Thaksin Apologises for Tak Bai Tragedy, Downplays Narathiwat Car Bombing

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

In a significant gesture, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has publicly apologised for the Tak Bai incident, expressing regret for the tragic events during his tenure. The announcement came as Thaksin visited Narathiwat, part of a diplomatic mission to the southern provinces alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

 

The context of his apology dates back to a deeply unfortunate event on October 25, 2004, known as the Tak Bai incident, where 85 Thai citizens perished.

 

The incident occurred during a demonstration at a police station in Tak Bai, with the protest escalating to a violent confrontation resulting in several deaths. Nearly 1,300 protesters were detained and transported under inhumane conditions, with 78 dying from suffocation during transport.

 

Speaking at a press conference at Samphan Witthaya School, Thaksin offered his apologies specifically to religious leaders and local Muslim communities.

 

He acknowledged past missteps and expressed a desire for collective efforts to address lingering discontent, stating, "If there was anything wrong that causes dissatisfaction, I apologise and ask everyone to help solve the problem together."

 

This visit, focusing on security, religious, and educational development, comes amid tensions highlighted by a car bomb at Narathiwat Airport. The explosive device was attached to an officer’s pickup truck, detonating shortly before Thaksin's arrival.

The former prime minister, however, downplayed the incident as symbolic and noted his resilience, claiming he had survived four previous assassination attempts. “I am still indifferent, it’s okay I am not afraid of this. Whoever welcomes me in whatever way, I accept them all,” he remarked.

 

Images of the car bomb and related warnings were circulated online by the "Southern Border Comrades" webpage, advising caution in the area.

 

Despite the tension, Thaksin’s visit proceeded with parliamentary and local leaders, including Narathiwat Governor Trakul Thotham and members of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, extending their welcome.

 

The dual focus of Thaksin's visit—seeking reconciliation over past grievances while navigating the complexities of present security threats—emphasises ongoing challenges in Thailand's southern regions.

 

The visit underlines a broader initiative to foster dialogue and development, aiming to move beyond historical grievances and strengthen regional stability, reported ThaiNewsroom.

 

-- 2025-02-24

 

 

[Artisi]

How sweet of him, guess he now thinks its all washed over and will soon be forgotten. 

[JoePai]

Under the carpet, out of sight

[lordgrinz]

He should really think about buying a second home down there, and start mingling with his new friends 👍

[MikeandDow]

Thaskin apologising for all the trouble he started !! This is a PR exercise, it will not be accepted the people down south have a long memory !!

[Mburo]

A bit late now….has he paid compensation personally for all the loss of life ? 

[harleyclarkey]

78 humans died under appalling inhumane conditions - and just now he apologises for this barbarism.

Was anyone held accountable for these deaths which were easily avoided?

Just another example of how dreadful this country and its leaders can be. 

 

[Card]

Use of the words 'incident' and 'misstep' says it all.

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, harleyclarkey said:

78 humans died under appalling inhumane conditions - and just now he apologises for this barbarism.

Was anyone held accountable for these deaths which were easily avoided?

Just another example of how dreadful this country and its leaders can be. 

 

 

I've seen how Thai's treat each other, I lost respect for this "culture" long ago.

[Briggsy]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"If there was anything wrong that causes dissatisfaction, I apologise and ask everyone to help solve the problem together."

 

Prosecuting the army officers perhaps? No, I didn't think you really meant it.

 

Still, a glib, throwaway quarter-apology is better than nothing at all.

[lordgrinz]

Just now, Card said:

Use of the words 'incident' and 'misstep' says it all.

 

Yup, it was just a "misunderstanding".

[Mavideol]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra

why they keep referring to him as FORMER PM, they should get their facts straight,  he's the current acting PM

[kingstonkid]

4 hours ago, Artisi said:

How sweet of him, guess he now thinks its all washed over and will soon be forgotten. 

 

It is surprising how low and unfeeling he is.  Does he really think that just saying I am sorry is going to solve the problem.  

 

I am sorry, but the sooner they remove PM Thaksin from this country, the better.  He must go back to jail or be legally barred from any financial involvement with the political scene.  He is the problem with the system along with the Elites.

[khunjeff]

Way too late, Tony.

[Asquith Production]

Being you've apologised then that's okay, not.

[goldenbrwn1]

Maybe he can come over to the UK and make some missteps, preferably the coast

[MikeandDow]

Thaksin Shinawatra expressed regret for the deaths, but he insisted there had been no wrongdoing by military personnel.

As a result of the incidents at Tak Bai and Krue Se Mosque, Thaksin enacted the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation, coming into effect in the three Deep South provinces on 19 July 2005. Section 17 of the decree gives law enforcement officer's immunity from prosecution for any actions committed while they were on duty”. He should have been charged !!

[spidermike007]

Absolute brutalization of those arrested. When an arrested individual dies of suffocation on your watch, during transport, you have an awful lot to answer for. That blood will always be on your hands Thaksin. And the RTP. An apology is simply an attempt to whitewash your own history, so sorry we're not buying it.

 

You are a plague on your nation. You stole an election from the people and you will not be forgiven for any of it, ever. 

[Guderian]

Will he also apologise for the 2000+ extrajudicial killings he sanctioned in his war on drugs when he was PM?

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The incident occurred during a demonstration at a police station in Tak Bai, with the protest escalating to a violent confrontation resulting in several deaths. Nearly 1,300 protesters were detained and transported under inhumane conditions, with 78 dying from suffocation during transport.

21 years too late... 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He acknowledged past missteps and expressed a desire for collective efforts to address lingering discontent, stating, "If there was anything wrong that causes dissatisfaction, I apologise and ask everyone to help solve the problem together."

Return to Dubai... that will solve a lot

[MikeandDow]

3 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Will he also apologise for the 2000+ extrajudicial killings he sanctioned in his war on drugs when he was PM?

What do you think !! of course not the guy should be in Jail, scum of the earth !!!

[klauskunkel]

Pisarn Wattanawongkiri (Thai: พิศาล วัฒนวงษ์คีรี) is a Thai former politician and military officer who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2023 to 2024.] A member of the Pheu Thai Party, Pisarn was the Fourth Army Region commander in Southern Thailand during the 25 October 2004 Tak Bai massacre, which killed 85 people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisarn_Wattanawongkiri

 

The General in charge of the Tak Bai massacre was a Pheu Tai member, and later a MP for YOUR party, Thaksin. You rewarded him for his services in your name, how will you compensate the victims' families?

If you reward the murderer, by the same twisted logic should you then kill the families?...

 

[Hunz Kittisak]

4 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Pisarn Wattanawongkiri (Thai: พิศาล วัฒนวงษ์คีรี) is a Thai former politician and military officer who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2023 to 2024.] A member of the Pheu Thai Party, Pisarn was the Fourth Army Region commander in Southern Thailand during the 25 October 2004 Tak Bai massacre, which killed 85 people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisarn_Wattanawongkiri

 

The General in charge of the Tak Bai massacre was a Pheu Tai member, and later a MP for YOUR party, Thaksin. You rewarded him for his services in your name, how will you compensate the victims' families?

If you reward the murderer, by the same twisted logic should you then kill the families?...

 

Soldiers follow orders. 
if you dig deeper the one in charge is actually fat watch boy

[fondue zoo]

 

This is his PR team, they needed to hose this down quickly after the recent bombing and death drew attention from the media and public.

[MikeandDow]

9 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Pisarn Wattanawongkiri (Thai: พิศาล วัฒนวงษ์คีรี) is a Thai former politician and military officer who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2023 to 2024.] A member of the Pheu Thai Party, Pisarn was the Fourth Army Region commander in Southern Thailand during the 25 October 2004 Tak Bai massacre, which killed 85 people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisarn_Wattanawongkiri

 

The General in charge of the Tak Bai massacre was a Pheu Tai member, and later a MP for YOUR party, Thaksin. You rewarded him for his services in your name, how will you compensate the victims' families?

If you reward the murderer, by the same twisted logic should you then kill the families?...

 

The operation was under then-army chief Gen Prawit Wongsuwon.

 

[Rimmer]

Baiting post and replies removed

[harryviking]

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I've seen how Thai's treat each other, I lost respect for this "culture" long ago.

🙄Culture? What culture....

[rudi49jr]

Tak Bai was just a tiny fraction of the number of deaths that happened on Thaksin’s watch.

 

“In February 2003, the Thai government, under then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, launched a 'war on drugs', purportedly aimed at the suppression of drug trafficking and the prevention of drug use. In fact, a major outcome of this policy was arbitrary killings. In the first three months of the campaign there were some 2800 extrajudicial killings. In 2007, an official investigation found that more than half of those killed had no connection whatsoever to drugs. Apart from the thousands who lost their lives, thousands more were forced into coercive "treatment" for drug addiction.”

 

How about an apology for all those deaths?

 

https://www.hrw.org/news/2008/03/12/thailands-war-drugs

[danoli49]

apologises!........oh ........ok .........thanks. ...When will he be tried for his crime?