Timeline of the ‘Tak Bai case’ and 85 lives without anyone taking responsibility

20-year timeline of the 'Tak Bai case' and the loss of 85 lives without anyone taking responsibility while the accused escape. In 2004, the unrest situation in the three southern border provinces became increasingly severe, especially in the areas of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala. There were continuous protests and violent incidents. Suspects in security cases were arrested in many areas, which caused dissatisfaction among the local people. On the day of the incident, 25 October 2004, in the morning, there was a protest in front of Tak Bai Police Station, Narathiwat Province. Villagers were unhappy that the police had arrested 6 members of the Village Security Guards, or VDP, from Tambon Pron, Amphoe Tak Bai. They believed that they were involved in the robbery of guns by armed forces, so they gathered to demand their release. People in the area continued to arrive, which led to chaos. Late afternoon - Around 1,500 people came out to demand the release of the six people. The protests escalated, and police and military officers were sent into the area to control the situation. Clashes between officers and protesters began. Officers used rubber bullets, high-pressure water cannons, and tear gas to control the situation. Some protesters began using violence, such as throwing rocks and using logs to attack officers. Afternoon - Authorities began dispersing the protesters by controlling the protesters. Protesters were forced to lie face down on the ground and their hands were tied. Military officers arranged several trucks to transport the protesters to the Ingkayutthaborihan Camp in Pattani Province. During the journey - protesters were forced to sleep in multiple layers in cramped trucks. The journey lasted about 5-6 hours. In the sweltering heat and congestion, protesters suffocated, resulting in 78 deaths (died in the truck). In addition, 7 more died during the dispersal of the protest, for a total of 85 deaths. 2009: Court case: Songkhla Provincial Court rules that all 78 people who died died from asphyxia tion during transport, but does not state that the officers' actions were due to excessive force, and therefore no officers were held criminally liable. 2012: Compensation for the families of the deceased During the government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, compensation was given to all sectors of the people affected by the Tak Bai incident in 2004, totaling 651,451,200 baht, as follows: 85 people who died received compensation of 7,500,000 baht each. 2024: Justice that has yet to come. On August 23, Narathiwat Provincial Court accepted the case of the 2004 Tak Bai protest dispersal. Seven defendants were charged with murder, attempted murder, and illegal detention. 12 Sep. Narathiwat Provincial Court issues arrest warrants for 6 defendants in the Tak Bai Police Station dispersal case. Meanwhile, Gen. Pisal, former commander of the 4th Army and MP for the Pheu Thai Party, is granted immunity under the constitution. September 18: The Attorney General indicted 8 suspects in the Tak Bai case, ruling that even though the deceased was not wanted to die, the provision of only 25 vehicles to transport more than a thousand protesters was unreasonably overcrowded, leading to the deaths. Oct. 3, Narathiwat Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for Gen. Pisal Wattanawongkiri, former commander of the 4th Army and Pheu Thai MP, in the Tak Bai protest dispersal case. Oct 15, Gen. Pisal Wattanawongkiri, former commander of the 4th Army and Pheu Thai MP, submitted a resignation letter from the Pheu Thai Party. Oct 24, the national police chief ordered a search of 5 locations for suspects with arrest warrants in the Tak Bai case. Source: Thai News Agency