BANGKOK: Academics are urging the Thai government to take decisive action in the Tak Bai case to ensure justice and maintain peace in the southern border provinces. They emphasized that monetary compensation alone is insufficient, advocating for the prosecution of suspects involved in the incident. Concerns were also raised about the limitations of Thai law, which could allow cases to expire despite court acceptance.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University, expressed concerns about the impending expiration of the Tak Bai case and its potential impact on the region. He underscored the importance of justice in fostering peace, warning that failure to prosecute suspects could lead to diminished public trust. This could prompt individuals to seek alternative means of addressing grievances. Prinya highlighted the need for the Royal Thai Police to fulfill their duty to arrest suspects in the Narathiwat and Pattani provinces.
Prinya noted
that the incident involved approximately 1,300 people and 25 vehicles over a distance of more than 150 kilometers, during the Ramadan month, resulting in fatalities due to suffocation. Despite a ruling by the Narathiwat Provincial Court that the actions were intentional, the statute of limitations remains an issue, potentially allowing the case to expire. Prinya emphasized the necessity of legal reform to prevent similar situations in the future, pointing out that in other countries, the acceptance of a case by the court would interrupt the statute of limitations.
He further stated that if no defendants appear in court by October 25, the next steps would be determined following a court order expected on October 28. Prinya also addressed remarks by Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, regarding the separation of the Tak Bai case from political influences. He stressed the importance of the government’s commitment to pursuing justice, warning that failure to do so could lead
to public criticism.
The call for action reflects broader concerns about legal and procedural challenges in Thailand, highlighting the need for systemic reforms to ensure accountability and justice in high-profile cases.