carew66 Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Looks like German freelance photographer Nick Nostitz was attacked at the demonstration yesterday after anti government protest leader Chumphon Jumsai singled him out via loudspeaker as a red reporter and told the guards to remove him. He was surrounded by several men and punched in the face before escaping. He later filed charges at Dusit police station, against Jumsai for the assault. http://www.fm91bkk.c...3/5839-------1- http://breakingnews....237&lang=T&cat= Typical of Fly. Right in the middle of it. He'll be seriously pissed off. (I like the filing of allegations - quite rightly - at Jumsai for the incitement to bash.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dashiling Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Oh NO! Do you think the bars will close early? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Everyone expects it to end within a week. It would simply be too disrespectful by not ending it before HM's 86th birthday on 5 December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Abhisit denounces Yingluck as 'centre of comprehensive corruption practices' Democrat Party leader and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, denouncing her as the "centre of comprehensive corruption pratices". During the first day of the censure debate against Yingluck and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Abhisit alleged that all steps of corruption practices centred around Yingluck and she also tolerated corruption from "mountaintop to overlapping sea territories with ulterior motives". Abhisit said the Yingluck government had won the majority House seats but it caused a lot of hardship to the people. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Abhisit-denounces-Yingluck-as-centre-of-comprehens-30220629.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Update - Democrat Party leader and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, denouncing her as the "centre of comprehensive corruption practices". During the first day of the censure debate against Yingluck and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Abhisit alleged corrupt practices centred on Yingluck at every step and added that she tolerated corruption from "mountaintop to overlapping sea territories with ulterior motives". Abhisit said the Yingluck government may have won the majority in the House but it also had caused hardship. "Actions based on claims that the government received the majority vote from the people has caused hardship to many," Abhisit said. "The government has held the country and its people hostage on several occasions. The prime minister let individuals in the government commit corruption." Abhisit also alleged that the government under Yingluck's leadership had destroyed anti-corruption mechanisms, leading to corruption in the rice-pledging scheme, corruption at policy level, and corruption in projects that would be carried out outside of the budget. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Abhisit-denounces-Yingluck-as-centre-of-comprehens-30220633.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 > "The government has held the country and its people hostage on several occasions. The prime minister let individuals in the government commit corruption." Like when he was sitting in the big chair he did something about all this...another puppet mouthing off, IMO... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Radley Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Typical of Fly. Right in the middle of it. He'll be seriously pissed off. (I like the filing of allegations - quite rightly - at Jumsai for the incitement to bash.) Pics of Nick Nostitz being manhandled by guards at the protest: http://www.posttoday...บเขาเป็นสื่à¸à¹à¸”ง Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Radley Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Freedom of What? Foreign Journalist Beaten by Mob after Anti-Government Democrat MP Gives Order to ‘Kick Him Out’ James Austin Farrell Nov 26, 2013 “This is a new height of conflict,†Nick Nostitz told CityNews this morning. Nostitz is a German freelance journalist who has been covering Thai culture and politics for almost a decade. Yesterday he was repeatedly kicked and punched at an anti-government rally after protest leader Democrat MP Jumpol Chumsai incited the violence by shouting through the microphone that Nostitz was a “red shirt journalist†and persona non grata in the company of anti-government protestors due to his purported opinions concerning Thailand’s embattled politics. Speaking from his home in Bangkok Nostitz explained that following the incident an online hate campaign attempted to smear his name and incite further hatred. Meanwhile Suthin Wannaboworn, a yellow shirt supporter and former Reuters and AP journalist, claimed on Thai Television’s pro-Democrat Bluesky channel that Nostitz was indeed working for the Thaksin regime. Bluesky then started a Facebook Nostitz hate-page on which thousands of yellow shirts hit the infamous and in this case ironic ‘like’ button. Thailand’s Foreign Correspondents Club (FCCT) condemned the incident shortly after it happened, and foreign journalists working inside Thailand also showed their support of Nostitz on FCCT’s Facebook page. Describing the incident Nostitz said that he was in the crowd from morning and later moved towards the metropolitan police barricades. “Around 1.30 p.m. protestors captured an officer,†he says. “I tried to photograph what was happening, but was hindered by people putting their hands in front of my camera.†“This is a regular thing,†he explains, of crowds pushing and pulling, of people aggressively denying photographers the chance of getting shots. Though during this melee Nostitz experienced something he had never even heard of in his many years of being a journalist: a protest speaker inciting an already volatile crowd to act violently against a journalist. “On the mobile stage, only about 7 metrtes from where I was standing Chumpon shouted, ‘he’s a red shirt, kick him out’ and before he even finished speaking fists were hitting me in the face.†Fortunately the guards helped, says Nostitz, and being so close to police headquarters he was quickly escorted away from trouble. Up until this time protestors, most of them either calling themselves anti-government, pro-Thailand, against-Thaksinism, or ultra-royalist, etc, had been for the most part peaceful around Ratchadamnoen Avenue. It’s now reported that the crowds have taken over government buildings and that the atmosphere has turned more aggressive. The ongoing protests’ outstanding rabble rouser is Suthep Thaugsuban, a controversial politician who has been involved in various scandals over the years, referred to in a secret US government cable of exuding “corrupt and unethical behaviorâ€. If Abhisit is perceived as the brains behind the Democrats, the cable says, then Suthep is the bulwark, the mover and shaker, more a man of the people…and the military. Suthep already succeeded in rounding up large mobs in opposition of the Amnesty Bill, though now his influence has turned to swaying the thousands of baying protestors to overthrow the wicked Thaksin Regime, as it’s called by those that decry the present elected government. Once again democracy seems to be proving farcical as crowds of supposed Democrats ask for a royally appointed government, which will consist of cabinet members and who knows which well known elite players. In the meantime politicians will be banished from politics for a number of years. This might all sound like a Greek comedy, if it weren’t so tragic. In the Thai press today concerned parties hoped that Suthep will keep his rabble acting within the confines of the law and not react violently against anyone who stands in their way. The beating of Nostitz however at the behest of a political leader is perhaps significant of how democratic these people are, and how puerile, but dangerous the crowds can react to their master’s commands. Should foreign journalists, or any citizens with political views, now keep their opinions well hidden in case someone should take offense? Thailand is of course no stranger to this kind of fear of thy neighbour mentality, but over the last few years it seemed for a while that the Orwellian culture of fear was becoming more of an historical misdemeanor, than a real threat. Suthep and Chumpon’s exhortations of violence are a regression that takes the country back to a place it direly needs to escape from. Other journalists have been threatened by the crowds, including a Channel 3 vehicle that was surrounded by mobs of angry protestors upset at the channel’s reporting. Channels 3, 7, 9, according to reports, have been accused of reporting the wrong opinions, or contriving to put the protests in a negative light. In effect, anyone not supporting one side of the story could face retribution of some sort if accused of not supporting the correct and righteous narrative. Photo: www.fm91bkk.com - Nostitz wearing the journalist green arm band “What’s shocking,†says Nostitz, “is the fact a protest leader incited this.†He adds that during protests it’s usually the people on stage that try and prevent violence. The incident, although it did not lead to any serious injuries, is highly symbolic of the tumultuous times. The FCCT’s statement announced that it “deplores this in the strongest possible terms, and calls upon protest leaders to unequivocally and publicly state that the rights of journalists, foreign or Thai, should be respected." Though Suthep yesterday seemed to have little concern for human rights, freedom of speech, or perhaps even human life when he “told the cheering crowd that the protesters should pay visits to media agencies which do not give adequately positive coverage of the protests,†according to Khaosod news. Nostitz explained that he can’t even go and file a police report at the station as he’s too afraid of attacks, and for the safety of himself and his family after the escalating hate campaign by Bluesky news who, he says “discussed me in the most incredibly vile way.†The police have warned him not to go anywhere near protests. Those that know Nostitz’s work, for the most part extol his impartiality, though he has throughout his writing career given voice and sympathised with the rural ‘red’ masses. He has however criticised Thaksin, especially during his inhumane populist campaign fighting drugs. Nostitz finds it inconceivable that anyone could think he was working for Thaksin. It’s more likely the accusation is a canard to smear his name. “I go to the streets, I take photos, I talk to people, I write the story,†says Nostitz, “that’s all I do. I don’t even get involved with Twitter, or Facebook. I don’t want to be drawn into those kinds of wars.†While Thailand shows the propensity to spiral out of control right now, Democratic party leaders have yet to condemn the sanctioning of media bullying and violence. “I know many of the leaders,†says Nostitz, “I know Abhisit too,†but as yet there has been no response to the incident, he adds. The only condemnation has come from FCCT, Thailand’s Voice TV, Pratachai. Thailand’s Journalist’s Association whose green arm band – that should protect journalists against violence – he was wearing at the time of the attack have also yet to condemn the attack Nostitz said. “They all know me,†he says, referring to various politicians, “I just don’t understand the silence. On a human level this is very disappointing. These smear campaigns are damaging. What’s done has been done, but something also needs to be done to rectify it, if only for the safety of me and my family…the protest leadership has to do something.†They have to act quickly, he says. His concern is palpable down the phone. “Will the next journalist be killed?†He has every right to be troubled. The irony of so-called democracy supporters calling for mob violence and the silencing, or beating, of the purveyors of information not only gives us a bleak and ominous vision of Thailand’s future, but it’s also a reminder of the barbarism which ostensibly civilised countries such as Thailand should have left behind. How ironic and pathetic it is that the words ‘progress’ and ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ and ‘growth’ and ‘accountability’ spatter the Thai media every day, like words being thrown from a baby’s cot. http://www.chiangmai...ews.php?id=2730 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 Is Chumsai the one who got in trouble a few years ago for sticking "na Ayutthaya" at the end of his name to pretend to be a descendant of the royal family? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 THAI staff expected to join protest Thai Airways International's labour union on Wednesday said it expected many THAI staff would join the anti-government protests on Nov 28-29 after the State Enterprises Labour Relations Confederation (SERC) agreed that all of its members are free to take two days of leave to join the movement. Damrong Waikanee, THAI labour union president, said it was the right of staff to decide whether to stop working, and if they wanted to express their political opinions by attending the rallies, they certainly could. “Today THAI employees know too well that politics has interfered in and caused damage to the company. Many staff have telephoned me to inquire about the two-day leave while the union told them they should decide for themselves whether to stop working,†Mr Damrong said. He said THAI workers have more leave days than their counterparts in other state enterprises, and it was expected that many would take time off to support the protests. Meanwhile, labour unions of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) announced they would not join the SERC’s two-day strike campaign. SRT labour union chairman Ampon Thongrat denied reports that the union had issued a statement showing its intention to join the protest by people seeking political reform. Commuters can rest assured that train services tomorrow and on Friday will operate as normal. Although the union did not agree with the SERC resolution, Mr Ampon said, employees were free to air political views. BMTA labour union president Weerapong Wongwan said the union disagreed with protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban’s move to occupy state offices and would continue to work as normal. “We consider this rally has gone too far and the BMTA labour union doesn’t want to trouble the people,†Mr Weerapong said. SERC has 45 labour unions under its umbrella. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/382004/thai-staff-expected-to-join-protest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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