Hiro Muramoto
Hiro Muramoto (村本 博之, Muramoto Hiroyuki, c.1966 – April 10, 2010) was a Japanese TV
Muramoto was the first reporter killed during the
Career
A graduate of Temple University (Japan Campus), Muramoto worked at NBC and then ABC. He joined Reuters as a freelance cameraman in 1992 and became full-time in 1995. During his time with Reuters, he traveled to high-risk areas North Korea and the Philippines (during political instability). He also covered human-interest stories such as Tokyo monkey-waiters and the man who married a character from a video game.
Also active in charity projects, Muramoto walked 100 km in two days in the areas around
Death
Muramoto was shot and killed on April 10, 2010, while covering violent clashes during the 2010 Thai political protests between
The Thai military initially claimed to be shooting rubber bullets and tear gas, and only shooting live rounds into the air.[2] However, video footage showed soldiers firing assault rifles in fully automatic fire mode in the direction of protesters. Protest leaders claimed that a number of people were hit by army snipers from nearby buildings.[5] The military later admitted that troops fired live rounds directly at protesters, allegedly shooting only single rounds to protect injured troops retreating from the clashes.[6]
Reactions
Reuters
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See also
- Kenji Nagai, photojournalist shot by a soldier in Rangoon, 2007
- Fabio Polenghi, an Italian freelance photographer, 2010
- Lucas Dolega, photojournalist shot by a policeman in Tunis, 2011
- Press Freedom Index
References
- ^ Doherty, Ben; Ian Mackinnon (2010-04-14). "Military signals Thai PM's time is running out". Telegraph. The Age. Archived from the original on 2010-04-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Szep, Jason (2010-04-10). "Reuters journalist killed in Bangkok protests". The Washington Post. Reuters. Archived from the original on 2010-04-13.
- ^ The Mainichi Daily News, April 14, 2010. 2010年4月12日 1時15分 更新:4月12日 11時44分."Reuters confirms Japanese cameraman killed amid violent clashes in Bangkok - the Mainichi Daily News". Archived from the original on 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
- ^ Twaronite, Lisa (2010-04-14). "When the headlines hit home". Lisa Twaronite's This Week in Japan. MarketWatch. Archived from the original on 2010-04-17. Lisa Twaronite: "The last footage in Hiro's camera, returned to Reuters by the protesters, shows a chaotic scene. Soldiers and another cameraman fled after an explosion, but Hiro kept shooting, backing slowly away. He was killed by a gunshot wound to his chest, with the bullet exiting his body through his back...In order to have functioning markets and a healthy economy, political and social stability is a given. This is why you don't read stories on MarketWatch like "Five best plays in North Korea," or "Where the Sudanese pound is headed next." True stability isn't possible without credible verification -- a government can simply declare business as usual, with everything secure and under control, and events can prove otherwise. That's why general news reporters, photographers and cameramen risk their lives, to document dangerous events as they unfold, and allow the world to see the real situation on the ground. In other words, Hiro died doing a job that made my own job possible."
- ^ The Australian, Bullets killed Thai red-shirt protesters, 13 April 2010
- ^ Bangkok Post, Military admits firing at reds, 15 April 2010
Further reading and resources
- Agence France-Presse (2010-04-13). "Remains of slain Japanese journalist returned from Thailand". AFP. mysinchew.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-25.
- Committee to Protect Journalists (2010-04-12). "Reuters cameraman killed in Thai political violence". New York: Committee to Protect Journalists. Archived from the original on 2010-04-15.
- Joyce, Rodney (2010-04-12). "Remembering Hiro's gentle smile". Analysis and Opinion. Reuters. Archived from the original on 2010-04-14.
- Reporters Without Borders (2010-04-10). "Japanese cameraman fatally shot in clashes between troops and Red Shirts". Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original on 2010-04-13.
- Tahara, Norimasa; Yomiuri Shimbun (2010-04-13). "Death stuns Muramoto family". Yomiuri Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2010-04-22.
- Mainichi Daily News (2010-04-13). "Reuters confirms Japanese cameraman killed amid violent clashes in Bangkok". Mainichi Japan. Archived from the original on 2010-04-15.