(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the attack on Manop Rattanacharungporn, of the daily “Matichon”, who was shot and wounded in the leg on 1 June 2005 in the southern province of Phangnga, apparently in reprisal for his reporting on illegal land appropriations in tsunami-hit areas. In a letter to Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, RSF hailed […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the attack on Manop Rattanacharungporn, of the daily “Matichon”, who was shot and wounded in the leg on 1 June 2005 in the southern province of Phangnga, apparently in reprisal for his reporting on illegal land appropriations in tsunami-hit areas.
In a letter to Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, RSF hailed the measures taken by the Thai authorities in this case. “The investigation under way must lead to the arrest and trial of both the perpetrators and instigators of this serious press freedom violation,” RSF said.
Rattanacharungporn is still hospitalised as a result of the injuries he sustained when two men fired on him as he was driving home from his plantation at Tambon Natoey. His newspaper believes the attack was prompted by articles he wrote a month earlier about the illegal acquisition by criminal groups of mangrove areas belonging to the state.
The justice minister has ordered an investigation into these irregularities. He inspected the areas concerned on 5 June before visiting Rattanacharungporn in hospital. He also instructed the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) to send a team to the area to pursue the enquiries.
Reached by telephone, DSI Director General Sombat Amornvivat said Rattanacharungporn is now in the witness protection programme and will be called on to testify in court. He also said that some of those involved in the attack have been identified although they have not yet been arrested.
