Thais open inquest into Hiro Muramoto

Bangkok Southern Criminal Court heard prosecution claims that the Japanese cameraman was shot dead by soldiers on 10 April 2010 while filming the conflict in the old part of the capital. The court also opened similar cases in the deaths of four Thai protesters killed on the same day.

The prosecution intends to prove that their deaths were caused by the military, which had been called in to disperse a demonstration led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship that had seized the neighbourhood for weeks.

“These cases are expected to take a long time because they will involve many witnesses and a lot of evidence,” the chief prosecutor told the court.

About 25 people died in the 10 April melee, including six soldiers. From April 10 to May 19, the day the 2010 demonstration was crushed, an estimated 92 people were killed including a dozen soldiers and police.

No official has been held responsible in the killings. ■