[Note: Thai law states that a case statute expires after 20 years. If no individual is brought to trial within that time frame, no legal action can be taken]

At approximately 9:50 PM last night (September 29, 2024), residents of Tak Bai, Narathiwat, near the Malaysian border at Pengkalan Kubor, were shocked by an explosion from a car bomb.

The blast, estimated to be between 50 to 80 kilograms, destroyed several premises and ignited fires that devastated local homes. Two off-duty Thai marines walking nearby were injured by shrapnel from the explosion.

Tak Bai serves as a communication hub with Malaysia, alongside the Golok River-Rantau Panjang crossing. It has attracted the attention of Malaysians, locals, and the world, concealing a heart-wrenching past and memories stored in the history of the Malay people in Southern Thailand.

Almost 20 years ago, on October 25, 2004, a tragic event marked the modern history of Southern Thai Malays, resulting in the highest death toll due to the inhumane actions of Thai authorities at the time.

Seven innocent individuals participating in a peaceful protest in front of the Tak Bai police station were shot dead. More than 1,000 protesters were arrested and crammed into 25 military trucks, transported to a military camp in Nong Chik District, Pattani.

This two-hour journey, with detainees stacked on top of each other, led to 78 deaths due to suffocation.

The tragedy shocked the world, prompting various countries and human rights organizations to demand a thorough and transparent investigation and accountability for those responsible.

While there was an investigation, it ultimately led nowhere, as no one was charged in court for the tragedy. Since 2004, the Deep South has continued to experience unrest, with various groups of fighters taking up arms and using homemade bombs targeting Thai government officials, particularly police and military personnel.

Conflicts have erupted repeatedly in the Deep South, with local think tank Deep South Watch reporting at least 7,594 individuals killed between January 2004 and April 2024. This figure, however, is unverified due to the complexity of the conflict, which includes personal disputes, drug-related issues, and revenge killings.

The term “Deep South” refers to the “hot” areas encompassing Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and four districts in Songkhla – Saba Yoi, Tepha, Chana, and Natawee.

About three months before the Tak Bai case statute reached 20 years, the Narathiwat District Court on August 23, 2024, ruled that the incident constituted a crime and ordered seven individuals to testify on September 12. However, none appeared, leading the court to issue arrest warrants for six of them.

For General Pisarn, now a Member of Parliament, the court requested that Parliament revoke his immunity from arrest.

In Thailand, Members of Parliament enjoy immunity from arrest while Parliament is in session; the Parliament can only order them to appear in court but cannot take further action if they refuse. Currently, the Thai Parliament is in session.

They were scheduled to be brought to court on October 15. However, as of this writing, there are no reports indicating that the six individuals subject to arrest warrants have been detained by Thai authorities.

On September 18, the Attorney General of Thailand ordered six soldiers and two civilians to be charged with premeditated murder in relation to the Tak Bai tragedy.

Attorney General Amnat Jedcharoenruk decided to request the police bring the eight suspects to trial. If the police fail to do so by October 25, the statute for the case will expire, and no further legal proceedings can be initiated.

For the record, the writer has spent nearly two years in Southern Thailand, frequently traveling for immigration and security matters.

The writer has many relatives in Southern Thailand, as the writer’s late father was also from Narathiwat. He passed away at his sister’s house in Bacho District, Narathiwat, and is buried at Telok Manok (Islamic Cemetery of the 300-Year-Old Mosque). Many victims of the Tak Bai tragedy are also buried in that cemetery.

What I can say now is that the situation in Southern Thailand, especially in the Deep South, is likely to boil over as October 25 approaches. Furthermore, I believe it will escalate if all accused individuals fail to appear in court, leaving victims and their families without justice.

It is essential to remember that conflict areas carry inherent dangers.

For Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, he did not rule out the possibility that the recent car bomb attack in Tak Bai is related to the tragedy, given the 20-year timeline approaching.

“It is possible,” he said when questioned by the media regarding the recent car bomb incident, explaining that the Tak Bai case has garnered public attention as its statute will expire on October 25.

Phumtham, who is also the Minister of Defense, advised the public in border areas to avoid the incident site, as security forces have tightened measures following the explosion.

Senior researcher at Human Rights Watch in Thailand, Sunai Phasuk, expressed concern on social media shortly after the recent attack, indicating apprehension about the approaching deadline for the case.

“It serves as a warning that #BRN is preparing to escalate violent activities as the 20th anniversary of the Tak Bai massacre approaches,” he wrote, referring to the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (National Revolutionary Front of Malay Patani).

For the record, the Tak Bai tragedy occurred in 2004 while Thaksin Shinawatra was serving as Thailand’s 23rd Prime Minister (2001-2006). Coincidentally, the current 31st Prime Minister of Thailand is Thaksin’s own daughter, Paetongtarn.