Sondhi Shot

Sondhi Limthongkul, the leader of the Thai "yellow shirt" protest movement was shot this morning in Bangkok. He survived with minor injuries.
This picture was taken during his campaign to bring down then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Last week the red-shirted supporters of Thaksin paralysed Bangkok with demonstrations and fights with the security forces.

© Kees Metselaar 2005

Dancing Cranes

Gigantic building site in the centre of Hong Kong where the HMS Tamar of the British armed forces used to be. This new Central Harbourfront will house the Central Government Complex.
In the back the International Commerce Centre in Kowloon. This 118 story (484 m) skyscraper will become the tallest building in Hong Kong upon completion in 2010.

© Kees Metselaar 2009

Murder in Mindanao

Killings by death squads is on the rise again in Mindanao in the south of the Philippines according to Human Rights Watch. Their report "You Can Die Any Time" details the involvement of the police and local authorities in the killings of alleged drug dealers, petty criminals, street children and others.
In the 1980's Davao, the biggest city of Mindanao was already famous for its death squads. For some days in 1988 I followed the activities of the Tadtad (chop chop). They liked to kill their victims, labour activists, students, communists, with their manchetes.
The picture is of some of their victims laid out on the lawn of the police headquarters in Davao.
The story with more pictures can be read (in Dutch) on the photoq website.

© Kees Metselaar 1988

Spaghetti Junction

In Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.

© Kees Metselaar 2009