NARATHIWAT (Southern Thailand): The government of Paetongtarn Shinawatra – the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand – is urged to amend the law and abolish the 20-year statute of limitations for prosecutable criminal cases.

This call was made by government supporter and Narathiwat (District 5) MP, Kamonsak Leewamoh, during a session of the House of Representatives in Bangkok today (October 25, 2024).

While expressing gratitude and welcoming the Prime Minister’s apology to the victims and families of the Tak Bai Tragedy of 2004, he requested sincerity to be shown by amending the relevant laws.

“Thank you to the Prime Minister for coming forward to apologize regarding the case (of the Tak Bai Tragedy) that occurred yesterday. However, I, as an MP of the Pracharat Party, representing the southern region… agree with the Prime Minister’s apology.

“I hope that those who lost family members (in that tragedy) feel that their efforts to bring the case to court were not in vain by helping to amend Section 95 of the Criminal Code regarding the statute of limitations.

“Show more sincerity… because regarding the previous apologies, the residents of the three southern provinces have heard it twice. Show sincerity in the apology (by) helping to amend the relevant criminal law,” he said in Parliament today.

Yesterday, Paetongtarn issued an apology for the deaths of 78 protesters in the incident two decades ago – the fourth apology from four Thai Prime Ministers – as the statute of limitations for the case expires today.

The tragic incident occurred during Ramadan when Thailand was under the leadership of the 23rd Prime Minister, who is also Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra. He later apologized for the tragedy.

Subsequent Thai Prime Ministers, General Surayud Chulanont and Yingluck Shinawatra, also issued apologies.

For the record, according to the Constitution of Thailand, the statute of limitations for a case is only valid for a period of 20 years. After that, the suspect or defendant will live freely and can no longer be prosecuted.

In the Tak Bai case, 14 suspects and defendants failed to appear in court. Arrest warrants were issued; however, the police failed to locate those believed to be hiding elsewhere or who had fled abroad.

He, known as Wan Johan among the residents of Southern Thailand and Chairman of the Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights in the Thai Parliament, stated that the amendment of the law is not only due to the Tak Bai case but also for other cases.

“If there is a death caused by government officials and it becomes a criminal case, then it needs to be reported and acted upon. If not, the people will feel resentment for not being given justice,” he said.

According to him, this is the first time in history that victims and their families who have died have filed cases in court seeking justice, thus showing that they understand the law.

“Previously, there were cases of death and crime… but the people never used the law to seek justice. This time (Tak Bai cases) they are fighting according to the judicial process, and this is the first time in history,” he added.

Wan Johan stated that the statute of the Tak Bai case will expire at midnight tonight, and he wants to do his best to bring a resolution to the issues in the three southern provinces – Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat.

He also expressed his concerns regarding several major incidents that have occurred in recent days.

“Looking at the statistics of these incidents, it is very concerning,” he said without elaborating on the major incidents, but it is believed to refer to bomb attacks on security forces in the three provinces in recent days.