The Dutch journalist and correspondent for the NOS, Michel Maas, is today in Bangkok to testify in the case of the clash between the army and the redshirt protesters on May 19, 2010.
In Thai capital, he was questioned by the Special Investigation Department (DSI) to find out, among other things, who is responsible for the death of the Italian press photographer Fabio Polenghi.
Michel Maas himself was also hit by a bullet and was injured. He writes on Twitter that he is the only one who still has a bullet in his possession: a crucial piece of evidence because all other bullets have 'disappeared', according to Maas.
During the riots in 2010, the redshirts occupied part of the business center in Bangkok. The army intervened violently and fired live ammunition. In the end, 91 people were killed, including the Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi.
Maas, who is invariably referred to in the Bangkok Post as Mr. Mass, said he did not know who shot him. At that time he was doing a live report on the radio for the NOS. He did report that the sound of the shots came from the area where the soldiers were located, writes Bangkok Post.
Lieutenant General Worapong of the DSI, responsible for the investigation, said that the investigation is not yet complete. More foreign witnesses will be questioned.
On the one hand you had peaceful demonstrators who fired weapons of war stolen from the army at civilians, police and soldiers, on the other hand you had soldiers who fired back, with or without live ammunition. if you stand in between, you are not wise, even if you think you have to do that professionally. It goes wrong once, like then.
Hans, totally agree. Citizens and journalists alike took a clear risk by being there. I don't want to say that soldiers have a license to fire, but in my view most of those affected are primarily responsible themselves. After all, they were not supposed to be there and had often been warned.