Perdana Menteri (PM) Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra hari ini (24 Oktober) memohon maaf atas kematian 78 penunjuk perasaan dalam kejadian dua dekad lalu, yang ditindan bertindih-tindih dalam trak tentera pada 25 Oktober 2004 di Tak Bai, Narathiwat.

Permohonan maaf bagi pihak Kerajaan Thailand itu dibuat beberapa jam sebelum statut kes itu tamat setelah mencapai tempoh 20 tahun. Mengikut Perlembagaan Thailand, statut sesuatu kes hanya sah bagi tempoh 20 tahun sahaja.

“Kejadian ini berlaku 20 tahun lalu, dan saya telah menyemak pelbagai butiran berkaitan kes itu. Ia adalah peristiwa yang amat menyedihkan, dan saya bersimpati dengan semua yang terjejas.

“Kerajaan berturut-turut sejak 20 tahun lalu telah menyatakan kekesalan mereka dan memohon maaf, sama ada pentadbiran Thaksin Shinawatra atau Jeneral Surayud Chulanont, serta bekas PM Yingluck Shinawatra. Pampasan dan ganti rugi telah diberikan.

“Sebagai perdana menteri hari ini, saya amat kesal dengan peristiwa ini dan, bagi pihak kerajaan saya memohon maaf dengan ikhlas. Kami akan melakukan yang terbaik untuk memastikan insiden sebegitu tidak berulang,” katanya.

Beliau juga menjelaskan bahawa kerajaan tidak pernah mengelak daripada mengambil tindakan undang-undang berkaitan kes berkenaan.

“Mengenai isu undang-undang, kami tidak mengelak daripada mengambil tindakan. Kami telah mengemukakan soalan kepada Majlis Negara pada awal Oktober apabila kes ini timbul semula.

“Polis Diraja Thai dan kerajaan telah secara aktif menangani perkara ini melalui proses undang-undang yang diperlukan.

“Pagi ini, kami membincangkan pelbagai kesimpulan dan mendapatkan panduan tentang perkara yang boleh dilakukan secara sah, khususnya mengenai mengeluarkan dekri darurat.

“Kami juga telah berunding dengan pakar undang-undang untuk melihat sama ada sebarang tindakan lanjut boleh diambil dalam rangka kerja Perlembagaan,” katanya.

Paetongtarn membuat kesimpulan bahawa kejadian itu adalah suatu tragedi yang teruk dan ganas serta berharap ia tidak akan berulang lagi.

“Kita mesti berusaha untuk keamanan dan mengelakkan konflik selanjutnya. Saya meminta semua orang untuk melakukan yang terbaik, dan kerajaan akan terus lakukan perkara yang sama.”

Pada 25 Oktober 2004, kira-kira 1,500 penunjuk perasaan berkumpul di hadapan balai polis di Tak Bai untuk membantah penahanan enam lelaki. Polis bertindak balas dengan melepaskan gas pemedih mata dan meriam air, apabila orang ramai cuba melintasi penghadang polis ke dalam balai.

Ketika ketegangan semakin memuncak, pihak berkuasa melepaskan tembakan ke udara dan kemudian ke arah orang ramai, membunuh tujuh orang.

Tahanan kemudian disusun bertindan-tindan satu sama lain sehingga lima lapis di dalam trak dan diangkut ke Kem Tentera Inkayut di Wilayah Pattani.

Pada penghujung perjalanan selama kira-kira lima jam itu, 78 tahanan telah meninggal dunia akibat sesak nafas.

Semua percubaan untuk mendakwa anggota keselamatan yang terlibat dalam insiden itu gagal.

Pada Ogos, Mahkamah Wilayah Narathiwat menerima saman jenayah oleh keluarga mangsa terhadap tujuh pegawai kanan, antaranya seorang jeneral bersara dan Ahli Parlimen Pheu Thai, tetapi mereka semua gagal hadir pada perbicaraan. Kes berasingan terhadap lapan kakitangan lain yang difailkan oleh peguam negara bulan lalu juga tidak menampakan hasil.

PM Thailand itu menjelaskan bahawa insiden berkenaan tidak seharusnya dipolitikkan, sambil menambah bahawa statut had 20 tahun tidak boleh dilanjutkan kerana ia akan melanggar Perlembagaan.

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Tak Bai Tragedy 2004: Thai PM Apologizes Again, Statute of Limitations Cannot Be Extended

Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, today (October 24) expressed remorse for the deaths of 78 protesters during the incident two decades ago, where they were stacked on top of each other in military trucks on October 25, 2004, in Tak Bai, Narathiwat.

The apology on behalf of the Thai government was made just hours before the statute of limitations on the case expires after reaching 20 years. According to the Thai Constitution, the statute of limitations for a case is only valid for 20 years.

“This incident occurred 20 years ago, and I have reviewed various details regarding the case. It is a very sad event, and I sympathize with all those affected.

“Successive governments over the past 20 years have expressed their regret and apologized, whether it was during Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration or General Surayud Chulanont, as well as former PM Yingluck Shinawatra. Compensation and restitution have been provided.

“As the Prime Minister today, I am very sorry about this incident and, on behalf of the government, I sincerely apologize. We will do our best to ensure that such an incident does not happen again,” she said.

She also explained that the government had never shied away from taking legal action related to the case.

“Regarding legal issues, we have not shied away from taking action. We raised questions with the National Council earlier in October when this case resurfaced.

“The Royal Thai Police and the government have actively addressed this matter through the necessary legal processes.

“This morning, we discussed various conclusions and sought guidance on actions that could be taken legally, particularly regarding issuing an emergency decree.

“We have also consulted legal experts to see if any further action can be taken within the constitutional framework.”

Paetongtarn concluded that the incident was a severe and violent tragedy and hoped it would not happen again.

“We must strive for peace and avoid further conflict. I ask everyone to do their best, and the government will continue to do the same.”

On October 25, 2004, about 1,500 protesters gathered in front of a police station in Tak Bai to protest the detention of six men.

The police responded with tear gas and water cannons as the crowd attempted to breach the police barricades to enter the station.
As tensions escalated, the authorities fired shots into the air and then at the crowd, killing seven individuals.

The detainees were then stacked on top of each other in layers up to five in a military truck and transported to Inkayut Camp in Pattani Province.

At the end of the approximately five-hour journey, 78 detainees had died due to suffocation.

All attempts to prosecute security personnel involved in the incident have failed.

In August, the Narathiwat Provincial Court accepted a criminal lawsuit by the victims’ families against seven senior officials, including a retired general and a Pheu Thai MP, but they all failed to appear at the trial. A separate case against eight other staff members filed by the Attorney General last month also showed no results.

The Thai PM explained that the incident should not be politicized, adding that the 20-year statute of limitations cannot be extended as it would violate the constitution.