Journalist voiced concern over safety
By Supapong Chaolan
A reporter for Matichon newspaper was shot dead while cooking at his home on Friday in what the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) is calling a blatant attempt to silence the media. Athiwat Chainurat, 48, was alone when a gunman shot him in the head, back and stomach. The attack took place about 9pm. Police collected four spent casings from the scene.
Athiwat's wife Pornpimol said she had just talked to him on the phone while on her way home after picking up their son and daughter from a tutoring school. The children wanted to eat rice soup.
When the three arrived home, they found Athiwat lying in a pool of blood with a kitchen knife in his hand. They called next door on their cousin to help them take him to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
''He became extra careful recently due to a conflict with some local politicians over his reports. He told me to always change my routes when heading home,'' Mrs Pornpimol said.
She said her husband had told Region 8 Police Bureau chief Thani Tawitsri of his concerns.
Pol Lt-Gen Thani said police suspected the murder was related to news reports written by the victim, which caused conflicts with a high-ranking government officer in the district.
''Mr Athiwat was a straight-forward reporter who refused to let go of a story,'' he said.
He assigned his deputy Pol Maj-Gen Santhan Chayanont to handle the case, and added that the investigation had made good progress and a team was collecting evidence.
But a source close to Athiwat disagreed.
He said a high-profile politician who had always been unhappy with Athiwat's reports might have used the victim's conflict with the government officer to have him killed and put the blame on the officer.
The TJA said the premeditated murder might be the work of an influential figure who has no fear of the law and the act was a case of serious intimidation against investigative journalists.
The association called on the police chief to quickly find the mastermind.
Chaiyong Maneerungsakul, the president of the Southern Newspapers Association of Thailand, said the association would help Athiwat's family, who was killed due to his news reports
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