June 29, 2019 (ATN) - Opposition member Sirawith Seritiwat (aka Ja New) was again attacked - this time allegedly by men wielding baseball bats, the Bangkok Post reports.
This is the second time in a month. The opposition is already - without evidence - blaming the government and seeking wider media attention for both the attack and their cause. The Western media is gladly repeating their baseless claims and aiding in leveling accusations against the current government.
Suspicions of Staged Violence
The previous attack left only superficial injuries leaving many to believe the attack was staged to benefit an opposition who recently lost elections and who face the prospects of both irrelevancy and a nation moving on without them.
Ja New and his circle of agitators also begged for donations after the previous attack despite the meager hospital bills requiring no such financial assistance - further raising suspicions about the motives of the so-called "activists."
It appears that whoever attacked Ja New the first time decided to make their second attack more convincing by inflicting much more serious injuries.
Protests led by Ja New have included members of ousted ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's "red shirt" street mobs. During protests in 2010, red shirt leaders would deploy heavily armed terrorists, using their street mobs as human shields while fighting government troops, leaving nearly 100 dead.
Thailand's opposition is by no means beyond inflicting harm or even death upon their own followers for political gain.
It should be noted that the 2010 violence is still - to this day - blamed on the Thai military by Thaksin Shinawatra, his "red shirts," and "activists" like Ja New.
Tampering with Evidence
Future Forward Party (FFP) headed by billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and linked directly to Thaksin Shinawatra and his Pheu Thai Party (PTP) immediately inserted itself into the resulting media storm surrounding Ja New's most recent assault.
Not only is Future Forward's immediate rush to politically exploit the assault suspicious - Future Forward appears to have admitted to visiting the crime scene and tampering with evidence.
The Bangkok Post in its article, "Future Forward MP has 'Ja New' attack clip," would report:
Security footage constitutes evidence and should only be accessed and possessed by police and investigators.
The fact that the opposition - of which Future Forward is a part - stands the most to gain from this attack and have already immediately moved to politically exploit it - and have now admitted to visiting the crime scene and gathering CCTV footage - means that potential suspects - perhaps even the prime suspects - may be attempting to tamper with evidence.
Perpetrators of any crime caught on camera would seek to collect and control the footage of that crime - either to hide it, or alter it to depict any outcome they desire.
In today's age of "deep fakes" and of both photo and video manipulation, security footage falling into the hands of suspects who have the resources and public reach to both manipulate and propagate it to their own advantage, threatens to impede or influence any investigation.
A political party headed by a billionaire and allied with violent street movements like Thaksin Shinawatra's "red shirts," possessing footage of a crime and actively seeking to use it to manipulate public perception most certainly threatens to undermine any investigation into Ja New's attack.
In the wake of the 2015 Bangkok bombing, pro-opposition correspondent Jonathan Head of British state media also tampered with evidence in a deliberate effort to politically exploit the bombing, humiliate local police, and undermine the government.
Getting a Grip on Political Violence, and Especially Staged Violence
The current Thai government would benefit greatly from ensuring the safety of the opposition - who by being allowed to carry on - do far more damage to their own cause and credibility than any thug with a baseball bat.
Vigilante violence against the opposition only succeeds in portraying supporters of Thailand's institutions and current government as being just as bad as Thaksin Shinawatra, his "red shirt" street mobs, and political proxies like Future Forward.
Violence staged by the opposition itself allows them to portray themselves as victims and martyrs, and by using the inexhaustible and unquestioning support of the Western media invested in undermining the current Thai government - they can leverage attacks they themselves stage for public and political advantage.
By ensuring the security of opposition members like Ja New - staged provocations can be interrupted and exposed - causing them to backfire and irreparably stripping the opposition and the foreign media supporting them of all credibility. If no attacks occur at all, it will deprive the opposition of a valuable propaganda tool they have used all too often already.
This is the second time in a month. The opposition is already - without evidence - blaming the government and seeking wider media attention for both the attack and their cause. The Western media is gladly repeating their baseless claims and aiding in leveling accusations against the current government.
Suspicions of Staged Violence
The previous attack left only superficial injuries leaving many to believe the attack was staged to benefit an opposition who recently lost elections and who face the prospects of both irrelevancy and a nation moving on without them.
Ja New and his circle of agitators also begged for donations after the previous attack despite the meager hospital bills requiring no such financial assistance - further raising suspicions about the motives of the so-called "activists."
It appears that whoever attacked Ja New the first time decided to make their second attack more convincing by inflicting much more serious injuries.
Protests led by Ja New have included members of ousted ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's "red shirt" street mobs. During protests in 2010, red shirt leaders would deploy heavily armed terrorists, using their street mobs as human shields while fighting government troops, leaving nearly 100 dead.
Thailand's opposition is by no means beyond inflicting harm or even death upon their own followers for political gain.
It should be noted that the 2010 violence is still - to this day - blamed on the Thai military by Thaksin Shinawatra, his "red shirts," and "activists" like Ja New.
Tampering with Evidence
Future Forward Party (FFP) headed by billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and linked directly to Thaksin Shinawatra and his Pheu Thai Party (PTP) immediately inserted itself into the resulting media storm surrounding Ja New's most recent assault.
Not only is Future Forward's immediate rush to politically exploit the assault suspicious - Future Forward appears to have admitted to visiting the crime scene and tampering with evidence.
The Bangkok Post in its article, "Future Forward MP has 'Ja New' attack clip," would report:
A Future Forward Party MP claimed to have obtained security footage showing four men violently attacked political activist Sirawith "Ja New" Seritiwat on a main road in Bangkok on Friday.The article would further explain:
"I initially checked the area and found there were several closed-circuit television cameras. All CCTVs are functioning. Now Mr Chavalit and I have obtained the CCTV footage and talked with the Min Buri police chief, who promised to handle the case to the best of his ability," said the first-time MP and anti-coup activist, who earlier joined Mr Sirawith in several demonstrations.The article would specifically reiterate that the footage was in the possession of the Future Forward Party. What is not clear is how they obtained it, from who, and why they sought it in the first place. It is also not explained what role Future Forward has - as a political party - in investigating any crime.
Security footage constitutes evidence and should only be accessed and possessed by police and investigators.
The fact that the opposition - of which Future Forward is a part - stands the most to gain from this attack and have already immediately moved to politically exploit it - and have now admitted to visiting the crime scene and gathering CCTV footage - means that potential suspects - perhaps even the prime suspects - may be attempting to tamper with evidence.
Perpetrators of any crime caught on camera would seek to collect and control the footage of that crime - either to hide it, or alter it to depict any outcome they desire.
In today's age of "deep fakes" and of both photo and video manipulation, security footage falling into the hands of suspects who have the resources and public reach to both manipulate and propagate it to their own advantage, threatens to impede or influence any investigation.
A political party headed by a billionaire and allied with violent street movements like Thaksin Shinawatra's "red shirts," possessing footage of a crime and actively seeking to use it to manipulate public perception most certainly threatens to undermine any investigation into Ja New's attack.
In the wake of the 2015 Bangkok bombing, pro-opposition correspondent Jonathan Head of British state media also tampered with evidence in a deliberate effort to politically exploit the bombing, humiliate local police, and undermine the government.
Getting a Grip on Political Violence, and Especially Staged Violence
The current Thai government would benefit greatly from ensuring the safety of the opposition - who by being allowed to carry on - do far more damage to their own cause and credibility than any thug with a baseball bat.
Vigilante violence against the opposition only succeeds in portraying supporters of Thailand's institutions and current government as being just as bad as Thaksin Shinawatra, his "red shirt" street mobs, and political proxies like Future Forward.
Violence staged by the opposition itself allows them to portray themselves as victims and martyrs, and by using the inexhaustible and unquestioning support of the Western media invested in undermining the current Thai government - they can leverage attacks they themselves stage for public and political advantage.
By ensuring the security of opposition members like Ja New - staged provocations can be interrupted and exposed - causing them to backfire and irreparably stripping the opposition and the foreign media supporting them of all credibility. If no attacks occur at all, it will deprive the opposition of a valuable propaganda tool they have used all too often already.
Follow ATN on Twitter here.
