A recent survey suggests that the Pheu Thai Party would be most negatively impacted in Thailand’s southern provinces if justice is not served regarding the 2004 Tak Bai incident. Meanwhile, the People’s Party emerges as the favored choice for the upcoming general election.
The survey, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), polled individuals in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat, focusing on the implications of the 20-year statute of limitations expiring in the Tak Bai case.
The results revealed that 55.20% of respondents believe the Pheu Thai Party would be affected, 29.99% thought no party would be impacted, and 4.69% mentioned the Prachachat Party.
Additionally, 1.97% named the Democrat Party, and 2.16% cited a combination of the Palang Pracharath Party, the People’s Party, the Bhumjaithai Party, and the United Thai Nation Party. Furthermore, 5.99% were indifferent or did not respond.
Regarding whether the failure of justice in the Tak Bai case would influence their vote in the next general election, 39.55% said it would not affect their decision at all, 25.21% stated it definitely would, 23.62% felt it would moderately affect their choice, and 11.62% believed it would slightly influence their decision.
Participants were also asked which political party they planned to support. A total of 50.14% were still undecided, 18.85% favored the People’s Party, 13.68% supported the Prachachat Party, and 5.44% backed the Democrat Party.
Meanwhile, 4.69% chose the Pheu Thai Party, 2.62% went with the United Thai Nation Party, 1.78% opted for the Palang Pracharath Party and the Bhumjaithai Party, and 0.65% selected the Chartthaipattana Party, among others, with 0.37% uninterested or not responding.
The poll was conducted from November 5 to 8, involving 1,067 people aged 18 and older, from various educational backgrounds and occupations.
The Tak Bai incident, which remains a significant point of contention, occurred on October 25, 2004, when 1,500 locals rallied at the Tak Bai police station in Narathiwat demanding the release of defense volunteers accused of transferring firearms to insurgents.
As authorities attempted to disperse the growing crowd, the confrontation resulted in seven deaths on-site and 78 others from suffocation after more than 1,300 were forcibly packed into military trucks en route to a camp in Pattani.
The event took place during the administration of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
