My dear international friends

I have written the note below when I saw the news about Thailand on CNN and BBC yesterday. I think they have grossly misrepresented the true events leading up to the military crack down on the terrorists – not the unarmed civilians as they reported. I find it my duty towards our country’s reputation to tell the world of this misrepresentation by the international media, so I have posted it on the social media sites. If you find it useful, please feel free to forward or copy to your friends overseas and add anything you’d like.

My apology if my views contradict to your political belief.

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The Case Against the International Media’s Report on Thailand

20 May 2010

This is going to be a long note, but I want my overseas friends to understand what has been happening here in Thailand. You would only see the soldiers' shooting scenes or injured people being carried away on international TV channels for 30 seconds, but never got to know about the background. The truth is, the Thai government, under the lead of Prime Minister Abisit Vejajiva, has been too accommodating by withholding the use of forcesince the rally started2 months ago (with the exception of 10th April event, when the soldiers were ordered to move in without live weapons and subsequently got slaughtered by unknown gunmen shooting from the 'Red Shirt' protesters)

The majority ofme, and my circles, support the government in dealing with the terrorists hidden amongst the protesters. The government held talks with the rally leaders and offered peace solutions to them at the beginning of May 2010. The government did mark tentative dates on the new General Election (in other words, parliament dissolution was underway). The UDD, aka RED shirts, has been asking for parliament dissolution since day 1 of the protest. So, when The Prime Minister offered them what they want, UDD leaders demanded more. One of the demands is that Mr. Taksin Shinnawatra, ex-PM and a fugitive of many corruption charges, be exonerated. Of course, such plan couldn’t be accepted as the demand was only for personal interest of one person.

The Prime Minister publicly urged the protestersto disperse and also offered the free transportation to their home town as most of them were transported from up country especially the North-Eastern part (majority are poor farmers and grass-root classes that benefited from the direct money injection during Taksin’s era. However, the money dissolved in vain with no real productivities).

The offer wasn't answered. So, the government decided to block food and water supplies entering the center of the protest. In meantimes, the government always offered the way for the peaceful protesters to come out without any charges.

When soldiers surrounded the UDD campsites on 14 May 2010, some protestors rushed out to throw rocks, firecrackers and even M79 bombs at the soldiers' barricade -- thus, causing the soldiers to defend themselves by firing rubber bullets and live rounds. UDD leaders always claimed that they are peaceful and unarmed. UDD also refused that these violent terrorists are not under their supervision. However, on 19 May, when Rachaprasong area was cleared out by soldiers approaching in and UDD leaders turned themselves in, TV Thai reported that M60 & grenades were found in the abandoned tents of the UDD protesters. Also, today 20 May 2010, military found landmines in Lumpini park. So....where is this mentioned in any of these media??

My point of writing is this.

1.) International media, CNN, BBC, Economist, Word Press and etc, TRULY FAILED TO REPORT THAT THE PROTESTERS WERE HEAVILY ARMED. They report the one-sided truth but not the others. Most failed to mention that the soldiers were shot, attacked by heavy war ammunition. Despite a lot of VDO, youtube that can be easily found, showing protesters with armed weapons, these int’l press did not mention that in the news. Even someone like me could find such evidence so easily, how can that big of news agency not able to find the same information?

You can find the youtube VDO of armed protesters shooting and bullying authorities in youtube and here

a.) UDD (Red Shirt) weapons & violence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgl_cgEmzxA

b.) Red Shirt against goverment thailand
The Red Shirt thay can take weapons from soldier. The goverment have order assign
carry weapon and bullet ready for shoot people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRiWM42PXxY

c.) Red Shirt equipped with automatic weapons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDWjTn3JsF4

d.) Red Shirt rally in Bangkok with live firing at Saladaeng. More war weapon
founded in Lumpini park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWdT0soetYU

All of these information make me question the professionalism of these International media agencies.

2. Some international media also kept mentioning about HUMAN RIGHTS and that soldiers shoots at unarmed people. However, they failed to state what I said in number 1.
If the soldiers were really intended to shoot and aim for death, do you think the total death tolls would be 40? This is not a government of communist party that will slaughter civilians like you see in the movies.

3. International media FAILED TO REPORTS FULL DETAILS of what it should be. For example, CNN reports that Taksin denied being UDD leaders or any ties to UDD leaders.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/19/thailand.thaksin/index.html

CNN didn’t mention the source of the interview and CNN never mentioned series of Taksin’s phone-in to the protest sites so many times to provoke them and fight for him. While I can find it easily....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eW2fAMpuq8&feature=related

It has been very frustrating for the law-abiding citizen of Bangkok -- we even voiced our dissatisfaction at the government for its failure to uphold the laws. The situation was like Bangkok was being held for ransom. A lot of businesses got affected because it's right in the middle of the major commercial area.

Again, think what your government would do if there were a large group of protesters blocking all traffic at Orchard Road in Singapore; Times Square in NYC; Ginza in Tokyo; or Knightsbridge in London for two months. Protesters set up barricades to search through personal belongings of everyone travelling through the area. Some even reports that civilians were beaten when not cooperating.

Also think what it would do if those protesters invaded a nearby hospital, threat to kill and rape whoever not letting them do what they want, causing doctors & nurses to evacuate patients -- some of whom are newborn babies in incubators and those in ICU -- to other hospitals. And most important of all, think what would your government do if the protesters were found to have large stockpile of M79 grenades, M16 & AK47 assault rifles.

Do you think your government would be as tolerant as the Thai government?

Reungvit Nandhabiwat
Business owner, Bangkok, Thailand
15 May 2010

Additional Comment added on 20 May 2010 by
Meaw - Atchariya Sinrachatanant
Business owner, Bangkok, Thailand