THAILAND: Three army officers identified as responsible for killings 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that a court in Thailand has identified three army officers as responsible for the killing of 28 persons inside the Krue Se Mosque on 28 April 2004. The court verdict, in a post mortem inquest, now opens the way for criminal charges to be lodged against the three. However, your assistance is needed to see that the police and public prosecutor do their jobs, particularly at this time that the authorities in Thailand are under heavy intimidation from the military. Meanwhile, despite the dropping of charges against 58 innocent persons in the infamous Tak Bai case, no charges have yet been laid against any of the military and government officers responsible for the mass deaths in custody and other gross abuses committed there.

To recall, on 28 April 2004 at least 107 young men were killed in a series of clashes with security forces in southern Thailand, including some 32 at the Krue Se Mosque, apparently after they had laid down their arms (AS-011-2004). The killings were a precursor to the mass killing after the Tak Bai police station protest in Narathiwat that October (http://thailand.ahrchk.net/takbai). On 3 August 2004 a politically-appointed inquiry recommended compensation to the victims and the pursuit of judicial inquiries; however, no further action was ever taken (AS-024-2006). This inquiry was followed by a similar arrangement for the Tak Bai killings, which likewise ended in nothing (AS-007-2005). A summary of the findings of both reports can be found on the website of The Nation newspaper: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/takbai/index.htm.

Meanwhile, in July 2004 the Pattani provincial police submitted their investigation files to the public prosecutor, who in August moved for a post mortem inquest into the deaths of the 32 persons at the mosque as required by law. The inquest is to determine who was killed, and when where and how they were killed. It is a judicial procedure that precedes a full trial and does not hold any person or persons as liable for the deaths.

The inquest began in the Pattani Provincial Court in November 2004 and was completed in September 2006. On 28 November 2006 the judge held that out of the 32 persons, four had been killed in fighting with police at a nearby checkpoint. However, the remaining 28 persons had fled to the Krue Se Mosque and had hidden inside and were armed only with knives. The military subsequently stormed the mosque and killed all 28 of the persons there. A full list of the victims follows. It was widely reported that they had been killed execution-style after surrendering. The court identified the three officers responsible for the killings as:

1. General Pallop Pinmanee
2. Colonel Manas Kongpan
3. Lieutenant Colonel Tanaphat Nakchaiya

The verdict of the court now opens the way for criminal investigations and prosecutions of these three officers. The findings of the court must be sent back to the police for further action. However, this will not happen automatically. In Thailand, ranking military officers are generally above the law, and as the country is currently under a military-appointed administration it will be particularly difficult to bring these persons to trial. For this reason, your assistance is needed.

General Pallop in particular is an extremely powerful and notorious officer who was in August 2006 was removed from his position after being linked to an alleged bomb plot against the then caretaker prime minister Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra. At the time General Pallop said in his defence that he had led death squads earlier in his career and that if he had been behind such a plot then the caretaker prime minister would have been dead.

The case of the 85 persons killed after the Tak Bai protest is also indicative of the impunity enjoyed by army officers in Thailand. Although the interim prime minister has apologised for the incident and the needless prosecution of 58 innocent persons, which has now been stopped, no criminal investigations have been commenced against any of the military and government officials responsible (AHRC-OL-060-2006). Neither has there been any indication given by the current government that it intends to take action in that case.

FULL LIST OF VICTIMS

The 28 men identified by the court as having been killed inside the mosque:
1. Sakareeya Yusoe
2. Roesuere Dorlhor
3. Tuerasae Hayeedorlhor
4. Nhu Dorlhormae
5. Wasaree Larmae
6. Tuewaedaoh Tuewaeluemoh
7. Imrorhame Bootadsa
8. Baharuting Salae
9. Maesalae Kasor
10. Masorlae Salae
11. Ma Air Halee
12. Abdulroza Luboh
13. Sainudin Mahamad
14. Abdulloh Lawae
15. Sansudin Kalor
16. Adul Lamae
17. Unidentified man aged around 30
18. Abdulrasi Mama
19. Abdulloh Wanglee
20. Wama Mataelae
21. Lama Air Latae
22. Abdulloh Salaeman
23. Sulkiplee Jintra
24. Asree Toewae
25. Sakareeya Salae
26. Dolreeyah Taesulong
27. Isman Etae
28. Mayalee Dorloh

The four men identified by the court as having been killed at the nearby checkpoint:
1. Hama Salae
2. Nasamee Doetae
3. Muhammad Salae
4. Ibrohim Zalae

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write a letter to the Attorney General of Thailand calling for the pursuit of criminal charges against the three military officers identified as responsible for 28 deaths at Krue Se. It is the responsibility of the public prosecutor now to return the case to the police for further action. Please also call for criminal action to be taken against the officials responsible for the deaths following the Tak Bai protest.

 

 

 

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