Both sides blamed for violence on Thailand's May 19, 2010 crackdown | Prachatai English

Both sides blamed for violence on Thailand's May 19, 2010 crackdown | Prachatai English
Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Natio, September 14, 2012

Commission says 'men in black' may have got cooperation from red shirts
The long-awaited final report from the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) on the 2010 crackdown, which was obtained in advance by The Nation, shows that the so-called "men in black" had received cooperation from red-shirt guards. It also said that security officers eventually used live bullets, deployed snipers and were likely responsible for the six deaths at Wat Pathumwanaram on May 19, 2010.

The 515-page report appeared to hold both sides responsible for the 90-plus deaths and said the clashes on April 10, 2010, where more than 20 people were killed including Army Colonel Romklao Thuwatham, were seminal in creating a climate of animosity between the red shirts and the Army. The report is scheduled to be made public next week.

The men in black and April 10, 2010

"Both [sides] believe they were victims. The operation by the 'men in black' were very instrumental in creating and elevating the violence with the aim of provoking the Army to use weapons against protesters and wanting to exact the loss of lives," page 184 of the report read.

The TRCT explained that after the night of April 10, 2010, the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) had started using the term "terrorist" and had permitted security officials to use live bullets for self-defence. Abhisit Vejjajiva's government created the commission with chairman Kanit na Nakorn personally chosen by the premier.

When Colonel Romklao was unexpectedly attacked and killed by a bomb and some senior officers injured, "it led to the confusing and out-of-control use of weapons by soldiers", the report said. It added that soldiers then used rifles and fired "many" live bullets in the direction of the red-shirt protesters. "Many protesters died from bullet wounds," the report stated, without explicitly linking the deaths to soldiers.

The report links at least one of the "men in black" to Army Maj-General Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol, who would later end up being shot down by an unknown sharp shooter on May 13. The report does not reveal the name of the "man in black" believed to be a close aide of Khattiya. On pages 163 and 164, the report says that somebody saw a group of men in black step out of a white van at 7pm on April 10 near the Democracy Monument only to be "surrounded" and escorted by red-shirt guards toward the direction of the deadly confrontation. The guards "barred people from taking photos and some protesters shouted 'a helping hand is here', but were later prevented from speaking".

The report failed to shed light on who might have killed Reuters photographer Hiroyuki Muramoto that night, but it did point out that the first death on April 10 had taken place in front of the Education Ministry when a red-shirt protester was killed by a bullet from an unknown assailant. This was well before the men in black showed up.

Death of Maj-General Khattiya

The TRCT report said that Khattiya, a key red-shirt ally, was shot in the head by a "high-velocity" but unspecified gun on the night of May 13 with bullets that "probably" came from the Silom Plaza Building, which was "under the control of the authorities since April 18".

Six deaths at Wat Pathumwannaram

After Khattiya was killed, violence escalated on both sides and the TRCT report noted a photograph taken by Agence France-Presse, showing what was later examined by weapon experts to be the shell of a live bullet flying out of a soldier's rifle aiming his gun toward protesters. The report noted on page 208 that security officers shot live bullets from both rifles and handguns.

On May 19, at around 10.50am, the report said that clashes occurred between soldiers and armed men in black who were holed up inside Lumpini Park and stated that some protesters may have been killed when bullets were fired from the park.

As for the six killed at Wat Pathumwannaram on the evening of May 19 after demonstrators had been dispersed, TRCT said that on May 19, some 4,000 people had entered the temple, which had been declared a sanctuary area. A sign stating temple's sanctuary status had been posted since May 17, after peace advocates had managed to have the government agree to the idea. The report noted an eyewitness account saying men in black had been spotted inside the temple compound on May 15.

The report noted that: "At around 6pm [of May 19, 2010] seven soldiers were deployed on the first floor of [BTS] Skytrain track in front of Wat Pathumwannaram and five [soldiers] at the Siam Centre BTS Station. All of them were armed with M16 rifles and live bullets.

"It was discovered that officers aimed at and shot in the direction of Wat Pathumwannaram.

On the first-floor Skytrain track, two .223 bullet shells were discovered and they had been fired from the same gun.

What's more, a senior monk at the temple said he had seen a number of soldiers on the Skytrain track and had heard my gunshots fired around the front of the temple at dusk.

"It is highly likely that this was the cause of the deaths and injuries around Wat Pathumwananram," the report concluded, adding that one soldier told the TRCT that he had fired into the temple because there was an armed man in black on a tree inside the temple.

An M16 was later discovered inside the temple, the report added.

Thailand: Deaths from stray bullets 'shock' group | The Nation Thailand

Thailand: Deaths from stray bullets 'shock' group | The Nation Thailand
The Nation Thailand, September 2, 2012

After two years, the People's Information Centre (PIC), a group of activists and academics who seek to end state impunity in relation to the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters, is releasing its report, titled "Truth for Justice: Events and Impact on the Dispersal of Protests in April-May 2010". The group claims there were 94 deaths from all sides. Pravit Rojanaphruk talks to PIC coordinator and co-editor of the report, Puangthong Pawakapan, about what they discovered. Excerpts:

What did you discover that might change the way society looks at the incidents?

I was rather shocked by the many 'stray' deaths, of those who had nothing to do with the protests but were hit by stray bullets.

Many think that death and violence occurred after the burning of buildings [on May 19], but we discovered that military operations began from May 14 onwards, and on that day, 11 persons in Bon Kai, Lumpini Park and Rajprarop Road areas were killed. A senior military officer with the pen name Hua-na Kuang wrote in an Army journal [in 2010] about the 'success' of the military operation that it is credited to the use of live bullets against protesters. This is likely the reason why many were hit by stray bullets.

As for the so-called 'men in black', there is no clarity as to who they were and even the [Abhisit Vejjajiva] government has failed to trace them. Also, deaths and injuries occurred on the afternoon of April 10, [2010], before the claim by the Abhisit administration and the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) that it occurred in the evening [after clashing with 'men in black'].

The [Abhisit] government says those who died were terrorists but in the evidence we gathered, we discover no traces of gunpowder on the hands of any of those killed.

What about the deployment of Army snipers?

There are so many video clips on the Internet showing many soldiers using telescopic guns. This explains why almost 30 per cent of the deaths resulted from bullet wounds on their heads. And if combined with another 22 per cent who died from gunshot wounds on the chest, the figure is above 50 per cent. This is no shooting for self-defence [as claimed by the Abhisit government].

Who do you think ought to be responsible for all these deaths?

The mastermind, the head of the government, the one who gave orders at the CRES and the person/s who came up with Army strategy. It is the responsibility of those who employed military means to disperse the protest and failed to control it.

Your group is regarded as sympathetic to red-shirt demonstrators. Would this not affect the credibility of your findings?

We are not surprised by the accusation. But what we want society to consider is the information we are presenting, and in many cases point to the excessive use of force and not in line with what the government or CRES claimed.

Even if you have all the military might and the law, you have no right to violate the right to life of protesters who had no lethal weapons and fought against the government. None of those maimed or killed appeared to carry lethal weapons.

You are also pessimistic about two other fact-finding reports soon to be released by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Why?

The TRCT is still confused between the issue of finding the truth and reconciliation. It appears that they fear that the truth may hinder reconciliation. As for the NHRC, we hope that it will apply human rights principles equally on both sides and not use human rights principle to defend the [Abhisit] government's use of indiscriminate force.

Also, while many protesters have been detained before verdicts were given, and some have been acquitted, the trial of Abhisit [and his people] has yet to begin. Not even one.

It seems that different groups in Thai society already have their own conclusions as to what happened in 2010.

We do not expect society to change their conclusion. Whether the information we gathered will be beneficial or not will depend on political change in the future. Then the culprits will be punished.

Are you not confident that state impunity will end?

I have no confidence. But we can't just sit idly and do nothing. We hope that if we do not accept [state impunity] then it will be shaken. What we are doing is to challenge the culture of impunity.

Despite 90 dead unarmed civilians Thai Army snipers claim: “We used fake bullets” | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent

Despite 90 dead unarmed civilians Thai Army snipers claim: “We used fake bullets” | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent
Andrew Spooner Aug 29, 2012

Whilst the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and other associated bloggers and foreign media are fixated on the non-lethal lies of the Thailand’s finance minister, the leaders of Thailand’s Democrat Party and their allies in the Thai Army remain able to lie, scheme and threaten with complete impunity.

As discussed yesterday, the Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was reported to be making what can only be called “threats” to the democratically elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra. At the same time his former Deputy, Suthep Thaugsuban, was making remarkable claims that he had no knowledge of the Thai Army shooting at Red Shirts in April 2010.

A Thai Army sniper/marksman "not" shooting at anyone

Bizarre as that all may sound both Suthep and Abhisit were completely upstaged today by two Thai Army snipers who reported to an investigation panel at Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation to be questioned regarding the deaths of unarmed civilians, many of them shot in the head in marksman like fashion, during the Red Shirt protests in April and May 2010.

The reported response to questioning by the DSI from these snipers is that yes they shot at the Red Shirts but  that they only used “fake bullets“. So all those corpses piled up on the streets were just play acting I take it? Is the 16year old boy in this harrowing footage who was left to die on the street after being shot in the head, “faking” it as well?

Given the overwhelming and incontrovertible evidence that not only were Thai Army snipers/marksmen deployed against unarmed civilians in 2010 – the orders to do so are here and video footage is here – what is even more incredible is that these “lethal lies” have and will be completely ignored by the international media working in Thailand.

Given that this media has been an active part of the cover-up of the murders of Thai civilians in 2010 their on-going collaboration is to be expected.

But what is certain is that the international media in Bangkok, while they only report the “white non-lethal lies” told by the democratically elected government while allowing other elements to get away with murder,  cannot claim to be balanced, impartial or even honest.

Troops involved in red-shirt crackdown had no sniper rifles: Thai army | The nation / Thailand

Troops involved in red-shirt crackdown had no sniper rifles: Thai army | The nation / Thailand
News Desk, The Nation, August 18, 2012

Thailand's Army spokesman yesterday denied that troops deployed to the crack down on red-shirt protesters were armed with sniper rifles.

Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the army spokesman, said troops were only using M16 assault rifles equipped with a telescope to monitor the situation.

Kaewkamnerd was reacting to a comment by Pol. Col. Prawet Moonpramuk, deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Moonpramuk has displayed a picture of troops captured from a video clip, saying he would summon the troops with sniper rifles to testify.

Kaewkamnerd also complained that the Army had handed over evidence to the DSI proving that men in black were the ones who fired at troops and demonstrators.

He said the men in black and others with malicious intent mingled with the demonstrators to attack troops and the people, so troops had to assign some of them to be guards armed with M16 rifles with telescopes to watch out and monitor the moves.

Kaewkamnerd asked Moonpramuk to interrogate DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit about the operations of troops during the red-shirt protests because Pengdit was on the Centre for Resolutions under Emergency Situation. Kaewkamnerd said Pengdit was present when the CRES held meetings and made decisions on how to deploy troops to control the situation.

Kaewkamnerd said police and the DSI had always ignored evidence handed over by the Army. He cited the case of a firing on an Army helicopter on April 10, 2010 as an example. He said three suspects were arrested with M16 and AK-47 assault rifles and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition but the court acquitted them on grounds of lack of evidence although the Army had submitted documents and evidence to investigators.

Kaewkamnerd wondered why investigators did not use the evidence to file charges.

The Army spokesman also complained that the DSI was dragging its feet in the cases of attacks on troops but was speeding up the cases where troops were suspects.

He said the Army had provided details of a white van, used by men in black, to investigators but so far no arrests have been made related to the van.

Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, said he believed former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban would be summoned this month for questioning over their alleged orders for troops to fire at the people.

First hearing of inquest into Fabio’s death | prachatai.com

First hearing of inquest into Fabio’s death | prachatai.com

On 23 July, the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court held the first hearing in the inquest into the death of the Italian photo-journalist Fabio Polenghi who was killed during the government crackdown on red shirts in May 2010.

Pol Col Suebsak Phansura, Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police 6 and the chief investigator in Fabio’s case, testified that Fabio’s death was likely to have been caused by the action of military troops, who fired high-velocity bullets on a horizontal trajectory at reporters and demonstrators on 19 May 2010.

He said that since late last year when the Department of Special Investigation included Fabio’s case among 16 cases of people who were believed to have been killed by military troops during the political unrest, he had been assigned to head a team to investigate the case, and had examined evidence provided by the DSI and Pathumwan Police Station.

He found that Fabio was killed during the day time on 19 May 2010 near Ratchadamri intersection when he was covering the event.  At that time, military troops were heading toward the intersection and intermittently firing at the demonstrators, he said.

Asked by a judge whether the troops were firing into the air or horizontally, Pol Col Suebsak said, ‘horizontally.’

Fabio was killed while he was running to dodge bullets and taking photographs at the same time.  Turning his back on the armed troops, he was hit in the back by a bullet which went through his left chest.  He was taken by red shirts on a motorcycle to the Police Hospital, and subsequently died, he said.

According to the police officer, during the government crackdown under the command of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation, 300 troops from the 3rd Cavalry Battalion (Royal Guard) were deployed at Ratchaprasong and Ratchadamri areas.

He said that on that day the cavalry troops were taking control in the area, using armoured vehicles and equipped with HK33 rifles, shotguns and pistols with rubber, blank and live ammunition and hand-thrown tear gas grenades.

His assumption that Fabio was likely to have been killed by the troops has been derived from the interrogation of 47 witnesses, forensic evidence, photographs and video clips provided by foreign reporters.

He, however, could not identify the type of bullet which killed the journalist, as it passed through the body, but he believed that it was a high-velocity bullet, judging from ‘the fact that it pierced the body and the nature of the wound’.

Fabio’s younger sister Elisabetta, who also testified in court, told Prachatai that she had a little more hope after seeing the progress in the justice process.

She said that she did not wish to see the culprits sent to prison, but only wanted to know the truth.

She is visiting Thailand for the 6th time to follow the case of her brother’s death.

Thai army chief: No apologies to victims | Bangkok Post

Thai army chief: No apologies to victims | Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post, May 25, 2012

Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said he did not need to apologise to victims of the political vioence, as Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut accused the government of trying to silence the complaints of red-shirt supporters by paying them off with compensation.

"I've already expressed my condolences for the people who died, including the soldiers," Gen Prayuth said on Friday. "I want to know, is there anyone who will say sorry to the soldiers?"

His comment came after Payao Akkahad, mother of a volunteer nurse killed inside the Wat Pathum Wanaram grounds on May 19, 2010, demanded the military apologise for its crackdown against protesters led by the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship two years ago.

The army had already expressed its sympathy, but will not plead guilty, he said.

"As for the victims of political violence, I understand that everyone is still hurting.

"On the day they received compensation payouts [from the government], they were in tears because they still have to take care of their families.

"Let this be a lesson that it should not happen again and the army does not want it to happen. We should think back and see why it occurred and seek ways to prevent it recurring," the national army said.

Gen Prayuth said he had never received an order from anyone to kill or suppress the people since he entered the army.

He insisted that the army does not take sides, but it must show discipline and perform its duty to the fullest extent.

"The army belongs to the people and that should not be divided. People who want a divide between the army and the people should take note that the country will not survive if they are divided," he said.

Democrat spokesman Chavanond said the government was hoping to keep red-shirt supporters quiet by compensating them with money.

He said the government showed insincerity in its treatment of the red-shirts because Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra did not personally hand out the payouts to the victims herself on Thursday.

"Ms Yingluck is not serious about solving people's problems and she is afraid of being prosecuted or being unable to answer people's questions or pleas for help," Mr Chavanond said.

He also criticised the government for requiring the victims withdraw any lawsuits against state agencies as a pre-condition of receiving the remedial payment. He said this  would pave way for the amnesty bill to be proposed by reconciliation panel chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin.

Mr Chavanond said the objective was to whitewash all sides convicted of political offences resulting from the coup on Sept 19, 2006.

"I want to remind the red-shirt supporters that the deceased red-shirts will have died in vain and that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be able to come home as an innocent man and have his assets returned," the spokesman said.

Thai govt makes first payouts to violence victims today | Bangkok Post

Thai govt makes first payouts to violence victims today | Bangkok Post
Achara Ashayagachat, Bangkok Post, May 24, 2012

The government makes the first compensation payouts to victims of political violence today, ushering in an era of reconciliation which has drawn mixed reactions even from its red shirt supporters.

Under the package, 522 people from both colour-coded groups have been deemed entitled to receive payments.

The ceremony will be held at Government House this afternoon, when those eligible will receive a compensation package from the hand of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The first tranche of payments, totalling more than 577 million baht, is for a total of 44 deaths, 56 severe injuries, 177 less severe injuries, and 239 minor injuries, and six disabilities.

The government in January approved the compensation package for victims of political unrest which took place between 2005 and the 2010 Bangkok violence.

Under the package, which is based on suggestions by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the family of each slain victim will be entitled to 7.7 million baht (257,000 USD), while the injured will receive different amounts of compensation depending on the severity of their injuries.

Elisabetta Polenghi, younger sister of Italian journalist Fabio who was killed on May 19, expects to receive the full amount of 7.7 million baht.

The compensation for Reuters cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto will not be handed out today as his family and the Japanese embassy would like to keep the matter low-key.

Former premier Thaksin said during his phone-in to the red shirt rally to mark the second anniversary of the crackdown last Saturday that the compensation would pave the way for national reconciliation. Some relatives of fallen red shirts, however, do not agree.

"I understand and sympathise with Khun Thaksin but I'm quite disappointed too since it's people like our family who had to sacrifice for justice and for reconciliation," said Waranid Asawasirimunkhong, wife of Thanuthat who was shot in the Bon Kai area on May 14, 2010 and died in March this year.

Mrs Waranid, who is entitled to compensation but whose name is not among the first lot, said she would not withdraw a civil suit she has filed against the government until she gets full compensation.

Red shirts who are still in jail have a more immediate concern than national reconciliation. "This issue [reconciliation] is too big for me. What worries me most is how to get bail. We need freedom," said Buarien, from Udon Thani, speaking from the temporary prison in Lak Si.

Somsak Prasansap, 52, from Ubon Ratchathani, who was jailed for 33 years for torching the provincial hall said: "We have fought this hard just to get him [Thaksin] back. Now everyone must sacrifice so we can get a great leader."

Slain reporter's sister calls for 'truth before amnesty' | Bangkok Post

Slain reporter's sister calls for 'truth before amnesty' | Bangkok Post
Achara Ashayagachat, May 16, 2012

The Yingluck government's haste in pushing for an amnesty bill while the people have not yet fully learned the truth about the 2010 political violence is not prudent, the younger sister of an Italian journalist killed during the upheaval, said on Wednesday.

Elisabetta Polenghi shows a painting of her siblings, including the late Fabio, in the middle.

Elisabetta Polenghi's brother Fabio was killed on May 19, 2010 while reporting on the army's lethal crackdown that ended the long protest.

Ms Polenghi, 48, making her fifth visit to Thailand since the tragedy, hoping to speed up the investigation into his death, said people today were not still living in caves, they were quite capable of dealing with the truth.

"I don't agree with the push for amnesty. At the least we should be clear about what happened at such an important historical juncture for Thailand.

"Me, I'm not looking for a revenge, I don't even want to know the name of the person who killed my brother with just one shot.

"But I want to hear from the actors who were responsible that they were wrong. I want the people who were involved to admit their mistakes," said Ms Polenghi, who is from Milan.

Although she had been contacted about receiving financial compensation - and had difficulty understanding and had sought an extension of the registration deadline - she emphasised that her family did not look for a financial remedy, but more for moral compensation.

"I've sent a letter to the Yingluck government seeking some kind of remembrance of the death of not only my brother, but Hiro Muramoto, the Japanese journalist who was also killed during the political violence," Ms Polenghi said.

She suggested there should be a plaque or a sign of some sort in memory of the foreign journalists who were killed recording during this historic upheaval, and maybe a classroom or auditorium named after them as a reminder of the risks people in the profession face bringing the news to the people.

"It would at least tell the world that despite all the bad things that happened, the ensuing governments care about the freedom of the press, and also serve to remind the Thai people not to allow this to happen again," she said.

Thailand May 19 Massacre in focus

Thailand May 19 Massacre in focus
Bangkok Post, December 18, 2011

A photographer saw a man shot dead in front of him at Wat Pathum Wanaram and now police are hoping his photos can help reconstruct events

It's unsettling to think that the bullet with your name on it was collected by another soul.

But that's what Australian photographer, Stephen Tickner, a key witness in the investigation of the six deaths at Wat Pathum Wanaram, found out recently when he travelled to Bangkok to give evidence to the Metropolitan Police Bureau inquiry into the killings.

At 5.49pm on May 19, 2010, Tickner was standing not far from the entrance of the temple in the middle of Rama I Road, changing his camera lens, as he heard gunfire approaching from the direction of the Siam Paragon mall.

A young man in a white shirt was sprinting down the road towards him. As he reached Tickner, he suddenly fell violently to the ground. The photographer was unsure what had happened.

''It's not like a Hollywood movie with lots of blood,'' he said.

KEY WITNESS: Stephen Tickner was at Wat Pathum Wanaram when six were killed.

Had the young man tripped over or been shot? Tickner turned around and saw the man, Atthachai Chumchan, 28, had crawled to the median strip under an overhead railway line and was lying on his back, his white shirt now covered in blood.

With the help of a monk, Tickner dragged Atthachai into the temple compound, but his life could not be saved.

One of the medics treating Atthachai, along with two others who were also wearing distinguishable red cross armbands, was also killed by gunfire that evening.

Tickner, a freelancer, had always believed Atthachai was killed by soldiers advancing down the road. But when he gave his statement to police on Dec 8 and 9, he learned from the autopsy report that the bullet had entered Atthachai's right shoulder at a 35-degree angle, puncturing both his lungs. The shooter had been stationed on the median strip and police believe Tickner was his target.

''To be honest, when I looked at that autopsy, that threw me quite a bit,'' Tickner told the Bangkok Post Sunday. ''What I realised is that if he hadn't been where he was at the time, the bullet would have hit me.''

When asked if there was a theory that he was the target, Tickner said: ''There is now. Police say this is their thinking on this, that in fact they probably had me targeted and because he [Atthachai] was running so fast it was just luck _ bad luck for him, good luck for me _ which is a bit disturbing.''

Police have told Tickner he is a key witness in the case; his digital photographs, with date and time stamps, are crucial in helping them reconstruct a timeline of events.

The veteran photographer was at the temple, a designated safe haven, from late that afternoon until around 7am the next day.

Police told Tickner they placed more store in his statement than in other witnesses, as he is a foreigner with no political agenda and has prior experience of working in live fire zones, such as East Timor.

''They seem to put a fair bit of weight on it, but that's not for me to judge,'' said Tickner, from Newcastle in New South Wales.

The photographer said he did not capture any images of soldiers firing from the railway line, but he is certain there were no gunmen in the temple and no running gun battles outside.

In statements to the Department of Special Investigation inquiry into the shootings, officers and soldiers from the Special Forces Regiment at Lop Buri said seven soldiers were deployed on the BTS track on the Wat Pathum Wanaram side to provide cover for ground troops.

One unnamed soldier said they had exchanged gunfire with armed persons inside the temple and there was a 10-minute gun battle on the BTS track.

But Tickner said from his observations there was nothing to justify any sort of shooting.

''To my knowledge there were no weapons inside the temple,'' he said. ''I pointed out to [police] in follow-up statements that I'm press photographer, so if I'd seen a red shirt or a black shirt with so much as a slingshot in their hand I would have photographed them as a matter of course.

''But those photos don't exist. The photos inside the temple show kids on mats, mothers, fathers, all these kind of people. Certainly there were some guys there, but they were nothing like the black shirts I'd seen in previous days.''

Tickner gave a statement to the DSI in September 2010 and said he was contacted via email by metropolitan police in August this year after they had seen some of his photos on the red shirt protests on a website.

When asked if he was surprised at a second request to make a statement, Tickner said it made more sense with a change of government as police had been given a ''green light'' to conduct a full investigation.

He said as a photo journalist he had reservations about being a witness for police, but part of his decision was based on the fatal shootings of Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi and Japanese cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto during the 2010 unrest.

''It becomes a question of, do you try to stop that type of targeting of journalists by not giving evidence, or do you try to stop it by making people in positions of authority accountable for their actions,'' he said.

Tickner says he will stay in Thailand for now and is willing to testify if the prosecution cases proceed.