit of the same tree

no illegal violent protest

no army involvement

no deaths

no human rights issues

no problem

the reds came to Bangkok looking for trouble

they got what they wanted

so they should stop whining about how poorly they were treated whilst they were trying to seize power during the red revolution

they lost, man up and shut up............

The reds came to Bangkok to protest against injustice.

Anyone claiming that Thaksin, TRT, Samak, Somchai & PPP had fair treatment are obviously extremely biased.

The government ordered troops to kill unarmed protestors and those who made those orders will be in jail if PT win the election. They must be getting scared and rightfully so.

Pigheaded people like the one quoted above should realise that the reds did not lose, but in fact forced the government to give multiple fiscal concessions to the rural populace.

Also, they have shown the 'powers to be' that if they usurp power again they are going to face an even bigger uprising.

Please show us ANY documented evidence for your statements:

"The government ordered troops to kill unarmed protestors ..."

"...the reds did not lose,

but in fact forced the government to give multiple fiscal concessions to the rural populace...."

The rest is purely opinions.

And regardless of these opinions;

holding illegal rallys for any reason, injustice protests or not,

does not suddenly make them legal.

As stated in the inner quote

Fruits of a poisoned tree,

no illegal and over the top violent rallies, and no deaths.

Completly right about the reds being the root cause of all the deaths.

Also, they have shown the 'powers to be' that if they usurp power again they are going to face an even bigger uprising.

Now there is a good one "the powers to be" that would mean the poster assumes the Dems will win the election

If they usurp power again they are going to face an even bigger uprising.

I assume 'usurp power' means if the Dems win the election

The red, PTP agenda coming to the surface.

If we lose we will not accept the will of the people and the country is in for more trouble.

[Buchholz]

The Thai Army, indeed, has to be blamed. For stonewalling any kind of serious investigation into the killing of demonstrators, soldiers and by-standers.

No wonder today wild speculations flourish and wild accusations are thrown at just about everybody and everything.

Equally, the Red Shirts and their political helpers Pheu Thai are also to be blamed for letting such a situation develop. Nattawut et al. called for arson and fire and the Red Shirts followed his speeches and burned down not only Central World, but also other buildings. Jatuporn et al. called for military support in the form of Sae Daeng and the "Men in Black" and they got them. And these "soldiers" shot at just about anybody and anything and used RPG to terrorize people (Silom BTS station). And what about the terrorizing of patients and personnel at Chulalongkorn Hospital?

It is unfortunate that HRW has prematurely made such a statement, it's unbalanced, not helping and it's only discrediting their otherwise great work.

Actually, the other aspects of the HRW report are more balanced in the reporting done by DPA (in Post # 14) than by AFP (in the OP).

The "unbalance", IMHO, has more to do with AFP than HRW.

[Oberkommando]

As stated in the inner quote

Fruits of a poisoned tree,

no illegal and over the top violent rallies, and no deaths.

There was little or no violence before the army moved in using live ammunition.

Previously, during an earlier red-shirt rally that turned violent the army used live ammunition against stone throwing and catapult wielding protestors then lied about it.

No wonder they brought arms with them the next time.

[Insight]

As stated in the inner quote

Fruits of a poisoned tree,

no illegal and over the top violent rallies, and no deaths.

There was little or no violence before the army moved in using live ammunition.

Previously, during an earlier red-shirt rally that turned violent the army used live ammunition against stone throwing and catapult wielding protestors then lied about it.

No wonder they brought arms with them the next time.

When was this?

[metisdead]

A baiting/troll post containing numerous three letter acronyms (TLA's) of no signficant meaning has been removed.

[monkfish]

The report is available for download at:

http://www.hrw.org

This report provides the most detailed account yet of violence and human rights abuses by both sides during and after massive protests in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand in 2010. The report is based on 94 interviews with victims, witnesses, protesters, academics, journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders, parliament members, government officials, security personnel, police, and those who directly took part in various stages of the violence from both the government and the protester sides. It documents deadly attacks by government security forces on protesters in key incidents and details abuses by armed elements, known as “Black Shirts,” associated with the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). The report also explains the background to the political crisis that led to the protests and continues to the present.

[whybother]

As stated in the inner quote

Fruits of a poisoned tree,

no illegal and over the top violent rallies, and no deaths.

There was little or no violence before the army moved in using live ammunition.

Previously, during an earlier red-shirt rally that turned violent the army used live ammunition against stone throwing and catapult wielding protestors then lied about it.

No wonder they brought arms with them the next time.

Little or no confronting of troops at barracks? Little or no storming of government house? Little or no breaking through army lines at Thaicom and taking arms?

The rest you're just making up.

[jdinasia]

As stated in the inner quote

Fruits of a poisoned tree,

no illegal and over the top violent rallies, and no deaths.

There was little or no violence before the army moved in using live ammunition.

Previously, during an earlier red-shirt rally that turned violent the army used live ammunition against stone throwing and catapult wielding protestors then lied about it.

No wonder they brought arms with them the next time.

Little or no confronting of troops at barracks? Little or no storming of government house? Little or no breaking through army lines at Thaicom and taking arms?

The rest you're just making up.

Little or no use of petrol bombs ... etc ....

Live fire? You mean like the grenades that killed the military the night of April 10th? Snipers etc .....

The whole thing was systematically increasing violence from the reds until they let their black shirts loose. Why? They thought that blood on the streets of BKK would bring down the government as it had in the past. Big mistake.

[phiphidon]

So men in uniforms fired into the wat,

and men out of uniforms fired at soldiers.

What is missing is even the slightest hint at who these men were working for in either case.

Is there any determination which army branch was on the elevated tracks?

Was it army, as some would choose to assume?

Or Watermellon army,

Or a faction acting on their own because of the previous street riot

Or ex army militants posing as army to embarrase the army?

Was it someone from behind and above the army on the tracks shooting past/over them.

Of of these four, if it was either of three the later,

then their objective was reached,

of making the army look bad when closing down the riot scene.

This was one of the obvious goals for the Red Side:

Embarras the army and make the masses turn on them.

If that is part of a whole concept,

then has Amsterdam brought this up on

the NY groups radar at this time,

for exactly this reason?

'Is there any determination which army branch was on the elevated tracks?

Was it army, as some would choose to assume?"

Still in denial, I see. I refer you to these two reports that propose that it was the Thai Army Special Forces on the BTS tracks,one of those being part of the HRW report, following their investigations, but you can choose to ignore this if you wish. You'll find the other source, Andrew Marshall, is not a supporter of Mr.Amsterdam and I'm not sure that he had anything to do with the writing or the timing of the release of the HRW report unless you have proof to the contrary, or is it just more supposition?

A preliminary government investigation report dated November 10, 2010 conducted by the DSI and obtained by Human Rights Watch, largely supports our findings. Thereport contains testimonies of soldiers assigned to the BTS Siam Station and along the track in front of Wat Pathum Wanaram. The report identifies Maj. Nimit Weerawong of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Special Force Regimentfrom Lopburi province as the commanding officer of four Special Force teams on the BTS track from the National Stadium Station to the Siam Station. The four Special Force teams were assigned to move along the BTS track togive protection to soldiers from the Rapid Deployment Force of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, which operated on the street level.

<a name="_ftn203">DSI report, on file at Human Rights Watch. The report was signed by DSI director Tharit Pengdit on November 16, 2010.

http://www.hrw.org/e...ction/8#_ftn203

A wealth of eyewitness testimony, as well as photographic and

has established beyond any reasonable doubt that soldiers from the 3rd Special Warfare regiment based in Lopburi, positioned on the elevated Skytrain railway tracks overlooking the temple, fired into the groundsof Wat Pathum Wanaram and were responsible for the six deaths. The combined testimony of dozens of witnesses including Red Shirts sheltering in the temple, paramedics treating the wounded, and at least three foreign journalistsat Wat Pathum - Andrew Buncombe of the Independent, Mark McKinnon of Canada's Globe and Mail and Australian photojournalist Steve Tickner - describes how panicked civilians came underfire from camouflaged men who could be seen on the elevated railway. An investigation by Thailand's Department of SpecialInvestigation which was leaked to Reuters in December concluded that at least three of the dead were killed by special forces soldiers on the Skytrain track and contains plentiful evidence that the soldiers killedall six – the victims were all killed by high-velocity bullets and fragments of the distinctive green-tipped M855bullet used by the special forces troops were found in four of the six corpses. The report also contains the testimony of several named special forces soldiers who admitted firing from the Skytrain tracks althoughthey denied deliberately targeting civilians. The document was also obtained by journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk at the Nation and posted online with names redacted on the Prachatai news website.

http://blogs.reuters...th-in-thailand/

[vont]

phiphidon

Are you still on that crusade of yours

trying to blame someone for the massive destruction and fire in bkk and up country

instigated en mass by our favorite leaders Jatuporn and all?

There surely are many other worthy causes you can contribute to, I am certain of that.

[sbk]

Suggest to all involved to read the ENTIRE report in full before rebutting selective quotes.

http://www.hrw.org/

It might make for a more informed and civil debate.

[ballpoint]

From the link to the HRW report posted above:

"We waited for about 20 minutes and smoke started coming out through the air vents. One of our employees called from the basement to say we should come down and go to the basement. Black Shirts were outside with guns—they were burning cars in the parking lot. We went out into the parking lot and jumped the wall and ran into the neighborhood. Maybe 30-40 of us escaped this way, but then the men in black blocked the way and the others were forced to wait inside" - A Channel 3 employee.

"About 50 protesters and Black Shirt militants smashed their way inside through the glass windows, and some of them went into the underground car park. They looted the shops, looted the cars in the car park. Then they set fire with petrol bombs. Some of them tried to blow up cooking gas tanks. First, I thought that we should try to defend the Central World. But when we realized that we were outnumbered and those looters and Black Shirt militants were armed, we decided to evacuate." - A security guard at Central World

"In plain view, several dozen Black Shirts and UDD protesters began breaking the windows of the complex’s Zen wing. After some looting, they threw petrol bombs and exploding cooking gas canisters inside the mall. Arsonists fed the flames with plastic chairs and other flammable materials from the abandoned protest camp. The mall was soon engulfed in flames." "Red Shirt leaders regularly called on supporters to burn and steal from stores during the Rachaprason protests, indicating incitement or complicity in the arson and looting attacks" - HRW statements

"A group of Special Forces soldiers came up from behind the army soldiers and engaged a group of armed militants farther ahead near the Rachadamri BTS station. A gun battle erupted, with the militants using M79s to fire at least eight or nine grenades towards the soldiers gathered on Rachadamri Road. A grenade exploded among a group of soldiers, fatally wounding one and severely injuring Canadian freelance journalist Chandler Vandergrift, who was standing with them" - HRW statement

"Soldiers continued towards the UDD camp, and armed Black Shirts mobilized around Rachadamri and in Lumphini Park. A BBC correspondent told Human Rights Watch she saw armed militants running in the Ratchadamri area and watched a group of black-clad militants with bags that appeared to hold weapons climbing the stairs to the Ratchadamri BTS station. They told her not to film them" - HRW statement

"Wat Phatum Wanaram is very close to the Central World shopping complex, which Red Shirt arsonists were torching at the same time as crowds were fleeing into the temple. Throughout the afternoon and evening of May 19, sporadic gunfire and clashes took place in the immediate vicinity of the temple. Several foreign journalists said they saw UDD militants, some of them armed, on the street outside the temple between 2 and 4 p.m. that day" - HRW statement

Armed red thugs, using unarmed protestors as shields, the standard cowardly tactics of a morally repugnant group. Gun toting militants clearly seen climbing up to the BTS. Eye witness accounts of blackshirts and UDD members looting, burning and preventing innocent people leaving a burning building. Let's see Amsterdam's poodles spin this lot.