PRIME Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was today (Oct. 24) urged by Thai Sang Thai Party to apologise to the public over 2004’s Tak Bai manslaughter with the statute of limitations expiring tomorrow (Oct. 25), Thai Rath newspaper said.
Party leader Sudarat Keyurapan said the stance of those in power over 2004’s manslaughter of 85 protesters by army troops in Narathiwat remained unclear and it is hoped the government will be sincere in defusing the conflict and actively pursue the criminal suspects and take legal action against them.
None of the 14 suspects in the manslaughter case have been arrested since the last couple of decades. The key suspect, former Fourth Army Region commander Pisal Watanawongkhiri who has reportedly fled the country to evade arrest, recently resigned as Pheu Thai MP. There are also other former high-ranking government officials who still remain at large.
Sudarat said this manslaughter occurred when de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra was the prime minister and his daughter/current Prime Minister Paetongtarn has not adopted a clear stance on this issue to create clarity in the society.
She emphasised that the government must sincerely do everything possible to track down the suspects and take legal action against them to maintain the rule of law and justice in the country.
She added that interviews indicate that the administration views this incident as a political issue while advising that if they focused on the country they would make appropriate decisions.
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Top and Front Page: Thai Sang Thai Party leader Sudarat Keyurapan. Photos: Thai Rath
Insert: Prime Minister Paetongtarn ShInawatra. Photo:: Thai Rath
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