Drunk Driver Crashes Her Car in Pattaya, Tells Rescuers She’s ‘Heartbroken’

[webfact]

Paetongtarn Shinawatra. File photo courtesy: Siam Rath

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced today that there will be no executive decree to extend the 20-year litigation period for the infamous 2004 Tak Bai incident in Thailand’s Deep South.

 

The period, which expires tomorrow, concerns the tragic deaths of 85 protesters, where 78 individuals suffocated in overcrowded army trucks during transport from outside the Tak Bai police station in Narathiwat to an army barracks in Pattani.

 

During a press briefing at Government House, Paetongtarn expressed her condolences to the victims' families. She also noted that the legal timeframe could not be extended to prosecute the 14 suspects linked to the incident due to legal constraints.

 

This conclusion came after consultations with the Council of State, which determined that no executive decree could legally prolong the window for litigation.

 

This incident occurred during the leadership of Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was the Prime Minister at the time and is now the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party.

 

Most notably, former Fourth Army Region commander Pisal Watanawongkhiri, viewed as the central figure among the suspects, is believed to have fled the country and recently resigned as a Pheu Thai MP.

 

In response to the looming deadline, police launched a last-minute effort to locate some of these suspects, extending their search to distant provinces such as Chiang Rai, but no arrests were made, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

The decision not to extend the litigation period has been met with disappointment from those seeking justice. However, the government maintains that the boundaries of the law must be respected, despite public and political pressures to take further action. This decision raises questions about accountability and justice concerning historic cases.

 

-- 2024-10-24