File photo: Angkhana Neelapaijit
A senator called on the Cabinet today to issue an emergency decree, extending the statute of limitations on the Tak Bai massacre case set to expire this Friday.
Angkhana Neelapaijit, a former national human rights commissioner, insisted that the extension is the only way for the relatives of the victims to get justice for the Tak Bai crackdown in 2004.
She disagrees with Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s statement, that the process could not be completed in time, saying “I personally believe that the Cabinet could issue the royal decree in time.”
Angkhana is currently the Senate chairperson on political development, public participation and human rights.
The 20-year-old case is highly likely to be dropped with so few days remaining, as no defendants have surrendered or been arrested.
The crackdown in Narathiwat province two decades ago, in which 78 Thai Muslims suffocated to death, took place during the premiership of Thaksin Shinawatra, the father of the present prime minister, Paetongtarn.
One of the key defendants was retired General Pisan Wattanawongkiri, then commander of the Fourth Army Region, who was also an MP of the ruling Pheu Thai party. His current whereabouts are not known, but he recently submitted his resignation letter to Paetongtarn, who is also the Pheu Thai party leader.
