NARATHIWAT (Southern Thai): “Do not trigger new tensions in Southern Thai; we (Prachachat Party) are deeply concerned about the current situation.”

This was the warning issued by the Prachachat Party, a member of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was the Prime Minister of Thailand when the Tak Bai Tragedy occurred in 2004. The warning comes after the suspects in the case have yet to appear before the court.

The spokesperson for Prachachat, Kamonsak Leewamoh (also known as Wan Johan in Southern Thai), issued the statement today without elaborating on what he meant by “new tensions.”

However, it is believed to refer to recent bombings and attacks in the Deep South—including Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as four districts in Songkhla Province (Saba Yoi, Tepha, Chana, and Natawee)—which have been linked to the Tak Bai incident.

“With nine days remaining, the Prachachat Party is concerned because we are based in the area (Southern Thai) and want justice to proceed,” Kamonsak said.

He added: “To the suspects—if you are listening—you still have the opportunity to prove your innocence. You are suspects, and you committed a crime. We want you to come forward and uphold justice in the three southern border provinces. Do not create new tensions in the region, as we are worried about the current state of affairs.”

Kamonsak, who is also Chairman of the Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights in the Thai Parliament, issued the reminder that the statute of limitations for the case will expire at midnight on October 25, 2024. If the suspects or defendants are not brought before the court by then, the case will be permanently closed.

The Narathiwat Provincial Court rescheduled the trial on October 15, 2024, but none of the defendants—who are under arrest warrants—appeared in court. The court did not immediately dismiss the case, however, and instead postponed the trial to October 28, 2024. But Kamonsak warned that this does not mean the case will remain open until then, as the statute of limitations will still expire on October 25.

Kamonsak, who also serves as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Narathiwat’s Constituency 5, urged the Royal Thai Police and other relevant officials to update his committee on the progress of efforts to arrest the suspects so that the public can be informed.

He noted, “The statute of limitations will end soon, and some are blaming those seeking justice, asking why they filed lawsuits only now, when the statute is about to expire.”

Kamonsak also addressed previous compensation paid to the victims’ families:

“Some argue that the victims of Tak Bai had already received compensation when Police Colonel Thawee Sodsong, the current Minister of Justice, was the Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC). They believe the case should have ended then.”

He clarified: “However, our investigations show that compensation paid since 2013 did not extinguish the criminal case.

Compensation was given as part of SBPAC’s administrative obligations and did not constitute legal closure. Some also argue that the Songkhla Provincial Court already investigated the case, with no one being prosecuted. But after the court’s investigation concluded, prosecutors were still required to submit findings to investigators to identify those responsible for the deaths in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code. Therefore, the criminal case was not suspended.”

Kamonsak expressed concern over what might happen if the suspects do not appear in court before the statute of limitations expires: “That is exactly what we are worried about,” he said.

He called on the relevant authorities to provide updates on efforts to arrest the suspects.

“If, after October 25, the suspects are not captured, we are concerned about what may unfold,” Kamonsak said.

When asked about General Pisal Wattanawongkiri, one of the suspects and a former MP for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, Kamonsak explained that Pisal’s resignation from the party resulted in the termination of his parliamentary status, but he remains a defendant in the case.

“Pisal’s resignation is a challenge for Pheu Thai because it was an attempt to distance the Tak Bai case from the party,”
Kamonsak said.

“However, questions remain. Even though Pisal is no longer an MP, his status as a defendant continues. But if the statute of limitations expires, everything will end.”