German photojournalist attacked

[Maestro]

I have removed some more abusive posts and replies to them.

[kimamey]

Not much to say apart from I hope he's OK. If it's known who instigated this from the stage they need dealing with as well. The anti government protests seem to have been generally peaceful and they need to stay that way so thy don't lose credibility.

It was former Democrat MP Chumpon. More details here: http://prachatai.com/english/node/3756

'“In the rallies, there might be shouting or yelling from the protesters, but that’s fine. But such singling out by the leader to attack journalist, I’ve never seen before. It’s the first time in my life that this happened,” he said, adding that he would not go back and cover this anti-government rally again due to his safety.

He also denied the Democrat's accusation that he received money from the former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

"If I really take money from Thaksin, why would I still ride the old motorcycle to go around covering events?" said Nostitz'

Thanks for that.

[hansgruber]

Can't Nick sue for defamation?

I mean it's publicised that he has been accused of taking money when it wasn't true.

Oh that's right, that law is for the rich and powerful only.

[waza]

I think 'Nikolaus Freiherr von Nostitz', (Nicks birth name) "a German photographer" was aware that his bias reporting was not appreciated by those who he opposed and that an incident like this was more likely than not. It is an incident of his own making and as a public personality he should solely shoulder the blame for exposing himself to this danger. He should be thankfull that he was slapped by relatedly civilised people, if he was reporting from Syria or Egypt I am sure he would never have got away with it so lightly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Nostitz This page was last modified on 25 November 2013 at 12:35.

Edited November 25, 2013 by waza

[webfact]

Anti-Govt Campaign Marked By Media Intimidation
By Khaosod Online

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protests appear to be increasingly hostile toward members of the media seen as pro-government by the protesters.

Tens of thousands of protesters led by various former Democrat MPs have been staging massive rallies and coordinating demonstrations in Bangkok in the bid to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The protesters had been rallying a largely peaceful manner at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, but in the past 24 hours the mood has quickly shifted, as the protesters launched an aggressive campaign aimed at causing disruption to the government. The protesters are now occupying several governmental buildings, including the Ministry of Finance.

It is under this atmosphere that journalists are more and more threatened by the protesters. Yesterday a group of anti-government protesters surrounded a broadcasting vehicle operated by Channel 3 near Ratchadamnoen Avenue, accusing the channel of reporting about the protests in a negative way.

The protesters also demanded that all reporters working for Channel 3 leave the protest site, while on stage Mr. Suthep told the cheering crowd that the protesters should pay visits to media agencies which do not give adequately positive coverage of the protests in Mr. Suthep′s opinion.

State-owned Channel 3, Channel 7, and Channel 9 television stations were targeted by hundreds of the anti-government protesters today, who rallied just in front of the buildings and blowing the whistles - their adopted gesture against the government - to express their anger toward the news stations.

Popular news show host of Channel 3, Mr. Sorayuth Suttassanachinda, was singled out by many protesters who view him as a mouthpiece of the government.

At the headquarters of Channel 3, Mr. Sorayuth, who became a familiar face to many Thais by hosting a daily news talk show, later emerged to talk to the protesters and assured them that he had reported the news without any intention to belittle the protest movements.

In a tense confrontation, hundreds of protesters ignored his explanation and shouted in unison to Mr. Sorayuth demanding that he apologise for his perceived bias. Mr. Sorayuth responded by blowing a whistle alongside the protesters and said he had no hatred toward them. The famous TV personality then returned to the building without any violence.

However, a violent episode broke out near the Bangkok Metropolitan Police headquarters, where thousands of protesters were facing off with lines of riot police. There, Mr. Nick Nostitz, a German freelance photojournalist, was assaulted and punched by a group of anti-government protesters who were responding to a remark made by a protest leader on a nearby stage that Mr. Nostitz is a pro-government journalist.

Some volunteer guards of the protest were seen trying to defend Mr. Nostitz, while others tried to charge at him, before a group of police officers intervened and rescued him from the crowd.

Speaking to our correspondent later, Mr. Nostitz said he was arguing with the protest guards when he was spotted by former Democrat MP Chumpon Junsai, who pointed his finger to Mr. Nostitz, accused him of being a "Redshirt reporter", and urged the crowd to evict him from the protest site. The photojournalist was promptly assaulted by the crowd.

"None of this would have happened without Chumpon′s instruction," said Mr. Nostitz, adding that he aims to press charges against the protest leader.

Facebook pages of anti-government network later published photos of the incident and continued to identify him as a Redshirt reporter. Asked if he would return to taking photos of the protest afterwards, Mr. Nostitz said it would have been impossible for him to do so under this atmosphere.

Mr. Nostitz is a longtime photojournalist who has been reporting about various protests and crackdowns in Thailand since the 2006 military coup. He has published several photo books on the conflicts between Redshirts and Yellowshirts.

Responding to the incident, the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand (FCCT) released a statement deploring the assault on Mr. Nostitz "in strongest possible terms". It also called on the protest leaders to respect the rights of journalists to cover the protests in safe manner.

Meanwhile, the Thai Journalist Association similarly said in statement that all media agencies have done their best to report the ongoing protests in the most impartial way possible.

Although the protesters are inevitably upset by what they perceive as biased coverage by the media, reporters and journalists are entitled to the rights to cover the news and broadcast their stories without obstacle, the statement reads.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE5UTTRNek0xTmc9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-11-26

[aussieinthailand]

Well how often do we hear THE RED THUGS, so now what have you got to say? try there is good and bad in all, that would be a start guy's

[waza]

Well how often do we hear THE RED THUGS, so now what have you got to say? try there is good and bad in all, that would be a start guy's

Nick highlighted himself by arguing with the guards, an act of stupidity and arrogance. "Mr. Nostitz said he was arguing with the protest guards when he was spotted by former Democrat MP Chumpon Junsai, who pointed his finger to Mr. Nostitz, accused him of being a "Redshirt reporter", and urged the crowd to evict him from the protest site."

However, like you said "there are good and bad in all", "Some volunteer guards of the protest were seen trying to defend Mr. Nostitz, while others tried to charge at him, before a group of police officers intervened and rescued him from the crowd."

Edited November 26, 2013 by waza

[Calimotty]

Nick is a friend of mine and I have known him 10+ years. We used to be neighbours.

Now we are complete opposites when it comes to political assessment, however I condemn wholeheartedly what happened to him if these reports are true (which I am sure are true).

Nick is probably the most passionate political guy I know. I disagree with 99% of what he says, but I will defend his right to go about his job in any which way he sees fit.

There are thugs on both sides, but what I condemn the most is that it seems to have been instigated from the stage.

Nick if you are reading this, I do not know what you were trying to accomplish, but I defend your right to do so.

From an anti-government supporter!

Nice touch for a budgie

[h90]

Nick is a friend of mine and I have known him 10+ years. We used to be neighbours.

Now we are complete opposites when it comes to political assessment, however I condemn wholeheartedly what happened to him if these reports are true (which I am sure are true).

Nick is probably the most passionate political guy I know. I disagree with 99% of what he says, but I will defend his right to go about his job in any which way he sees fit.

There are thugs on both sides, but what I condemn the most is that it seems to have been instigated from the stage.

Nick if you are reading this, I do not know what you were trying to accomplish, but I defend your right to do so.

From an anti-government supporter!

I recall his postings, when demonstrators had limbs blown away by the explosive tear gas. Considering his postings, while I am against any violence, I find it hard to be sorry for him.

We happen to eat at a restaurant, whos owners wife went to these demonstrations with the neighbor and the neighbors foot got blown away. Than you have the postings from Nick. How they did it to themself, how it is their own fault, that it is only fair and democratic etc etc.. Considering that he got away easily.

Go as communist to a Neo Nazi meeting.

Go after drawing jokes about the prophet to a Islamist meeting.

Go as pig farmer to a meeting of radical vegetarians

Go with the yellow handclapper to the Red Shirt meeting.

etc etc etc

and expect problems.

Still that all does not excuse violence which is always wrong, but he has to expect that when he goes there.

[Local Drunk]

Nick's been around long enough to know the "do's and don'ts" of Thailand and he was doing the don'ts. He got off light in my opinion.

[Thaddeus]

Well how often do we hear THE RED THUGS, so now what have you got to say? try there is good and bad in all, that would be a start guy's

Nick highlighted himself by arguing with the guards, an act of stupidity and arrogance. "Mr. Nostitz said he was arguing with the protest guards when he was spotted by former Democrat MP Chumpon Junsai, who pointed his finger to Mr. Nostitz, accused him of being a "Redshirt reporter", and urged the crowd to evict him from the protest site."

However, like you said "there are good and bad in all", "Some volunteer guards of the protest were seen trying to defend Mr. Nostitz, while others tried to charge at him, before a group of police officers intervened and rescued him from the crowd."

NN's posts in here always showed a degree of bias, despite his claims to the contrary.

If this incident played out as quoted above, he has gone beyond a journalist with a hint of bias, to an antagonist with an agenda.

Luckily for him, he didn't walk in to the tiger cage with a pork chop, he walked in to the rabbit warren with a carrot.

I expect that the larger of his bruises will be on his ego.

[Emptyset]

*Deleted post edited out*

First, Nick unequivocally condemned the attack on Niphon: 'As to the incident with Niphon’s car – i believe that i have expressed clearly that i found the attack by overzealous Red Shirts disgusting, and at the time have even physically pushed some of them back, which in such an agitated crowd is very risky. There were though cooler headed Red Shirt guards present as well, who have formed a circle around his car, and protected him, and finally, when the crowd was under control, have brought him to hospital.'

Furthermore, there is evidence that at least one PAD protester used a handgun during that confrontation*, regardless of whether police were justified in using exploding tear gas or not (of course they weren't). I've posted it here before myself, won't bother finding it again now because it's OT. But will find it if you really want to see it. A guy that was arguing with Nick on New Mandala, a Thai that ran a pro-PAD webpage actually eventually agreed with Nick on this issue.

In any case, the main thing I take from yr comments, is that if red shirts attack a reporter they consider partisan, Thai or foreign, you'll be cool with it, yeah? All in the game, I guess.

*Also note that Nick disagreed with the line that many government supporters were putting out at the time: 'PAD had carried weapons such as sticks and slingshots, there is no doubt about this; also at least one PAD protester was filmed with a handgun. Three policemen were wounded by gun shots. Claims that PAD members did not carry guns are as ridiculous as claims of the extreme fringe of other side that the people who lost limbs were already amputees.'

Edited November 26, 2013 by Scott
Deleted post edited out

[SOTIRIOS]

..chances are....this present government still controls the media......

...therefore one should investigate or decipher any news coming out.....

....the tendency will be to paint this government as an innocent victim.....

...hundreds of billions...if not trillions later.....

...along with intimidation....and worse......'choked by a shoelace'........hopefully people know better by now.....

[Nickymaster]

Get well soon Nick. Those condoning or excusing violence against him are pure scum.

A report from Nick carries more weight than a thousand posts from the crusty, biased, uniformed fools who make up the majority on this forum.

TVF = Thaksin Vilification Frothers

So you must be one of the 5 guys that bought one of his red books.

I read this sentence on another forum (and I agree): Propagandists posing as journalists puts real reporters in danger.

Edited November 26, 2013 by Nickymaster

[JRSoul]

I have a nice Blue Sky TV jacket if anybody would like to wear it to the red shirts rally.

[Local Drunk]

Get well soon Nick. Those condoning or excusing violence against him are pure scum.

A report from Nick carries more weight than a thousand posts from the crusty, biased, uniformed fools who make up the majority on this forum.

TVF = Thaksin Vilification Frothers

So you must be one of the 5 guys that bought one of his red books.

"A report from Nick carries more weight than a thousand posts from the crusty, biased, uniformed fools who make up the majority on this forum."

I don't think so...

[Nickymaster]

Can't Nick sue for defamation?

I mean it's publicised that he has been accused of taking money when it wasn't true.

Oh that's right, that law is for the rich and powerful only.

He tends to agree with what the DSI is doing to AV and Suthep. Maybe he should file charges there.

[Jim walker]

I hope Nick gets well soon and fully recovers from his ordeal Most normal countries get rid of elected government’s at the ballot box but then again this is maybe the 3^rd world way.

[mrtoad]

This bloke has been here for a long time, he is also a Red Shirt propaganda tool. Read so e of his stuff on TV.

As another poster mentioned, he's been around long enough to know what not to do, and I guess he decided to do it anyway.

I don't condone violence, but in a way he has got away with this quite lightly.

[signs]

'In the rallies, there might be shouting or yelling from the protesters, but thats fine. But such singling out by the leader to attack journalist, Ive never seen before he said

Seems the details are changing. From Chumpon saying to attack, to saying to escort him away.

Nick highlighted himself by arguing with the guards, an act of stupidity and arrogance. "Mr. Nostitz said he was arguing with the protest guards when he was spotted by former Democrat MP Chumpon Junsai, who pointed his finger to Mr. Nostitz, accused him of being a "Redshirt reporter", and urged the crowd to evict him from the protest site."

[Arkady]

This bloke has been here for a long time, he is also a Red Shirt propaganda tool. Read so e of his stuff on TV.

As another poster mentioned, he's been around long enough to know what not to do, and I guess he decided to do it anyway.

I don't condone violence, but in a way he has got away with this quite lightly.

Mr Toad's post is in response to posts by Jim Walker above. There is guy who also writes under the pen name of Jim Walker who use to post a lot of pro-red shirt stuff calling for a revolution in the Australian "academic" website New Mandala, where Nick Nostitz also publishes. New Mandala used to host a lot of controversial articles on Thailand until the Yingluck administration took over when it became as meek as a lamb. There is also a real Jim Walker who is a Australian anthropologist who has published some tediously obscure academic articles based on his researches in a Thai village. I don't know if there is any connection between these three Jim Walkers or not but their consistently pro-Thaksinite stance is similar.

[Nickymaster]

Reading through the posts it has become very clear that the hardcore Red Shirt/PT/Thaksin lovers agree with Nick's views. The rest don't.

[signs]

I hope Nick gets well soon and fully recovers from his ordeal

It would seem from the photos that this has already occurred.

[thailandbeachisland]

"journalists" always in the middle of what is not their business and always crying when shxt happens...

We don't need them, they should know !

[mca]

I certainly hope that some posters on here would be magnanimous enough to post their same comments regarding NN if he were a reporter with an anti-government stance who got a bit of a slap after being identified from a pro-government stage by a PTP MP.

[Emptyset]

This bloke has been here for a long time, he is also a Red Shirt propaganda tool. Read so e of his stuff on TV.

As another poster mentioned, he's been around long enough to know what not to do, and I guess he decided to do it anyway.

I don't condone violence, but in a way he has got away with this quite lightly.

Mr Toad's post is in response to posts by Jim Walker above. There is guy who also writes under the pen name of Jim Walker who use to post a lot of pro-red shirt stuff calling for a revolution in the Australian "academic" website New Mandala, where Nick Nostitz also publishes. New Mandala used to host a lot of controversial articles on Thailand until the Yingluck administration took over when it became as meek as a lamb. There is also a real Jim Walker who is a Australian anthropologist who has published some tediously obscure academic articles based on his researches in a Thai village. I don't know if there is any connection between these three Jim Walkers or not but their consistently pro-Thaksinite stance is similar.

lol. I don't think I'll respond to your previous post. I'll let people decide for themselves who they think is more biased, you or Nick. However, I will agree with you about Jim. It's Jim Taylor, not Walker though btw. Guess you are confusing him with Andrew Walker. Jim Taylor the academic is actually the guy who posts on New Mandala. A friend of mine claims he saw an elderly farang daubing one of the walls around Rajaprasong with vulgar anti-Abhisit graffiti during a Sept 2010 red shirt protest. Anyway, Jim Taylor spoke at SOAS about a year later. Same friend was at the talk. Who does he think was responsible for the graffiti?

Well... anyway, I think it's fair to say Jim Taylor must've lost it at some point because his 90s pieces on Thailand are pretty good. Incidentally, if you think Nick is partisan, it's worth bearing in mind he's had very public arguments with Jim Taylor, and Andrew Spooner, both of whom are clearly partisan - and in the latter case may actually be employed by Robert Amsterdam. Yet neither of them consider Nick 'red' enough. I think Jim disagreed with Nick because Nick insisted the 'men in black' existed and that he'd encountered them several times. Jim, of course, thought all that was all an 'amaat propaganda trick'. Some people are too far gone to see sense, I guess.

Edited November 26, 2013 by Emptyset

[fab4]

'In the rallies, there might be shouting or yelling from the protesters, but thats fine. But such singling out by the leader to attack journalist, Ive never seen before he said

Seems the details are changing. From Chumpon saying to attack, to saying to escort him away.

Nick highlighted himself by arguing with the guards, an act of stupidity and arrogance. "Mr. Nostitz said he was arguing with the protest guards when he was spotted by former Democrat MP Chumpon Junsai, who pointed his finger to Mr. Nostitz, accused him of being a "Redshirt reporter", and urged the crowd to evict him from the protest site."

And from evict to escort him away in your own chinese whisper version. See how this is going?

[fab4]

Reading through the posts it has become very clear that the hardcore Red Shirt/PT/Thaksin lovers agree with Nick's views. The rest don't.

That statement rides a lot on your view of what a "hardcore Red Shirt/PT/Thaksin lover" is, or is not, and your professed knowledge of what they are thinking. Not to mention your breath taking arrogance of assuming the knowledge of the rest of the forums views and to be able to speak for them. In short, a nonsense post.

[Nickymaster]

Reading through the posts it has become very clear that the hardcore Red Shirt/PT/Thaksin lovers agree with Nick's views. The rest don't.

That statement rides a lot on your view of what a "hardcore Red Shirt/PT/Thaksin lover" is, or is not, and your professed knowledge of what they are thinking. Not to mention your breath taking arrogance of assuming the knowledge of the rest of the forums views and to be able to speak for them. In short, a nonsense post.

Are you getting personal again?

Why comment on a nonsense post Fabby?

Edited November 26, 2013 by Nickymaster

[HUAHIN62]

I don't know him personally and attacking a journalist is out of question, BUT...

Some people do take risks or even provoke an incident so that they can report on it afterwards. I don't know, if Nick is such a person, but given, how hardcore a red-shirt he is, it wouldn't make me wonder if that is the case.

And one thing is to spare journalists, same like nurses and emergency staff from altercation, but then why not extend that to ALL people? And what about yellow shirt reporters being beaten up? I recall a radio station guy in Chiang Mai being killed by red shirt supporters, because he was on the other side of the political divide. They killed him in his home soi.

The only thing we can expect from this actual incident is Nick furiously ranting about the Dems etc. And sometimes I wonder, if he would think differently, if he weren't living in such a red-shirt hotbed like Bang Bua Thong...

Sam

of the other side

Two wrongs do not make right.