Thailand: License to Kill - a Reporters Without Borders Investigation Report

Thailand - An interesting report about the unrest in Thailand, that saw the killing of 2 journalist and injury to several others. I have taken the the following abstract from the Human Security Gateway, and it is interesting to read the accounts of witnesses that show that the fault may lie with the government soldiers...and some other persons. Sad to note that even before the provision of a complete autopsy, bodies have been creamated. This may interfere with any subsequent independent inquiry into the unrest, which hopefully will throw light of who really was responsible for the shooting...killing. The fact that some of these journalist were shot several times is also disturbing...and one wonders whether these unarmed journalist (and possibly many other unarmed protestors) were specifically targeted. All in all, about 88 persons were killed, and over 1,800 persons were injured. The use of live ammunition to disperse peaceful protesters is disturbing. The fact that persons were still shot, and injured after the protestors had dispersed is also of concern. 

I believe that Thailand cannot conduct its own inquiry - since the alleged perpetrators include the the government and its military. There is a need for an independent inquiry - possibly by the UN, the ASEAN and/or maybe a panel of independent personalities.Reporters Without Borders/Resporters san Frontiers report adds weight to the call that there is a need for an independent open inquiry.

Thailand: Licence to Kill

Type :	Report
Title :	Thailand: Licence to Kill
Source :	Reporters Without Borders // Reporters sans Frontières
Date Added:	9-Jul-2010
Publication Date :	8-Jul-2010
URL :	http://en.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/REPORT_RSF_THAILAND_Eng.pdf
Abstract :	Reporters Without Borders has investigated 10 cases that are representative of the press freedom violations committed by both parties to the conflict: the army, special forces and paramilitaries on the one hand, and the Red Shirt activists of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and their paramilitaries on the other. Reporters Without Borders decided in this report to let the victims and witnesses of the violations speak for themselves. A government representative and one of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s lawyers were also interviewed. Some accounts are devastating. The government emerged the victor from this bloody battle after the assault on the Red Shirt camp in the heart of Bangkok on 19 May, but many questions about the behaviour of the armed forces remain. The many accounts of soldiers firing live rounds at unarmed civilians, the firing on journalists with automatic weapons, the systematic intimidation and the use of military force to suppress political protests are all evidence of serious abuses. Taking advantage of the state of emergency and the threat posed by the Red Shirts, the Thai army and special forces rode roughshod over international law and Thai legislation protecting civilians.