Giornalista ucciso in Siria. La Francia apre un'inchiesta
La procura di Parigi apre un'inchiesta per omicidio volontario. Nell'entourage dell'Eliseo serpeggia l'ipotesi di un attacco mirato verso i giornalisti da parte dello stesso regime che li ha invitati come osservatori.
La procura di Parigi ha aperto un'inchiesta preliminare sull'uccisione del giornalista Gilles Jacquier, corrispondente del canale televisivo France 2. Il 43enne reporter è rimasto vittima di un colpo di mortaio esploso nella zona di Homs dove era inviato per la rete televisiva. Jacquier era tra i pochi osservatori stranieri che le autorità siriane avevano invitato per monitorare la situazione drammatica.
Proprio per la situazione convulsa in cui il regime sta giocando il ruolo di carnefice, le autorità francesi hanno ufficialmente dato via ad una propria indagine in cui chiedono la completa collaborazione di Damasco. Non escludono da Parigi il diretto coinvolgimento del regime nell'attacco in cui hanno perso la vita anche sette siriani. A fronte delle accuse del governo rivolte agli oppositori, i francesi vogliono vederci chiaro sulla morte del proprio connazionale e vogliono essere sicuri che l'attacco non era rivolto proprio al contingente di giornalisti di cui il reporter transalpino faceva parte.

SECURITY FORCES BLAMED FOR LAST YEAR’S FATAL SHOOTING OF JAPANESE CAMERAMAN

Reporters Without Borders takes note of the latest developments in the investigation into the fatal shooting of Japanese cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto in Bangkok in April 2010, including Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung’s statement about the involvement of the security forces.

“The Thai authorities finally seem determined to shed light on all aspects of this case and to recognize the army’s role in Muramoto’s death,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We urge them to display the same determination with the investigation into the Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi’s death in May 2010, in which no progress has been made. It continues to be hampered by procedural obstacles and a failure to explore leads.”

Italian Photographer's Death Probed
Thai Army Alleged to Have Targeted Journalists in 2010 Protests
An autopsy of Italian photojournalist Fabio Polenghi, who was killed in Bangkok on May 19, 2010 during the so-called Red-Shirt protests against the Democrat Party-led government, has confirmed suspicions that he was shot in the back. Polenghi, a regular contributor to SPIEGEL, was shot as he ran from advancing soldiers. His sister, Elisabetta Polenghi, says she is certain it was an army bullet that killed him by tearing through his heart, lung and liver. Enlisting the help of the Canadian lawyer Robert Amsterdam, she has been trying to determine the exact circumstances of her brother's death in Bangkok. "We have statements from witnesses in the army who say there were orders to specifically target journalists," Amsterdam says.
Orders to Target Journalists
There were allegedly also orders to confiscate any press materials. As Polenghi lay dying, his camera was stolen from him. The scene was captured by other photographers present. Amsterdam is demanding that police investigate the case. Newly uncovered documents show that the orders to fight the mostly unarmed opposition protesters came from military leaders and politicians.
On that fateful day in May, the papers reveal, the army leadership ordered that snipers be stationed on "all the tall buildings around Lumphini Park." The "use of weapons to protect oneself and maintain the peace" was also explicitly permitted. The corresponding orders bear the signature not only of then-army chief Anupong Paochinda, but also of the deputy prime minister at the time. Source: Der Spiegel

Thai Asia Update Tv Bangkok 24 Ottobre 2011.

Il fotoreporter ucciso in Thailandia
Poche settimane fa è andato in onda sulla BBC un documentario su Fabio Polenghi, il fotoreporter segratese tragicamente ucciso il 19 maggio 2010 in Thailandia, negli scontri tra l'esercito e le camicie rosse. Si tratta di un documentario forte, sia dal punto di vista delle immagini che dal punto di vista del contenuto. Isa Polenghi, la sorella di Fabio, racconta le dinamiche dell'accaduto; dinamiche che ancora non hanno portato alla luce l'identità di un vero e proprio colpevole e il motivo per cui a Fabio è stata sottratta la macchina fotografica.

Was Army Responsible for Fatal Shooting of Japanese Cameraman?

In a surprising U-turn, Department of Special Investigation chief Tharit Pengdit told Agence France Presse on 17 September that the army was responsible for the fatal shooting of Japanese cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto during clashes between government forces and “Red Shirt” protesters in Bangkok on 10 April 2010. The DSI previously reported on 24 March that forensic tests had established that the round that killed Muramoto, who worked for Reuters, came from a type of gun that the army had not been using that day. Accusing the DSI of being ineffective, Chalerm has put the Bangkok police in charge of the investigation.The shift in position came one day after Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung relieved the DSI of responsibility for the special enquiry into the deaths of 13 civilians, including Muramoto, during the clashes in April and May 2010. Italian freelance photographer Fabio Polenghi was also killed while covering the “Red Shirt” protests on 19 May 2010. Read the Reporters Without Borders report on violence against the media in Bangkok in 2010.

Source: RSF