Thai Court Dismisses Tak Bai Massacre Case After 20 Years

The dismissal ends legal proceedings against officials due to expired statute of limitations, leaving victims' families without justice.

The Narathiwat Provincial Court dropped charges against seven officials over the 2004 Tak Bai massacre due to the expiration of the 20-year statute of limitations.
The case involved the deaths of 85 Muslim protesters, with 78 dying from suffocation after being transported in overcrowded military trucks.
Victims' families accused the officials of murder, attempted murder, and unlawful detention, but none of the suspects were apprehended.
Human Rights Watch criticized successive Thai governments for failing to prosecute those responsible, despite overwhelming evidence.
Thailand's Prime Minister offered an apology and pledged to prevent future incidents, but legal reforms to address human rights violations remain unfulfilled.