Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed deep regret today over the Tak Bai incident and pledged to do her utmost to prevent a recurrence.
"I apologise on behalf of the government for what happened in Tak Bai 20 years ago. I feel sorry for those affected," she said.
She made the statement one day before the 20-year statute of limitations on the case expires.
With no defendants having surrendered or been arrested, no one will be taking responsibility for the deaths of 78 Thai Muslims, who died from suffocation in October 2004.
According to the prime minister, former prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra, Surayud Chulanont and Yingluck Shinawatra have also apologised regarding the deaths.
Financial compensation has been paid, Paetongtarn added. The then Yingluck government paid a total of 641.5 million baht in compensation to the families of the victims and the injured.
Concerning a proposal to extend the statute of limitations on the case, Paetongtarn said her government has already sought the Council of State's opinion, which indicated that such an extension is not constitutionally permissible.
"I hope everyone remains mindful of the violence that occurred in the Tak Bai case. No one wants to see such an incident happen again. Every party, including the government, should do their best to ensure it doesn't happen in the future," she said.
Earlier Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that all parties should move on, forgive and take it as lessons.
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