Retired Lt General Pisan Wattanawongkiri, a former commander of the 4th Army Region, has resigned from the Pheu Thai party. He is wanted in connection with the deadly Tak Bai crackdown in Narathiwat province in 2004, during which 78 men died of suffocation.
Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai revealed that Pisan addressed his resignation letter, dated yesterday, to party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
In the letter, which was shown to the media, Pisan says that he became a suspect in a criminal case in Narathiwat province, related to events that occurred in 2004.
“I have learned that some groups have tried to exploit my case to exacerbate divisions in society. They have also attempted to link it to the Pheu Thai party, of which I am a member and an MP, despite the fact that the party is not involved in this case,” the letter read.
Therefore, he wrote, he has decided to resign to prevent the party from being affected by his situation and has already obtained approval for his resignation from Parliament.
He added that he has been undergoing medical treatment and is recuperating.
Pisan, who was overseeing the southern province at the time of the Tak Bai massacre, and other suspects are subjects of arrest warrants in connection with the incident on October 25, 2004, after they failed to appear at a hearing in Narathiwat Court in September.
The second hearing is scheduled for today, and none of the suspects are expected to show up. Police have failed to arrest any suspects in the case.
As the 20-year statute of limitations approaches expiry on October 25th, many believe that the case will close without any wrongdoers being brought to justice.
