Media coverage of Thai riots draws criticism

Protests in Thailand have fizzled out and with it the media coverage. British broadcasters BBC and Sky News which covered the protest by red shirted demonstrators extensively over the past week, gave only scant coverage to the story today. But high tensions remain in the country and there are strong divisions developing amongst the population.

The blogosphere is alive with comments and those in support of the current Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, have been particularly active. Many have left comments on news websites and blogs criticising the media. Impartiality is of particular concern.

Some berated the media for “not reporting the truth.” One insisted that it was not protesters who were killed but instead that “Two annoyed and angried [sic] villagers by destructive rioters' action (who) were shot dead by the red-shirt rioters.” Another writing under the name of Milan says, “PM Abhisit did not even use any violence even when he's almost been killed by the red shirt mob who broke into the Interior Ministry compound, vandalised his car, and beating his security officials. You red shirt mob, if you were in the US, you would probably be history by now. Two people who lost their lives were those who were shot by the red mob during the clash between the residents and this red shirt mob in Nang Lerng market. There they destroyed the shops, carts, and shot the mosque's windows.”

Patriotism was also in much evidence. “I love my country, I love my King, I love my people” said one who left a comment on this blog. “Thaksin has corrupted Thai people for long long time. He cheated Thai people. He tried to sell my country,” he adds.

It is a sentiment repeated by dozens of others. Many posted their comments anonymously but one writing under the name of Paul Cooper said the former prime minister Thaksin “raped Thailand dry once and now he wants to do it again.” Writing on the Sky News website he adds, “The majority of Thais follow the Yellow shirt ideals, it is wrong to suggest Thaksin is popular amongst the poor.”

In a report broadcast on CNN, ITN’s John Ray described the protesters as “outnumbered and outgunned” and that Thaksin Shinawatra remained “popular”. But it is difficult to gauge the true support he may have.

Both the pro-Royalty yellow shirts and the pro-Thaksin red shirts have been vocal in their demonstrations over the last few months. Last year the yellow shirted protesters shut down international flights into the country after they occupied the main airport. Those demonstrations also brought international headlines but the protests ended peacefully. The recent red shirt demonstrations have also brought international press attention, but outside the country there is little understanding as to the dynamics of the situation or the complicated politics of this Asian state.

The protests have left much damage in their wake. At least 120 were injured in the sometimes violent protests and two people have died. There has also been widespread damage to property including a fire which damaged part of the Interior Ministry [CNN]. It remains unclear what will happen over the coming months. But there are some deep wounds that need repairing.

At least two dead in Thai riots

After days of protests by so called red shirts in Bangkok, the army has moved in to shift them from the streets.
At least two people have been killed in the violence but the circumstances surrounding their deaths is as yet unclear. One report suggested that the two died after clashes between angy villagers and the red shirted protesters. Bernama.com reports that at least two people were killed and nine injured during a clash between the red shirted anti-government supporters and vendors at a market in the capital Monday. Bangkok Medical Department chief Phetpong Kamchornkijkarn told reporters that the dead were identified as Pom Pholphanbua, 50, and Yupha Wisetphanit, 19. The incident happened when protestors linked to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra clashed with the vendors who were unhappy with their protest that had paralysed the capital since Wednesday. Following the incident, hundreds of residents at the Ratchathewi intersection came out to the street with sticks, knives and poles to confront the anti-government supporters who had battled soldiers on the streets of Bangkok throughout the day which resulted in 77 people, including 23 soldiers, to be injured.

Earlier today troops opened fire on anti-government protesters. Most shots were discharged into the air but many rounds have been fired directly into the crowds after buses were used to drive towards army lines. Some buses were set alight with demonstrators creating barricades in many parts of the city. In response to the gunfire, demonstrators have hurled rocks and petrol bombs. But there have been no reported injuries amongst the security forces. More than 100 protestors have been injured according to reports [Sky News / CNN].

The Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that order had been restored and he would not tolerate anything other than peaceful protests. “They must not riot and intimidate people,” he told the BBC.

Meanwhile the deposed former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he was hoping to return to Thailand. “I’m watching closely to find the right time to return,” he told the BBC. But while he said he supported the protesters he said he condemned the violence.

Several governments have warned travellers to avoid travelling to the country. Tourists have conveyed their stories via Twitter, blogs and emails to organisations. Some have described the situation as surreal while others have spoken of how their travels had been disrupted. Natalie Groves, from Surrey in the UK, told the BBC that her travels near to Bangkok had been severely disrupted. Roads blocked with burning buses had forced her party to take many diversions. Britons have been warned by the UK government to reconsider their plans. “We advise against all but essential travel to Bangkok. British nationals should also review travel plans to other parts of Thailand. British nationals already in Bangkok and other cities affected by the violence are advised to stay indoors and to monitor the media and this travel advice,” the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said on its website.

Earlier in the week many demonstrators had stormed buildings where a summit to discuss the global economic crisis was to be held. The occupation forced the cancellation of the event and created embarrassment for the Thai government who had to turn back delegates [BBC].

Protests fail to rattle G20 leaders

It was billed as a potential riot in the making, but for the most part the protests against the G20 did not bring the chaos that had been much hyped in the media. The so called anti-capitalist protests brought some disruption to London’s financial centre yesterday but heavy policing kept violence to a minimum. However, what started out as a carnival ended in tragedy with several injuries and one protester dead.

Four effigies led separate processions to the financial heart of London at around midday. Amongst the crowds were protesters dressed as bankers, others as the devil and the grim reaper. A large effigy of a dead canary, representing Canary Wharf, was carried to the steps of the Bank of England as a band blasted out some music on trumpets and trombones. The voice of dissatisfaction with the government and the banking system was clear. Banners and placards spoke volumes. Amongst them were calls to “Eat the Bankers”, “Smash Capitalism” and a declaration claiming that “Capitalism Isn’t Working”.

As the numbers swelled to an estimated 4,000 people police began to create cordons, blocking several roads and trying to split off one part of the crowd from others. These became the focus fore anarchists and the more militant demonstrators who began to taunt the police. The inevitable clashes soon occurred an one police officer was struck on the head by one protester holding a large pole. Crowds eventually gathered outside a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland, the bank which has been the subject of much criticism following the departure of Sir Fred and his £700,000 a year pension.

It wasn’t long before windows were smashed and several protesters entered the building. As the half a dozen of so members of the crowd attacked the bank surrounding them were dozens of others recording the event with cameras. There were camera phones, compact digital cameras and video cameras held aloft all trying to capture the action. This wasn’t so much a riot than a piece of street theatre. The BBC’s Ben Brown broadcasting Live pictures from a nearby vantage point said that it seemed those perpetrating the attack were a small minority and that around a third seemed to be only interested in taking pictures which another third were merely gathering to watch the spectacle.

Indeed this is what the much talked about ‘riot had become. There was nor riot to speak of. Any attempt of revolution had dissolved into a few sporadic incidents filmed by a thousand cameras.

French Marxist theorist and Situationist once wrote that modern life had become an event that was merely observed rather than experienced. In his book Society of the Spectacle he claimed that life had become “an immense accumulation of spectacles” and that “everything that was directly lived” had “moved away into representation”. Nothing was more true than the scenes that could be seen unfolding in the streets of London yesterday. Direct action had been replaced by so-called ‘Blackberry revolutionaries’ who were spending much of their time Twittering and blogging. It was perhaps epitomised by the arrival of celebrity comedian Russell Brand who told a throng of photographers and news media that he had come to “see what was going on”. It was a far cry from the protests seen in 1984 when more than 2,000 anarchists descended on the financial heart of London to Stop the City or the so called Poll Tax Riot in the early 1990s.
Having made their point the majority of demonstrators drifted away from the city by late afternoon. But some remained, hemmed in by cordons of police. Many complained that they weren’t being allowed to leave. Tired and frustrated several hundred protestors remained outside the Bank of England as hundreds more police gathered around them.

There had throughout the day been several reports of injuries with both police and demonstrators being hospitalised. But at around 10 pm it emerged that one demonstrator had died. The circumstances where unclear, but it is reported that the man has collapsed and fallen unconscious in St Michael’s Alley, close to the Bank of England. Police paramedics, who say they were pelted with missiles while they treated the individual, placed him in the hands of Ambulance personnel who conveyed him to hospital. However the man was pronounced dead upon arrival.

A Climate Change camp outside Liverpool Street station was relatively peaceful throughout the day. But as darkness fell it became a gathering point for demonstrators who had left the city. There were tense stand-offs between protesters and police which continued until the early hours.

There had been intense media coverage throughout the day with almost constant live broadcasting from the city protests and the climate change camp. But there was minimal coverage of the anti-war coalition march which trailed through the streets from the US Embassy to London’s Trafalgar Square. There were speeches from former mining trade union leader Arthur Scargill, CND’s Bruce Kent and veteran politician Tony Benn. But there were no voices heard on television. During a morning interview Tony Benn had called on Sky News to air the views of protesters and speakers. But other than a sound bites from a few demonstrators on the ground, the only message conveyed was one of a large crowd determined to cause disruption.
Despite the protest and the damage to RBS, the effect on the markets was minimal. Although some city workers had ‘dressed down’ and others inconvenienced as they were unable to exit their building for a cigarette or a lunchtime sandwich, the markets actually rose and it was pretty much business as usual. CNN’s business correspondent said that the protestors had affected the smaller businesses who were “just trying to eek out a living”, the types of people whom they claimed to be representing. “This is a side show” Todd Benjamin said.

The sideshow has today moved to London’s Docklands. But the protest today is far smaller than that seen in London yesterday. Only around 200 protesters were present by lunchtime. “Well anarchists don’t wake up early do they?” one police officer told reporters. Many may stay at home given that the protest area is being kept more than half a kilometre away from where the G20 leaders are gathering to “save the world”.

Greek riots continue for 7th day

Riots have continued for a seventh day in Athens following the death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos [pictured above] who was shot dead by police last Saturday. Live pictures relayed by the BBC, Sky News and CNN showed continuing clashes between police and demonstrators with rocks, paint bombs and Molotov cocktails being thrown at police lines. Police responded by launching volleys of tear gas into the crowds in an attempt to disperse them.

The Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has rejected calls to stand down after the week of violence that has disrupted several cities across the country and caused millions of pounds worth of damage. The Prime Minister told reporters that the violence had been instigated by extremists. “The compassion with which all of us ought to treat the distress of young people cannot be confused with blind violence, with the activities of extreme elements” he said. The continuing violence is beginning to test the patience of many ordinary citizens and business owners. Hundreds of shops and cars have been destroyed in the riots and some are calling on authorities to clamp down harder on the rioters. Some have even attempted to defend their property from the mobs with reports of shopkeepers even fighting with the masked youths. The police are also said to be running out of tear gas according to some reports.