High spirits, curiosity and a strong sense of duty have made journalists vulnerable to violence during the running battles in Bangkok with The Nation's veteran photographer Chaiwat Phumpuang becoming the latest victim.
Chaiwat, an award-winning lensman who has worked on many political crises including 'Black May' in 1992, was shot in the leg while recording the action in the Rajprarop area, which has been declared by the military as a "live firing zone". A bullet smashed a bone and he ended up being sent to Phya Thai 1 hospital. He had just come back to work a few weeks after suffering partial paralysis.
"Mai pen rai (never mind)," Chaiwat told friends who visited him at the hospital. He had to undergo an operation last night.
"He was sitting beside me at the corner of a building and the bullet hit him. We couldn't move at first because the gunfire was still going on," a colleague said later.
Chaiwat is the fourth journalist casualty in the latest rampage. On Friday three journalists from France 24, Matichon and Voice TV were wounded in clashes between government forces and protesters.
The media are well aware of the possible dangers from covering street riots, but answer the professional call of duty.
"Even though they are extremely cautious, once they have cameras hanging round their necks at the scene, they only think of taking good photos," said Vichai Warapon, president of the Photographer Association of Thailand.
Photojournalists are the key to fact-finding and the closer they get to the news source, the more accurate the information. But the situation has been deteriorating to the point that they now don helmets and bulletproof vests.
Local reporters have also been shunning the area behind the main stage at the Rajprasong rally since Friday night. They used to hang around there for a chance to interview red-shirt leaders. But they moved yesterday to the nearby police headquarters due to security concerns.
Their departure also made the red-shirt leaders uneasy. Jatuporn Promphan realised the absence of the media was a bad sign. "Without them, who will guarantee the safety of our protesters?"
Some foreign journalists just arrived at Rajprasong. "They are those who can't understand Thai and perhaps aren't aware of the danger," a local reporter said.
Media activist Chavarong Limpattamapanee, a senior member of the Thailand Journalism Association, suggested that reporters should pull out from risky areas.
"It's clear that there are unidentified armed men embedded in the protester zone," he said.
And no one is taking responsibility for media casualties, he added.
Following Chavarong's advice, the TJA strongly advises its members to withdraw from the streets after sunset.