National police chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet has issued an urgent call for a final effort to determine the whereabouts of all suspects involved in the 2004 Tak Bai massacre before the legal deadline expires this Friday.
On Tuesday, Pol Gen Kitrat provided an update on the ongoing attempts to apprehend the suspects, noting that only two days remain until the statute of limitations expires.
It is believed that over 80 individuals lost their lives following the suppression of protesters in the Tak Bai district of Narathiwat province and their subsequent transfer to a military site in Pattani province.
In the aftermath, 14 suspects were identified for their roles in the massacre.
Seven of these suspects, including Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri, then commander of the Fourth Army Region; Pol Lt-Gen Wongkot Maneerin, then assistant national police chief; and Maj Gen Chalermchai Wirunpeth, then commander of the 5th Infantry Regiment, have been formally charged by the Narathiwat Provincial Court following a lawsuit filed by the victims’ families. Warrants for their arrests have also been issued.
Additionally, the attorney general has initiated proceedings against another eight suspects at the Pattani Provincial Court on September 12, with Maj Gen Chalermchai listed as a suspect in both cases.
Pol Gen Kitrat disclosed his visit to the Provincial Police Region 9 to accelerate the search for all suspects before the statute of limitations on the case expires.
He mentioned that the efforts have involved issuing arrest warrants and working with international bodies such as Interpol to circulate red notices.
Statute Extension
Pol Gen Kitrat noted that under directives from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, authorities conducted 29 searches and 180 surveillance operations to prevent suspects from escaping abroad.
He also appealed to the public to report any information on the whereabouts of the suspects without delay.
He revealed that an investigation had indicated several suspects had left the country before arrest warrants were issued, and their current locations remain unknown.
Responding to queries about potential legislative changes to extend the statute of limitations, Pol Gen Kitrat emphasized that the police are focused on capturing the suspects within the existing legal framework and are not involved in political issues.
He affirmed that his officers have been instructed to continue their searches relentlessly.
In related news, Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai informed the press that legal experts are evaluating the feasibility of a royal decree to extend the deadline for the arrests.
Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong asserted that the judicial process is applied uniformly, without any double standards between cases involving civilians and state officials.