The Narathiwat provincial court held the last hearing on the Tak Bai massacre today, to announce the dismissal of the case due to the absence of defendants to stand trial last Friday, which marked the expiry of the statute of limitations.
The court granted permission for the lawyer of the relatives of those who died to make a closing statement, before putting an end to the case.
Rasada Manoorasada, the lawyer, told the media that the search for the truth about the tragedy must continue, even though the judicial process has ended in failure.
He said the relatives will propose that the state agencies stop paying pensions to the fugitives, who are now in retirement.
They will also propose that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra orders an investigation into the conduct of Nong Chik police, who allegedly swept the case under the carpet for almost 19 years before finally submitting investigation files to the Office of Attorney-General (OAG) this year.
The OAG filed charges against seven retired senior military and police officers and interior officials for their alleged involvement in the deaths of Tak Bai protesters.
78 people died of suffocation after being stacked on top of each other on trucks for a 150km journey from Tak Bai police station to the Ingkayuth army barracks in Nong Chik district of Pattani province on October 25th, 2004.
Security at and around the court has been increased significantly.
