criminal charges finally dropped against 2004 Tak Bai survivors; PM Surayad apologizes for massacre

Charges dropped
The Justice Ministry yesterday agreed to drop charges against 58 suspects in the infamous Tak Bai protest as prosecutors have insufficient evident to prove their guilt, Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha said yesterday.

The decision was made after a meeting of officials from the Office of the Attorney-General and the National Human Rights Commission, which responded to calls from the suspects and human rights defenders.

"The decision is a part of efforts to bring justice and reconciliation to people in the three southern border provinces," Charnchai said.

The 58 suspects were charged with illegal gathering and public disturbance after a bloody protest in front of Tak Bai district police station on October 25, 2004. The effort to quell the protest killed 85 people, including 78 who died of suffocation during transportation from the protest site to Pattani. The Tak Bai incident raised international outrage over the brutal crackdown.

But not all 58 suspects will escape the law completely as officials have solid evidence to pin down some of them in connection with masterminding the protest to create trouble in the region, Charnchai said.

Pattani - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont made an emotional plea to the residents of the Muslimmajority region and publicly apologized for the death of at least 85 people who had taken part in the Tak Bai demonstrators two years ago.

In his first visit to the Malay-speaking in his capacity as the prime minister, Surayud stressed the need for reconciliation and "to move forward as a nation."

"I came here to apologize to you on behalf of the previous government and on behalf of this government. What had happened in the past was mostly the fault of the state," Surayudh told a packroom of about 1,000 local residents from all walks of life in this Muslim majority region who came to greet him.

"We must look for ways to work together. I came here today to extend my hand to you and to tell you that I was wrong. I came to apologize," said Surayudh who was greeted by a big round of applause for what was billed as a long over due apology.