Situation at rally sites can be volatile

Clara Holzer describes Nick Nostitz as “an allegedly notorious red-shirt supporter and police informant” and speculates that these were the reasons he was attacked by demonstrators. I’m not sure that being a red-shirt supporter automatically makes one notorious, and being a police informant could indeed be a reason for praise, not vilification – it all depends upon the circumstances.

According to reports I have seen, Nostitz was identified by a protest leader as a red-shirt sympathiser, which was enough to encourage some of the demonstrators to attack him. Television reports have shown several instances of violent behaviour by demonstrators over recent days, and the Nostitz incident shows how potentially dangerous the current situation is, despite assurances by protest leaders that the demonstrations will remain peaceful.

Robin Grant

Bangkok