Anger after senior bystander shot at August protest dies

Calls for justice were raised today for an elderly bystander who died of injuries sustained months ago at a pro-democracy protest.

Mana Hongthong, 64, died Saturday of complications of head injuries seven months after he was shot in the head by a rubber bullet by crowd control police fighting pro-democracy protestors in Din Daeng, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights announced yesterday.

“This is once again a violation of human rights by the violent dispersal of protests by officials, resulting in serious damage to people who weren’t even involved in the event,” lawmaker Bencha Saengchantra of the opposition Move Forward Party wrote in a tweet. “Are any officers punishable under the law? The Thai state continues to allow this culture of impunity.”

The legal advocacy group said Mana, an innocent bystander, was rushed to a hospital for treatment after he was…