The last moments of photographer gunned down by Burmese troops as nine die

[arenean]

Source: Evening Standard

These are the shocking images from Burma of a Japanese journalists as he lay dying after soldiers opened fire on thousands of anti-government protesters.

Kenji Nagai held his camera above his head to continue taking photos even as a soldier pointed a gun at his chest.

He was one of at least nine people who were killed when troops opened fire after ordering the protesters to move on. Another 11 were reported injured.



Read more: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23414112-details/The+last+moments+of+photographer+gunned+down+by+Burmese+troops+as+nine+die/article.do

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This is horrible - and all the more so as everyone knew what the Burmese government were going to do over the last few days, and there's nothing we can do to prevent it.

[NMMNG]

1. How horrifying

:cry:

[krispos42]

2. Wow...

Both the dead photographer and the one that took his picture should get some kind of reward. And the dead one's family should get compensation.

[piesRsquare]

3. Access to the Web has been cut

Posted on Fri, Sep. 28, 2007

Access to Web Appears Cut in Myanmar

The Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's government appeared to have cut public Internet access and troops occupied key Buddhist monasteries on Friday, witnesses and diplomats said, in an effort to end demonstrations against the ruling junta.

The moves raised concerns that the military government may be preparing to intensify a crackdown on civilians that has killed at least 10 people in the past two days. The Internet in particular has played a crucial role in getting news and images of the pro-democracy protests to the outside world.

More...

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation_world/20070928_ap_accesstowebappearscutinmyanmar.html

[JNelson6563]

4. Truly horrible.

More to come no doubt. I only wonder when it will happen here, not "if".

Julie

[Wilber_Stool]

5. The next time you meet someone

that wants to join the military, ask them if they would do something like this. Would they turn guns on their own people. It's a possibility that they have to think about.

[atreides1]

10. Unfortunately

This will be a possibility that US citizens may have to face one day.

[INDIA]

25. Nah. Probably not. n/t

[Wilber_Stool]

26. Really.

The reason I brought this up is because I was faced with that decision in 1971 at Ft. Riley Kansas. I drove an APC (armored personal carrier) with the 1st Infantry Div. Mec. Me and about eight other drivers were told that we were to drive our tracks onto the campus of Kansas State University to provide security for Richard Nixon where he was to give a speech. I asked what we were to do if the students got in our way. They said we were to force our way through the crowd. I refused. So did the rest. We were dismissed from the meeting. Nixon never spoke and I got sent to Viet Nam. Don't know what happened to the rest. It can happen here. Believe it.

[bronxiteforever]

6. A true journalist-gave his life to get the truth

[robcon]

7. Fascism in action, ever since these thugs too over.

n/t

[farmhand]

8. Should the US government send troops to help these people?

I was wondering if anyone thinks the US should do something about this, like send troops, because the people of Burma are asking why George Bush isn't doing anything about this?

[atreides1]

11. What troops?

With the way that the rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan are being done there are no troops to send!

[raccoon]

18. Even if there were, the US wouldn't do it unless TPTB believed

it threatened our interests the interests of big business. For that matter, nor would any other country.

Same as with Rwanda. Genocide was going on, but it wasn't a threat to the interests of big business. Therefore, no intervention.

[Squatch]

22. No oil in Burma

[daleo]

24. Do they have much oil?

If so, a "Bush rescue" is a definite possibility.

[Xenotime]

9. I can't imagine the suffering....

This is so sad. Of course Amerika will do nothing. Sick.

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. What do you want America to do?

:shrug:

[cascadiance]

16. If they had oil, I'm sure George would come up with something he could do!

Though helping these people would only be a false window dressing for what his actual aims would be there...

[Mike Daniels]

14. I don't see other countries sending anyone either

Are you going to criticize them as well?

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. What's up with this caption?

"The protesters' sandles are scattered on the street today after soldiers fired warning shots into the crowd."

Huh?

"The protesters' sandles are scattered on the street today after soldiers fired warning shots into the crowd."

A warning shot INTO the crowd? That's a helluva warning!

[jordi_fanclub]

15. Photographer gunned catched in VIDEO...

See in left at 0:09 here: http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,31200-1286241,00.html

[Squatch]

23. Yeah...he was pretty much murdered right then and there.

[Summer93]

17. Photos

I am grateful that the photos got out so that the rest of the world can see what has happened.

The Japanese photographer made an historic statement on his deathbed, holding his camera to capture the scene. Now that the photo is out around the world the people of the world cannot deny that it happened.

[uppityperson]

19. k&r and posting a link to DU link where I'm gathering stories on Burma

Not to push my own topic, but I'm trying to gather stories there, hoping the mass will get people reading it. Thank you for posting this, I hadn't seen it.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1925199&mesg_id=1925199

[Theres-a]

20. Thanks for that. nt

[heliarc]

21. Chile 1973

This reminds me of the case of Leonard Hendrickson who pointed his camera down the barrel of a Chilean military man's gun during the "Tacnazo" coup attempt in Chile 1973 and filmed his own death. The horrible moment is captured forever in the almost forgotten film "La Battalla de Chile," Kenji Nagai and Leonard Hendrickson are heroes of monumental proportion. Would the world were made up of people as brave as they were. RIP.

http://www.h-net.org/mmreviews/showrev.cgi?path=65