Heal wounds from Tak Bai: NHRC

[webfact]

Heal wounds from Tak Bai: NHRC
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- NIRAN PITAKWATCHARA, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), yesterday called on the government to provide a clear time frame on seeking justice for Tak Bai victims and healing the wounds the incident caused.

"It's been 10 years already and counting. We need eventually to find an end to this, or it will end up in limbo like many other cases," he said.

More than 1,000 protesters were beaten and piled on to trucks in Tak Bai, Narathiwat province, in 2004, eventually resulting in 85 deaths. The NHRC has been pushing for the rehabilitation of the victims and their families, as well as providing them with justice.

The commission has also asked to file lawsuits on their behalf.

Niran said he wanted a clear time frame on what action will be taken once the Cabinet has acknowledged the NHRC's recommendations. "Let's have clear-cut discussions on solutions for the incident," he said, adding that previous negotiations had been affected by political agendas.

The commission recommends that the public be made aware of the incident, and that the authorities put in place mechanisms and regulations to control public assemblies.

The government should establish specific bodies to be in charge of assembly control, the recommendations continue, with clearly, well-planned operations. Last but not least, The Cabinet and relative governmental agencies should also initiate help process toward victims and their families.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has agreed to put the matter on the agenda for the next Cabinet meeting, adding that relevant agencies, such as the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, would be told to follow up.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Heal-wounds-from-Tak-Bai-NHRC-30265923.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-05

[ChrisY1]

Nothing will happen......

[ramrod711]

Niran said he wanted a clear time frame on what action will be taken once the Cabinet has acknowledged the NHRC's recommendations. "Let's have clear-cut discussions on solutions for the incident," he said, adding that previous negotiations had been affected by political agendas.

How about some "clear cut" investigation into the PM of the time's role in the incident.

[Toknarok]

I doubt that anything will happen whilst the Junta is in charge. After all it was the Army that stuffed them into the army vehicles to die. Thaksin was nominally in charge as he was PM at the time but it was the Army the did the deed. Thaksin didn'y help by saying they were 'weak from Ramadan fasting' though.

[Briggsy]

The families of the 1973, 1976 and 1992 massacres say hi.

The military is not accountable to any outside body.

The courts would never dare rule against them. If they did, the military would simply ignore the ruling.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Reconciliation are not a process that can be driven by government departments and agencies, it must come from the heart. Unfortunately the people in power are far removed from reality. The reality is that the people responsible must be brought to justice for any reconciliation to take place.

[tbthailand]

Niran said he wanted a clear time frame on what action will be taken once the Cabinet has acknowledged the NHRC's recommendations. "Let's have clear-cut discussions on solutions for the incident," he said, adding that previous negotiations had been affected by political agendas.

How about some "clear cut" investigation into the PM of the time's role in the incident.

jeez, more, more, more, ... but Thaksin

Tell me - what did he have to do with this particular blunder by the police and the military? Maybe I'm missing something, but for all his faults, the blame for this one doesn't look like it can be laid at his feet...

On the other hand, have the police and the military ever been held accountable?

(the other paper) called the incident a "tragedy" and "one of the worst blunders ever committed by the military in the restive deep South".^[14] Amnesty International protested what it called the "virtual impunity" for human rights violations in southern Thailand, calling for members of the security forces involved to be "brought to justice".^[13]

Edited August 5, 2015 by tbthailand

[Srikcir]

The Junta-led government will acknowledge the NHRC's recommendations right after it merges the NHRC with the Office of the Ombudsman. Of course then it would be the Ombudsman's who will decide what recommendations will go to the government.

[temujin1234]

This will just go on and on..

Edited August 5, 2015 by metisdead
Edited out flag counter.

[Briggsy]

What an appallingly terrifying way to die it must have been. Slowly asphyxiated under a crush of handcuffed bodies as soldiers stomped and jumped on the top of the pile.

85 dead and many more permanently disabled.

Perhaps the ones that were shot and killed when the army opened fire earlier in the afternoon were the lucky ones.

[ChrisY1]

A sad state where the military has killed and maimed so many more Thai people than their "enemies" over the past 50 years

[billd766]

Nothing will happen......

Nothing happened under the PTP, Democrat, PPP, military or the TRT either.

3 of those were Thaksins government and Thaksin and the TRT were in power when it happened.

[billd766]

I doubt that anything will happen whilst the Junta is in charge. After all it was the Army that stuffed them into the army vehicles to die. Thaksin was nominally in charge as he was PM at the time but it was the Army the did the deed. Thaksin didn'y help by saying they were 'weak from Ramadan fasting' though.

Niran said he wanted a clear time frame on what action will be taken once the Cabinet has acknowledged the NHRC's recommendations. "Let's have clear-cut discussions on solutions for the incident," he said, adding that previous negotiations had been affected by political agendas.

How about some "clear cut" investigation into the PM of the time's role in the incident.

jeez, more, more, more, ... but Thaksin

Tell me - what did he have to do with this particular blunder by the police and the military? Maybe I'm missing something, but for all his faults, the blame for this one doesn't look like it can be laid at his feet...

On the other hand, have the police and the military ever been held accountable?

(the other paper) called the incident a "tragedy" and "one of the worst blunders ever committed by the military in the restive deep South".^[14] Amnesty International protested what it called the "virtual impunity" for human rights violations in southern Thailand, calling for members of the security forces involved to be "brought to justice".^[13]

@tbt Yes Thaksin CAN be blamed as he was the PM at the time. As Toknarok said in his post quote "Thaksin was nominally in charge as he was PM at the time but it was the Army the did the deed. Thaksin didn'y help by saying they were 'weak from Ramadan fasting' though.

So where should the buck stop?

With whpoever was in charge of the "incident", the army commander, the PM at the time? Who has the ultimate responsibility?

[tbthailand]

Nothing will happen......

Nothing happened under the PTP, Democrat, PPP, military or the TRT either.

3 of those were Thaksins government and Thaksin and the TRT were in power when it happened.

sure, nothing happened, unless you ignore everything that happened...

A breakthrough in peace talks came in February 2013 when the government, led by Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck, signed a peace deal with one of the rebel groups. It was the first time the government had given any of the groups formal recognition. However, the deal has not brought an end to the violence.

not like PTP had help from the folks running the show down there...

Military opposition

Another major challenge is resentment from the military. The intense political instability in Bangkok and the continuous opposition from the army had posed serious challenges for Yingluck’s predecessors to implement their policies in combating militants effectively. The military and the government have often had disagreements on counter-insurgency policies to fight the insurgents. Yingluck is also concerned that challenging military decisions might result in defections in the coalition government. As the military is backing the opposition, they may pressurize the coalition parties and influence individual party members to dissolve the government.

The south has been a mess for a long time. Thaksin didn't help the situation, and for sure, the south was not a priority for him and his personal aspirations, but to blame him for military blunders is just being a military apologist.

To say that "nothing happened" under other governments is also completely wrong - go ahead and claim that the southern problem was not a high priority - sure, there you have room to argue...

And to ignore the culpability (and incompetence?) of the security forces in the south and to ignore the power of the military in setting government policy in the south is to ignore one of the biggest reasons that the south is still a mess.

[tbthailand]

I doubt that anything will happen whilst the Junta is in charge. After all it was the Army that stuffed them into the army vehicles to die. Thaksin was nominally in charge as he was PM at the time but it was the Army the did the deed. Thaksin didn'y help by saying they were 'weak from Ramadan fasting' though.

Niran said he wanted a clear time frame on what action will be taken once the Cabinet has acknowledged the NHRC's recommendations. "Let's have clear-cut discussions on solutions for the incident," he said, adding that previous negotiations had been affected by political agendas.

How about some "clear cut" investigation into the PM of the time's role in the incident.

jeez, more, more, more, ... but Thaksin

Tell me - what did he have to do with this particular blunder by the police and the military? Maybe I'm missing something, but for all his faults, the blame for this one doesn't look like it can be laid at his feet...

On the other hand, have the police and the military ever been held accountable?

(the other paper) called the incident a "tragedy" and "one of the worst blunders ever committed by the military in the restive deep South".^[14] Amnesty International protested what it called the "virtual impunity" for human rights violations in southern Thailand, calling for members of the security forces involved to be "brought to justice".^[13]

@tbt Yes Thaksin CAN be blamed as he was the PM at the time. As Toknarok said in his post quote "Thaksin was nominally in charge as he was PM at the time but it was the Army the did the deed. Thaksin didn'y help by saying they were 'weak from Ramadan fasting' though.

So where should the buck stop?

With whpoever was in charge of the "incident", the army commander, the PM at the time? Who has the ultimate responsibility?

thaksin's foot in mouth disease is hardly the reason dozens of people died...

folks need to put the responsibility where it belongs.