BANGKOK — The car bomb explosion in Tak Bai District, Narathiwat Province, on the evening of September 29, is being viewed as connected to the mass death of 78 Muslim protesters 20 years ago, for which the statute of limitations will expire on October 26 this year.
On September 30, the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command reported the investigation results of the car bombing: The group of perpetrators consisted of about 4-5 people, dressed similarly to officials with their faces covered. They used guns to threaten and take a gray MG5 car belonging to Ms. Mariam, with Bangkok license plate. They then installed an improvised explosive device in the vehicle.
The perpetrators parked the car in front of the Tak Bai district chief’s residence in Village No. 3, Je-he Subdistrict, Tak Bai District. The explosion occurred at 9:50 p.m. The blast injured two officers and damaged surrounding houses.
The injured, two 22-year-old privates from the Naval Special Warfare Command Unit 33, were taken to Tak Bai Hospital and later transferred to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Hospital in Muang District, Narathiwat Province. Both suffered burn wounds from bomb fragments – one on the back, the other on the right arm and left leg.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units and forensic teams are examining the scene, collecting evidence to track down the perpetrators as quickly as possible.
Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, commented on the possible link between this incident and the Tak Bai case from twenty years ago. He said it’s possible, as the Tak Bai case is currently in the spotlight due to its statute of limitations expiring on October 25, 2024.
As a result, local authorities are trying to address security issues, sealing off the entire municipal area and advising people to be cautious when entering or leaving, recommending they carry identification for checks.
When asked if he had contacted Gen. Pisarn Wattanawongkeeree, a Pheu Thai Party MP and former 4th Army Region Commander who is one of the accused in this case, Phumtham said they had made contact but only reached his registered address. He sent a message suggesting that everything should be resolved in court, where the accused can prove themselves, to bring closure to the matter.
Meanwhile, Chatchai Bangchod, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council (NSC), stated that the increased frequency of insurgent activities in the southern border provinces is due to various factors. It may be a series of connected incidents, as this is a transitional period for the government, military, and related agencies, with new appointees entering the area.
Regarding the use of the Emergency Decree in the area, Chatchai said they would continue to consider it on an area-by-area basis, taking into account various factors including incident statistics. It will be used only as necessary to prevent and investigate incidents. However, he noted that the government aims to eventually lift the decree’s enforcement in the future.
The long-delayed legal action in connection with what is known as the Tak Bai massacre came just over a month before the statute of limitations expires on the case. Eight former state security personnel accused of responsibility for the deaths of 78 Muslim protesters who were arrested in southern Thailand in 2004 will be indicted on murder charges.
On Oct. 25, 2004, thousands of protesters gathered at the police station in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district to demand the immediate release of six Muslim men who had been detained several days earlier.
After the protest turned violent, around 1,300 protesters were rounded up by soldiers and forced to lie on top of each other in 25 trucks before they were transported to a military camp in neighboring Pattani province, two hours’ drive away.
When they reached the destination, officials reported 78 people had died. Autopsy results revealed suffocation was the cause of death. Seven others had been shot dead during the protest.
The deaths occurred shortly after a Muslim separatist insurgency erupted in Thailand’s southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, the only ones with Muslim majorities in the Buddhist-dominated nation.
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Thailand Will Indict Ex-Security Personnel Over the Deaths of 78 Muslim Protesters in 2004
