Thai protestors give embassy evidence on Japanese cameraman's death

13 Dec, 2010
Source: Earth Times

Bangkok - Thai anti-government activists on Monday presented evidence to the Japanese embassy in Bangkok allegedly proving that soldiers killed a Japanese cameraman during protests in April.

About 100 red-shirted protestors presented documents, photos and DVDs that purportedly showed Reuters cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto was slain by government troops April 10 while covering a bloody street battle in central Bangkok.

"We are giving the Japanese embassy evidence to help them find justice not just for the red shirts but also for Hiroyuki since we can't get any justice in Thailand," protest leader Somyot Pueksakasemsuk said.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) held protests from mid-March to mid-May, demanding Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve parliament and hold new elections.

Government troops cracked down on the protests April 10, leaving 25 dead, including five soldiers and Muramoto. The government has claimed that elements within the red-shirt movement were armed and fired on the troops as they moved in to clear the demonstrators from Ratchdamnoen Road.

The Department for Special Investigation (DSI), assigned to investigate the incident, on Monday denied news reports that it had pinned Muramoto's death on government troops.

"I confirm that the details from the alleged leak and our own information are not the same," department Director General Tarit Pengdit said.

"There was no leak from the DSI on this matter." The protests ended on May 19 when troops arrested UDD leaders and moved in on their strongholds around Ratchprasong Road in central Bangkok, a shopping and upscale hotel area that they had shut down.Altogether, 91 people died, including 11 soldiers and two foreign journalists, and up to 1,800 were injured in the 69 days of street demonstrations and fighting that left parts of Bangkok in flames. Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi died covering the protest in early May.

The culprits for his death also remained unknown.