Southern army commander apologizes for victims of Pattani raid

[webfact]

Army Commander Apologizes for Victims of Deep South Raid
By Khaosod English


Lt.Gen. Prakarn Chollayuth, Fourth Region Army Commander, speaking to the press about the deadly raid on To Chud village, 7 April 2015.

BANGKOK — An southern army commander has formally apologized the deadly raid that a fact-finding panel says killed four young men who had no connection to the local Islamic insurgency.

The four men, in their early twenties and thirties, were shot dead by security officers during a raid in To Chud village in Pattani province on 25 March. The military said the operation was an attempt to arrest insurgents, and initially identified two of the deceased as members of a militant group operating in the region.

The military also told reporters that three assault rifles were found next to the deceased, and that security officers only started shooting after the suspects opened fire.

However, an independent committee ruled today that the four men were not related to the insurgency, or armed when the raid took place, citing forensic evidence and witnesses' testimonies.

The panel's members included local administrators, human rights officials, military officers, representatives from the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand, and officials from Fatoni University, where two of the victims were enrolled as students.

Lt.Gen. Prakarn Chollayuth, the army commander who oversees Pattani and its neighboring provinces, said he accepted the panel's findings and apologized to the families of the victims.

"Today, every side must join hands and overcome the crisis of what has happened at To Chud village, so that things will return to normalcy under the laws and human rights principles. I humbly accept the verdict that the committee read to the press today," Lt.Gen. Prakarn said. "As for what happened, I apologize to all sides."

He promised that the army will respect legal procedures, but added that "fairness must be granted to the security officers. We have to give time for them to prove themselves. We must also understand that security officers who work under these conditions may be frightened at times, which can affect their decision-making."

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1428411146&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-04-08

[chooka]

Can't wait for the prayuth apologists and the usual but Thaksin. They will find a way to blame Thaksin for Prayuth's cockup. Yes Thaksin is a lowlife before you call me a red, Prayuth and Thaksin are equals.

[zaphod reborn]

Can't wait for the prayuth apologists and the usual but Thaksin. They will find a way to blame Thaksin for Prayuth's cockup. Yes Thaksin is a lowlife before you call me a red, Prayuth and Thaksin are equals.

In a battle-like situation, ground forces can make errors. Probably has nothing to do with Thaksin or Prayuth unless someone has knowledge that an engagement policy which came from the top was the cause of these deaths. All recent governments have treated it as an armed insurgency which needs to be met with force. The historical roots of the conflict go back decades when the Thai-Malay border was demarcated.

[FangFerang]

The apology is a good sign, and should at least dilute the vitriol that is bound to hit the fan down south. This is the second time in seven months the army killed civilians and then put guns nearby, or in the case of the little boy last year, the volunteer ranger actually put the gun in his dead hand.

To me it sounds like the PM General is trying to control his army better, and knows how to do it.

[oneday]

"As for what happened, I apologize to all sides."

I'm surprised he went this far, but it's still not enough.

[Centrum]

The apology is a good sign, and should at least dilute the vitriol that is bound to hit the fan down south. This is the second time in seven months the army killed civilians and then put guns nearby, or in the case of the little boy last year, the volunteer ranger actually put the gun in his dead hand.

To me it sounds like the PM General is trying to control his army better, and knows how to do it.

I suggest you are somewhat hopeful, if not delusional, on both counts.

Things will get much worse in the south before they get better.

[chooka]

The apology is a good sign, and should at least dilute the vitriol that is bound to hit the fan down south. This is the second time in seven months the army killed civilians and then put guns nearby, or in the case of the little boy last year, the volunteer ranger actually put the gun in his dead hand.

To me it sounds like the PM General is trying to control his army better, and knows how to do it.

But, but the junta would never do anything like that, they are as pure as snow, it was the reds who planted the guns.

[NeilSA1]

Can't wait for the prayuth apologists and the usual but Thaksin. They will find a way to blame Thaksin for Prayuth's cockup. Yes Thaksin is a lowlife before you call me a red, Prayuth and Thaksin are equals.

" Prayuth's cockup ?" Did he pull the trigger, or give specific instructions to 'execute' innocents?

Did you notice in the article that Lt Gen Prakarn Chollayut was the officer commanding? He is man enough to accept the panel's findings and has apologised to the families to the family of the victims. Before people start jumping up and down about the apology, I suggest we wait for the 'second edition' of updated news when no doubt a settlement will be offered to the families - which again will not bring back the dead but seems to be the norm in these situations.

It is a tragedy. The soldiers are under pressure, but IMO there can be no defense by those who tried to cover up and distort the facts - they should be brought to task.

[berybert]

He promised that the army will respect legal procedures, but added that "fairness must be granted to the security officers. We have to give time for them to prove themselves. We must also understand that security officers who work under these conditions may be frightened at times, which can affect their decision-making."

This is why you train soldiers before putting them on the battle field. Here it seems they are given a gun and told to use it.

BTY don't just blame the soldiers also blame those that tried to cover up four murders, if that includes yourself so be it.

[chooka]

Can't wait for the prayuth apologists and the usual but Thaksin. They will find a way to blame Thaksin for Prayuth's cockup. Yes Thaksin is a lowlife before you call me a red, Prayuth and Thaksin are equals.

" Prayuth's cockup ?" Did he pull the trigger, or give specific instructions to 'execute' innocents?

Did you notice in the article that Lt Gen Prakarn Chollayut was the officer commanding? He is man enough to accept the panel's findings and has apologised to the families to the family of the victims. Before people start jumping up and down about the apology, I suggest we wait for the 'second edition' of updated news when no doubt a settlement will be offered to the families - which again will not bring back the dead but seems to be the norm in these situations.

It is a tragedy. The soldiers are under pressure, but IMO there can be no defense by those who tried to cover up and distort the facts - they should be brought to task.

well then I guess Thaksin didn't personally pull the trigger in the war on drugs either, he was only the P.M like Prayuth is head of the Junta. Both cleared then. Personally I believe they are both responsible as the leaders.

[Homeropec]

The apology is a good sign, and should at least dilute the vitriol that is bound to hit the fan down south. This is the second time in seven months the army killed civilians and then put guns nearby, or in the case of the little boy last year, the volunteer ranger actually put the gun in his dead hand.

To me it sounds like the PM General is trying to control his army better, and knows how to do it.

ummmm it seems so easy...

what about the families about those four Khon Thais. Imagine if one of them where your family: your father, your brother, your son, your best friend... you will easily forgive the ones who killed them?? What the Junta are doing and allowing to do -yes they feel now so powerful to do whatever they want and to solve any excess by apologizing- is making bigger the gap, and resentment !!!! Bleak times ahead naive FangFerang!

[EnglishJohn]

Can't wait for the prayuth apologists and the usual but Thaksin. They will find a way to blame Thaksin for Prayuth's cockup. Yes Thaksin is a lowlife before you call me a red, Prayuth and Thaksin are equals.

Are you insane ?. Can you even begin to imagine what would happen if Thaksin had the same power as Prayuth ?.

This has nothing to do with Prayuth or Thaksin : it is all about the insurgency and what both sides get up to. The only difference is that when muslim terrorists murder someone, the people of the South carry on as normal. When the Army do it, there is uproar. If you have never been in the South and experienced the attitude of the muslim locals towards non-muslims, you will never understand what these soldiers have to live with.

[trainman34014]

Meanwhile; the bloke on the right hand side of the picture looks like he's a bit chilly and wants the heating turned up !

[Srikcir]

The killers were not soldiers, they were "paramilitary" as in vigilantes.

The military apparently allows these "security" agents to operate independently in the South without military supervision to terrorize the population into submission. An appology from the Junta is meaningless until it stops its military occupation of the South. But now with the military conquest of the North, the military is unlikely to use a lower profile in the South and this mistake is as likely to occur ANYWHERE in Thailand.

[chooka]

The killers were not soldiers, they were "paramilitary" as in vigilantes.

The military apparently allows these "security" agents to operate independently in the South without military supervision to terrorize the population into submission. An appology from the Junta is meaningless until it stops its military occupation of the South. But now with the military conquest of the North, the military is unlikely to use a lower profile in the South and this mistake is as likely to occur ANYWHERE in Thailand.

They were Rangers a Corp of the Army.

[simple1]

The killers were not soldiers, they were "paramilitary" as in vigilantes.

The military apparently allows these "security" agents to operate independently in the South without military supervision to terrorize the population into submission. An appology from the Junta is meaningless until it stops its military occupation of the South. But now with the military conquest of the North, the military is unlikely to use a lower profile in the South and this mistake is as likely to occur ANYWHERE in Thailand.

They were Rangers a Corp of the Army.

Whilst Thai Rangers come under RTA command they are a paramilitary force often accused of significant human rights breaches. In the positive, alongside Thai Border Police and Thai Marines, they have had successes in targeting members of the insurgency.