Inquest: Journalist killed by Thai army's bullet

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 29 May 2013

An inquest revealed that Fabio Polenghi, an Italian photographer, was killed by a soldier's bullet during anti-government protests in Bangkok. The court did not conclusively blame the military for his death but acknowledged the bullet was fired from their direction.

Summary

BANGKOK: An Italian photographer killed while covering the Thai military's crackdown on anti-government protesters in Bangkok three years ago was shot by a high-velocity bullet like those issued to soldiers, a judge said Wednesday.

The inquest said it was unknown who fired the bullet and stopped short of outright blaming the military. Rights groups have repeatedly called for Thailand's government to hold the powerful army accountable for its part in the violence.

A Bangkok South Criminal Court judge said that the inquest into the death of 48-year-old Fabio Polenghi showed the fatal shot "was fired from the direction of security forces" who were mobilized to quash the demonstration in central Bangkok.

It was likely Polenghi was killed by a bullet from the .223 cartridge which was used with M-16 and HK33 rifles issued to soldiers on the ground that day, the inquest said.

The findings were a stark reminder of a battle fought between the Red Shirt protesters and the government under then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, which led to at least 91 deaths during the two months of demonstrations on the streets of Bangkok in 2010, and of a political divide that remains in the country.

Polenghi was shot as he tried to take pictures of the army's assault on the Red Shirt encampment.

Testimonies from the inquest that began last July showed the bullet went in Polenghi's back and came through his left chest. The judge said the bullet went through his heart, lung and liver, causing excessive bleeding until he died at the hospital on May 19, 2010.

Born in Italy in 1962, Polenghi had been a fashion photographer for many years but was transitioning to news. - AP

Caption: Elisabetta Polenghi, younger sister of Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi, gives a Thai way 'Wai" to express thanks in front of Thai media at the South Criminal Court in Bangkok, Thailand on May 29.

KEY POINTS:

• Fabio Polenghi was killed in Bangkok during anti-government protests in 2010.
• The inquest found he was shot by a bullet from a military-issued weapon.
• The exact shooter remains unknown, but evidence points to security forces.
• Polenghi's transition to news photography was cut short by his death.
• Rights groups demand accountability from the Thai military for the violence.