The Narathiwat Court has issued arrest warrants for six defendants linked to the tragic "Tak Bai massacre" following their failure to attend their court hearings. The high-profile case revisits a dark chapter in Thailand’s history, nearly two decades after the deadly event took place.

 

The seventh defendant, retired Lieutenant General Pisan Wattanawongkiri, currently a party-list MP for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, was not subject to an arrest warrant due to parliamentary immunity. The court will urgently request the House Speaker's permission to arrest Pisan or have him waive his immunity. Should he comply, Pisan would be expected to appear in court on 15th October.

 

The six defendants who now face arrest include:

 

- Major General Chalermchai Wirunpeth, former Fifth Infantry Division commander

- Police Lieutenant General Wongkot Maneerin, former director of the Royal Thai Police’s Forward Command Centre

- Police Lieutenant General Manot Kraiwong, ex-chief of Provincial Police Region 9

- Police Colonel Saksomchai Phutthakul, former superintendent of Tak Bai police station

- Siwa Sangmanee, former deputy director of the Southern Border Provinces Peacebuilding Centre and later Interior Ministry deputy permanent secretary

- Wichom Thongsong, ex-Narathiwat governor

 

The court confirmed that authorities have the mandate to arrest these six defendants before the statute of limitations expires on 25th October.

The massacre occurred on 25th October 2004, when approximately 1,500 Thai Muslims gathered to protest in front of the Tak Bai district police station in Narathiwat. They were rallying against the detention of six men. As tensions escalated, police responded with tear gas and live ammunition, leading to seven immediate deaths, reported Thai PBS.

 

Following the crackdown, nearly 1,300 protesters were detained. Tragically, 78 of them died from suffocation and organ failure after being piled on top of each other in trucks during a five-hour transport to the Inkayut army camp in Pattani Province.

 

Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-09-13
 

 

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So basically a heads up from the court that if they all pop off abroad on holiday for a month, everything will be fine when they get back.

Why would they show up, has the court officials forgotten who these people are? 

Special and untouchable comes to mind. 

12 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Why would they show up, has the court officials forgotten who these people are? 

Special and untouchable comes to mind. 

 

Are you talking about Tony?
 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The court confirmed that authorities have the mandate to arrest these six defendants before the statute of limitations expires on 25th October

Go do it..

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

 

Are you talking about Tony?
 

Teflon Tony?

7 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Teflon Tony?

Yes.

13 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Teflon Tony?

Careful! He has a country to run, remember!!! He's a busy man!

17 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Careful! He has a country to run, remember!!! He's a busy man!

Not bad for a man who not long ago was critically ill.

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Not bad for a man who not long ago was critically ill.

Just goes to show the most advanced medical methods are right here!

3 hours ago, webfact said:

was not subject to an arrest warrant due to parliamentary immunity.

Bet that cost a bit

Thais are not known for their adherence to punctuality, be it time or date. But once it comes to  statute of limitations, then they are more precise than the atomic clock in Neuchâtel/Switzerland .......

Maybe time to review the " statute of limitations"; there is no reason for this in any case as time does not make an illegality ........... all of a sudden legal! 

6 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Thais are not known for their adherence to punctuality, be it time or date. But once it comes to  statute of limitations, then they are more precise than the atomic clock in Neuchâtel/Switzerland .......

Maybe time to review the " statute of limitations"; there is no reason for this in any case as time does not make an illegality ........... all of a sudden legal! 

Did not know there was a " statute of limitations" for Murder because that's what happened, but the Main Culprits Prawit and Thaskin get away???? 

Legal system here is such a joke and by the way, where is the Red Bull kid TIT?

5 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Did not know there was a " statute of limitations" for Murder because that's what happened, but the Main Culprits Prawit and Thaskin get away???? 

Well, they are in good company with all their predecessors of 1973, 1976, 1992 and 2010 - just to name a few years ....... 
A Thai problem to be solved by ...... Thais 😉 

1 minute ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, they are in good company with all their predecessors of 1973, 1976, 1992 and 2010 - just to name a few years ....... 
A Thai problem to be solved by ...... Thais 😉 

Yes a Thai problem !!  and nothing will happen, its taken over 20years to get this far in the Thai justice system, Thai should be ashamed

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The Narathiwat Court has issued arrest warrants (...) linked to the tragic "Tak Bai massacre" following their failure to attend their court hearings. 

 

Thaksin didn't show up?

35 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Thaksin didn't show up?

Thaskin nor Prawit have been charge more the pity

10 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Not bad for a man who not long ago was critically ill.

Deaths  door was more like it😊

Well let see what happens, see if the six get arrested for a start, and see if the 7th gets immunity revoked and arrested 

15 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Are you talking about Tony?
 

It happened on his watch,at the time more than one person pointed (this is Thailand) a finger at him ,he should be on the list.

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The seventh defendant, retired Lieutenant General Pisan Wattanawongkiri, currently a party-list MP for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, was not subject to an arrest warrant due to parliamentary immunity.

I think this is very good news and adds to the high status of this coalition of corrupt rsholes. My fear is it will be the army that boots them out and not the people. Yes, the Iast election the people voted the dinosaurs out but the dinosaurs disregarded the people. The dinosaurs own the courts and the tanks.