Thread: Court orders dismissal of Tak Bai massacre case

The Narathiwat provincial court held the last hearing on the Tak Bai massacre today, to announce the dismissal of the case due to the absence of defendants to stand trial last Friday, which marked the expiry of the statute of limitations.


The court granted permission for the lawyer of the relatives of those who died to make a closing statement, before putting an end to the case.


Rasada Manoorasada, the lawyer, told the media that the search for the truth about the tragedy must continue, even though the judicial process has ended in failure.


He said the relatives will propose that the state agencies stop paying pensions to the fugitives, who are now in retirement.


They will also propose that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra orders an investigation into the conduct of Nong Chik police, who allegedly swept the case under the carpet for almost 19 years before finally submitting investigation files to the Office of Attorney-General (OAG) this year.


The OAG filed charges against seven retired senior military and police officers and interior officials for their alleged involvement in the deaths of Tak Bai protesters.


78 people died of suffocation after being stacked on top of each other on trucks for a 150km journey from Tak Bai police station to the Ingkayuth army barracks in Nong Chik district of Pattani province on October 25th, 2004.


Security at and around the court has been increased significantly.

Court orders dismissal of Tak Bai massacre case

A travesty.

It really is. Can’t see the separatists wanting to negotiate now.

The families of the victims must be devastated.

Probe ordered into Tak Bai fugitive who returns to work in Nakhon Phanom

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a fact-finding committee to investigate Wissanu Lertsongkhram, the deputy district chief of Tha Uthen district of Nakhon Phanom, one of the defendants in the expired Tak Bai massacre case, after he reported to work on Monday.


Wissanu took business leave for six days ahead of the expiry of the statute of limitations on the Tak Bai case on October 25th. He is one of the seven junior officials charged separately for alleged involvement in the massacre.


Anutin said today that the committee will look into why Wissanu did not report to work after his business leave was cancelled by his boss when a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Narathiwat court.


He also said that the deputy district chief could not be fired, because he had been absent without leave for only six days, nine days short of the 15-day absentee period which would justify dismissal.


Asked whether Wissanu will be transferred to Tak Bai district of Narathiwat, the minister laughed before saying that he would be accused of interfering in the administrative affairs of the Interior Ministry if he issued such an order, adding that it is the responsibility of the interior permanent secretary.


He pointed out that that he would have to adhere strictly to the rules if any of the retired interior officials among the fugitives re-emerge after the expiry of the statute of limitations.


Relatives of the deceased have suggested that the returning fugitives should be stripped of their pensions, as a punishment for their refusal to stand trial.

Probe ordered into Tak Bai fugitive who returns to work in N

Exactly. Just highlights the arrogance and contempt the authorities have for the people down south.

Where have they been? Partying with the Red Bull boy?

They have been working as though nothing happened for 20 years. They didn’t go anywhere.

Originally Posted by misskit

They have been working as though nothing happened for 20 years. They didn’t go anywhere.

Ah but:

Wissanu took business leave for six days ahead of the expiry of the statute of limitations on the Tak Bai case on October 25th.

There were some reports in the press about the statute of limitations coming up which I'm sure had nothing to do with his "business leave".