German Reporter 'attacked' By Pcad At Constitutional Court

[Boo Radley]

BANGKOK — A German photojournalist has claimed he was attacked by a group of anti-government protest guards while on assignment at the Constitutional Court today.

The incident reportedly happened while Constitutional Court judges were reading the verdict that ultimately found Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and some of her Cabinet members guilty of unlawfully removing the head of the National Security Council (NSC) in 2011.

Nick Nostitz said he was smoking and talking to a friend, a senior BBC correspondent, near the entrance to the court when he was suddenly approached by a group of intimidating men wearing outfits worn by the guards of the anti-government protest group, the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Speaking to Khaosod English on phone, Mr. Nostitz said the group asked him if he was "Nick" and said that they would take him to "Luang Phu," possibly referring to the Buddhist monk and PCAD leader, Luang Phu Buddha Issara, who was organising a PCAD rally nearby on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Mr. Nostitz said when he refused and tried to leave, the men immediately attacked him and attempted to take him away, startling many soldiers, policemen, and reporters who were stationed in the area at the time.

The German reporter said he called for help, and some policemen eventually intervened and escorted him into the building, away from the PCAD guards. Mr. Nostitz said he left the building through the backdoor soon afterwards.

"They came straight at me," Mr. Nostitz told our correspondent. "Some of them must have remembered me. It looked planned."

Mr. Nostitz was previously attacked by PCAD demonstrators at Ratchadamnoen Avenue on 25 November, after a PCAD activist and former Democrat Party MP urged the crowd to "expel" Mr. Nostitz from the protest site because he was a "Redshirt journalist," an allegation vehemently denied by the German reporter.

Mr. Nostitz added that he fought hard not to be taken away today because he was well aware of what has happened to individuals who were detained by Buddha Issara's guards; media reports have indicated that several police officers have even been held and tortured by the militants.

"I can't imagine what would happen to me. It was very frightening," Mr. Nostitz said.

He said he has filed complaints with the police against the group of PCAD militants who attempted to abduct him today.

Pol.Cpt. Witthaya Kongthong, a police officer at Thoong Song Hong Police Station, said the officers will study CCTV footage of the area to identify the perpetrators. Nevertheless, he admitted that the work will be difficult because it appears that the PCAD guards who were trying to abduct Mr. Nostitz had masked their faces at the time of the incident.

http://en.khaosod.co...ate=06&section= (07/05/14)

[cavanami]

soooooo, maybe these protesters are not so innocent

[Flashermac]

Since he is regarded by the PCAD as pro-red shirt, I'm surprised he went there. He had been attacked by them once before and the Constitution Court is next to the PCAD protest camp at Chaeng Wattana.

 

That doesn't make it right, but it makes it likely to happen. Imagine if an alleged protest supporter showed up among the red shirts. Remember the Buddhist monk from Issan who was beaten for daring to criticise the red shirts' behaviour quite near that area? Neither side is known these days for its tolerance of different opinions.

 

[Flashermac]

FCCT condemns attack on journalist

 

 

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) on Thursday condemned "another aggressive incident" involving a journalist and a security guard of anti-government rally.

 

In its statement, it referred to an incident on Wednesday outside the Constitutional Court during coverage of a crucial verdict against the former prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. It was the second attack in six months on German photojournalist Nick Nostitz, and again involved guards attached to the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

 

Nostitz was sitting close to the court’s entrance and wearing a green Thai Journalists’ Association (TJA) armband clearly identifying him as a member of the press.

 

"Having been singled out, Nostitz was told to come and see ’Luang Bu’. He was shoved hard in the chest and pushed around when he declined, and the guards attempted to take him with them."

 

The court was being guarded by some 20 police officers and soldiers. Police intervened after shouts from Nostitz and another journalist. Nostitz took shelter inside the courthouse and was eventually smuggled away from the scene in a police vehicle. Credit is due to everyone who contributed to defusing this incident.

 

"Harassment of the media is unconstitutional and hinders objective coverage of a complex and evolving political situation. It also distracts attention from issues of public interest," read the statement.

 

At this difficult time in Thailand’s political development, the professional membership of the FCCT calls on the political groups involved to honour pledges that have been made to allow journalists to work unobstructed, irrespective of their media organization or nationality.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/FCCT-condemns-attack-on-journalist-30233174.html

[huumlaar]

<<"Having been singled out, Nostitz was told to come and see ’Luang Bu’>> Sounds nice this Monk, interesting the Soldiers did nothing, they have the biggest guns. So they claim . . . .

[Flashermac]

Were the soldiers armed? It doesn't specify.

[Guest]

I know this has nothing to do with anything, but hasn't Nick Nostitz got a Thai wife in Isaan

[jitagawn]

Nick is always following these political "events" closely or even right in the middle of the firefights.

I ran into him at Lumpini during the 2010 events...

 

Glad he eluded capture as I suspect it would have been heavy.

Geez this feels like its all going to blow up.. :help:

[huumlaar]

Soldiers armed, been out there, Nick is not a fan of Thaksin from conversations I've had with him, but he's pretty smart,

 

"Mr Missy" WTF yes, correct, where his wife is from has to do anything with this? My cock is 3 inches that's also irrelevant to this conversation, unless your a lawyer? So why say it?

[Dumsoda]

 

"Mr Missy" WTF yes, correct, where his wife is from has to do anything with this? My cock is 3 inches that's also irrelevant to this conversation, unless your a lawyer? So why say it?

 

...you put goh hock..... 17 girls from the village told me it's only 2 inches ....fully extended.... 555

 

But thanks for the post....you have confirmed my thoughts....we have another "Pretend" female Board member

 

....or maybe it's a K toy

 

My boyfriend says.......