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.
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.
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Concern for abuse of human rights is great. But there is an equal need to condemn the violence and killings that is happening daily in South Thailand. The brains behind the mayhem clearly are inviting the security forces to act in the way they are acting and then drawing attention of the world to the it. Meanwhile they continue with their daily slaughter. You have to live there. Sooner or later you will become a target either directly or just drinking coffee. Try keep a balance. Condemn the violence and condemn the police brutality.
Concern for abuse of human rights is great. But there is an equal need to condemn the violence and killings that is happening daily in South Thailand. The brains behind the mayhem clearly are inviting the security forces to act in the way they are acting and then drawing attention of the world to the it. Meanwhile they continue with their daily slaughter. You have to live there. Sooner or later you will become a target either directly or just drinking coffee. Try keep a balance. Condemn the violence and condemn the police brutality.
Obviously what occurred downtown Bangkok was an extremely lamentable tragedy, but it was an extremely dangerous situation which the Red must have know they had created. Yet they continued, even after the Government had offered a compromise deal. They were either too stupid or too naïve to accept the deal.
I believe the Government had no alternative but to resolve the problem, they tried negotiation and it failed. Given past experiences of Thai situations, it must have been clear to the Red leaders that what occurred would likely be the end result. They totally misjudged the Government's resolve and had a major degree of responsibility for what took place.
The Reds should never have been allowed to get as embedded as they did, it would not have been allowed in my country or many others in the World.
Before one criticizes any proposed inquiry, let's first see the outcome of this inquiry. My view is that there is too much at risk for this inquiry to be allowed to skew the facts. Personally I have no faith in the UN's or other organizations ability to be impartial, they are merely political talking shops.
There are serious Thai political and social issues to resolve, it seems the Government is trying to deal with these issues. But frankly given the Thai culture of living for the day, the end justifies the means and the unfortunate corruption at all levels, I am not sure that the few good men at the helm will ever be successful in their endevours, but I can only hope.
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