[อ่านภาษาไทย คลิกที่นี่]
Statement on the Ninth Commemoration of Takbai Massacre:
Remedies and Justice
color:#222222">On 25 October 2004, as a result of the dispersal of demonstrations in front of Takbai Police Station in Narathiwat, 85 deaths occurred along with a number of injuries. Images of the crime scene widely distributed by public media have attested to the gross human rights abuse. The incidence has also rendered reverberation to the continuing havocs in the area until present time. In the past two years, the government has come up with remedies program for those affected by the Takbai incidence to provide justice to those suffering from the acts of government officials. Relatives of each of the deaths were awarded 7.5 millions baht, the each injured person 200,000- 4.5 millions baht, and each detainee 15,000 baht. Previously, there was also an out of court settlement for relatives of each the deaths and injured to received 300,000-400,000 baht.
color:#222222">Even though the government has increased the amount of compensation and has reached out to more of the victims, there is still another kind of remedy, the delivery of truths and justice, which is worth more than financial compensation. Apart from directly healing those affected, the prevailing of truths and justice shall bring about remedies to all people in the Deep South as a whole. The remittance of financial compensation has so far failed to address the issue of justice.
color:#222222">In the past nine years, there has been no progress as to the investigation of the demonstrators who were killed right at the crime scene. No request has been made to the Court to initiate the post mortem inquest as required by Section 150 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The police claimed no perpetrators could be identified and therefore no investigation shall be carried out. As for 78 people who died en route to the detention centers, though the post mortem inquest has been conducted and the Court ruled that all of them died of suffocation while being held in official custody, but after the Court order has been read, the public prosecutors have decided against pressing charges against any potential wrongdoers. As a result, the criminal procedure by the state in this case has ended at this point.
color:#222222">Though it is technically possible for relatives of the victims to file the criminal case by themselves, and they have complained to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) indicating their desire to proceed with criminal action against the potential offenders, and asking NHRC to file the case in their behalf, still, there has been no progress on this end. NHRC simply claimed that the relatives no longer have any desire to pursue the criminal action owing to that they feel concerned about having to take more burdens and to have to wait for the long and strenuous process. There is also concern about their personal safety. It is too much demanding for the relatives to initiate the criminal procedure by themselves. The state is obliged to facilitate access to justice among them, too.
color:#222222">The Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) deems that the Takbai was a grave human rights abuse and no reconciliation and peace shall emanate from the lack of truths and justice. We demand that the state makes their effort to bring about genuine fairness and justice.
