Focus on reconciliation, slain journo's sister says

The sister of an Italian journalist killed during the crackdown on red shirts two years ago voiced support for providing compensation to the victims of the political turmoil, but said that getting all sides to reconcile was more important.

"I think the Thai government should take responsibility for things that have happened and for the suffering, but above all, it must reconcile with the population and not allow this sort of thing to happen ever again," Elisabetta Polenghi, the sister of Fabio Polenghi, told The Nation.

A stray bullet hit and killed Fabio near Bangkok's Lumpini Park on May 19, 2010.

Yingluck Shinawatra's government recently earmarked up to Bt7.75 million for victims of political unrest over the period stretching from late 2005, when the yellow shirts rallied against then-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, to May 2010 when red shirts staged street protests against the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Elisabetta said the Abhisit government had offered to compensate her for her brother's death, but she refused and demanded to know the truth about the shooting. The current government has not contacted or offered her any money.

When asked if she would choose justice or compensation, she said: "There will never be enough compensation for those who have lost their loved ones and the truth is always most important. In Fabio's case, I would like to think that his sacrifice was not in vain and that it will help his colleagues across the world to help bring information to the public in a safe manner.

"However, even though you cannot put a price on someone's life, it is true that many have lost the breadwinners of their families and need help." she said.

"I would like to tell both the Italian and the Thai governments that we expect full light to be shed on the events surrounding my brother's death. That there are still many questions that need asking, including where his personal effects went and who took his camera.

When the truth emerges then maybe we will be able to finally reconcile. Until then, I will continue to ask questions and insist wherever possible, with whatever institutions necessary both in Thailand and internationally, to get answers that will allow not just us to sleep better at night."

Elisabetta has dedicated her life to finding out the truth behind her brother's death and looking after their elderly mother.

"Obviously, I miss my brother very much because we were very close and I feel a great necessity to get to the truth," she reiterated.