Protesters with their hands bound behind their backs became the somber center of attention on October 25, 2004, when security forces cracked down on a protest rally at the Tak Bai police station in Narathiwat. The aftermath was tragic: hundreds were arrested, and a shocking 78 died during transportation to an army camp, packed tightly into overloaded army trucks. The event remains etched in the annals of history, a stark reminder of the dire consequences of mishandled demonstrations. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Opposition MP Romadon Panjor is now urging Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to take decisive action. With the 20-year statute of limitations looming on October 25, Panjor emphasizes the urgency of bringing suspects involved in the 2004 Tak Bai massacre to trial. Shadows of the past threaten to fade into oblivion unless swift measures are taken, and Panjor calls on the public to rally with the main opposition party in monitoring the progress of these critical cases.
“As the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, I believe Prime Minister Paetongtarn could leverage her authority to expedite this matter,” Panjor asserted on Wednesday. His call to action emphasizes that the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai should ensure that security authorities and police expedite these proceedings before time runs out.
Despite efforts to bring Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri, a Pheu Thai MP, to trial, hurdles persist. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha had responded affirmatively to a request from the Court of Justice to prosecute Pisal, despite his claims of parliamentary immunity, Romadon pointed out. Yet, the police have not taken further action.
Gen Pisal is one of seven suspects linked to the handling of the demonstration outside the Tak Bai police station in Narathiwat on that fateful October day in 2004. Seven protesters fell to gunshots as officials dispersed the crowd, and another 78 suffocated or were crushed to death during their transport to a camp two hours away. Although then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra issued an apology, no accountability was accepted, and no one has faced prosecution for the deadly incident.
House Speaker Wan made it clear: as long as trial attendance doesn’t interfere with Gen Pisal’s House meeting obligations, the legal proceedings could proceed without restraint. Nevertheless, Pisal and his six co-defendants failed to appear in court for the initial witness examination on September 12, prompting arrest warrants for the six absent co-defendants. Authorities have since been reviewing Pisal’s status, but even as of Tuesday, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong says no warrant for the MP has been seen.
Romadon remains hopeful that Gen Pisal will finally stand trial on October 15, conveniently a day without House meetings. His call for urgency doesn’t end here. Another case involves the Attorney-General’s decision on September 12 to indict eight more suspects, including a former commander of the 5th Infantry Division. It now rests upon both the police and security authorities to ensure these suspects face the music, Romadon asserts.
Adding to the complexity, the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) has surprisingly called for a meeting on September 30. Their agenda? Discussing potential courses of action if the statute of limitations on this pivotal case expires as well. Romadon’s message is clear: justice should not be a fleeting concept, but a steadfast commitment. As the clock ticks down, the actions—or inactions—of today will determine the faith in tomorrow’s justice.
It’s outrageous that after 20 years, there’s still no accountability for what happened in Tak Bai. Prime Minister Paetongtarn needs to step up and ensure justice is served.
I agree! It’s been way too long and the victims’ families deserve answers and justice.
But can she really make a difference at this point? The system is so corrupt, I doubt anything will change.
True, the system is flawed, but public pressure can sometimes force the government to act. We can’t give up now.
Politicians make promises but rarely follow through. Remember how Thaksin issued an apology back then but didn’t actually do anything substantial?
Exactly, which is why continuous public pressure is essential. We have to keep raising our voices.
This is just a political stunt by the opposition to gain some popularity. They had plenty of time to act before, why now?
Because now the statute of limitations is about to expire. It’s their last chance to push for justice.
It’s still all politics. If they really cared, they would’ve done more a lot earlier.
Romadon’s efforts are commendable, but will they truly bring change? Or is this just another case of ‘too little too late’?
Change is slow, but efforts like this are necessary to maintain hope and inspire future actions.
Sadly, I think it’s too late. The statute of limitations expiring will be the end of this case.
Those responsible for the Tak Bai massacre should have been prosecuted long ago. Delaying justice is denying justice.
Absolutely. Justice delayed is justice denied. It’s a travesty that it’s taken this long.
The justice system is broken. We need a complete overhaul to ensure such delays never happen again.
How can we trust the system when it continually fails to hold powerful people accountable?
Trust has to be earned, and so far, the system has done little to earn it. Changes are needed urgently.
Absolutely, but where do we even start? The corruption is deeply entrenched.
The lack of action by authorities is stark. Arrest warrants were issued but the suspects didn’t even show up for court!
It’s a joke, really. If regular people did this, they’d be hauled to jail immediately.
Privilege at its finest. The elite always seem to slip through the cracks.
Why isn’t the international community pushing harder for justice in this case? There should be more global outrage.
International pressure does have an impact, but only if the citizens also demand it. We need both internal and external pressure.
True, but it seems like this case hasn’t received the global attention it deserves.
It’s painful to see that those families still haven’t gotten closure after 20 years.
Romadon Panjor’s intentions might be good, but are his methods effective? Public rallies alone won’t change the system.
True, but public rallies can bring attention to the issue and force the government to act.
Agreed, but sustainable change requires more than just rallies. We need policy reforms and systemic overhauls.
How can they even consider letting the statute of limitations expire? This is ridiculous.
Laws need to be updated to ensure tragedies like this can be prosecuted regardless of time passed.
Isn’t it suspicious timing that they are only discussing this now? Feels like a distraction tactic by the government.
Could be, but it’s also possibly the last chance to bring justice. We need to focus on the end goal.
The details of this massacre are horrifying. We need to remember these events to ensure they never happen again.
It’s truly disheartening to see that after 20 years, true justice is still so elusive for the victims.
I can’t believe that even after arrest warrants were issued, no action was taken against these people. What’s the point of having laws if they aren’t enforced?