Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra issued a public apology on Sunday for the deaths of dozens of Muslim protesters who suffocated in army trucks two decades ago in Thailand’s southern region.
The incident, known as the Tak Bai massacre, remains a symbol of state impunity in the country’s Muslim-majority southernmost provinces, where separatist insurgents have long clashed with government forces.
Thaksin, who was in office at the time of the massacre, expressed regret for any actions that may have caused distress.
“When I was prime minister, I had a strong intention to care for local people,” he said during his first visit to the region in 19 years. “If there was any mistake or any discontent caused by me, I would like to apologize.”
His remarks come nearly four months after the statute of limitations expired, leading to the dismissal of murder charges against seven officials implicated in the case. According to Thai rights activist Anchana Heemmina, this is the first time Thaksin has publicly apologized. However, she emphasized that a direct apology to the victims’ families would carry more weight.
A Tragedy That Shook Thailand
On October 25, 2004, security forces opened fire on protesters outside a police station in Tak Bai, Narathiwat province, near the Malaysian border, killing seven people.
In the aftermath, 78 detainees suffocated to death after being arrested and stacked face down, with their hands tied behind their backs, in the back of Thai military trucks.
Last year, a provincial court accepted a criminal case filed by the victims’ families against seven officials, including a former army commander who was elected to parliament under the Shinawatras’ Pheu Thai party in 2023. However, the accused avoided court appearances, preventing the case from progressing.
In October, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra—Thaksin’s daughter—stated that extending the statute of limitations was not legally possible, effectively closing the door on further prosecutions.
