Four journalists have been shot amidst clashes between Red Shirt protestors and the military in the past week. One Canadian reporter and three Thai press workers were wounded whilst covering the escalating protests in Bangkok. Meanwhile Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol —known as Seh Daeng — a prominent Red Shirt leader was shot in the head on 13 May while being interviewed by a foreign journalist. His death has sparked further unrest.
Web censorship and a compliant media are allowing the Thai government to turn the country into a police state, says Giles Ji Ungpakorn
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A Japanese cameraman for Reuters, Hiro Muramoto, was fatally shot in the chest whilst covering protests in Bangkok on 10 April. It is not apparent which side was responsible for the shooting, as Thai police used rubber bullets, tear gas and fired live ammunition into the air, whilst red shirt protesters were also accused of firing live rounds and grenades. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs have issued a statement calling for an independent investigation of Muramoto’s death.
Following Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s declaration of a state of emergency yesterday the government has begun targeting news sources aimed at anti-government protesters, the so-called red shirts. The “red shirt” financed a television station, PTV was closed down today. government has also begun blocking internet content, which according to RSF has amounted to the closure of at least 36 websites and blogs to date. Chiranuch Premchaipoen, editor of the independent news website Prachatai.com, was arrested on 31 March on lèse majesté charges.