Fugitive general resigns amid Tak Bai scandal
Retired General Pisan Wattanawongkiri, once the chief of Thailand’s 4th Army Region, has abruptly quit the ruling Pheu Thai Party and resigned from his MP position amidst a cloud of controversy.
Wanted for his role in the brutal 2004 Tak Bai crackdown in Narathiwat, Pisan faces mounting pressure to return and face charges before the statute of limitations expires.
The shocking resignation was delivered via a representative on Monday, October 14, according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who revealed the letter to the press. Phumtham, also the deputy prime minister, confirmed that the resignation was effective immediately and that he would forward it to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai Party leader.
In the letter, Pisan claimed to be recovering from medical treatment abroad, though he didn’t disclose his whereabouts. He insisted he would “return and explain his side of the story as soon as his condition improves” but ominously added that he likely wouldn’t face trial before the statute of limitations runs out on October 25.
The Tak Bai tragedy, which saw seven protesters killed during a military crackdown and another 78 crushed or suffocated to death while being transported in army trucks, has haunted Pisan’s career. He stands as one of seven defendants sued by the families of 48 victims and last week, the Narathiwat court issued an arrest warrant after Pisan failed to appear for trial.
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong stressed the urgency of the situation, stating that the government “feels the pain of the victims’ families” and is working to bring the defendants to court before the October deadline, even hinting at a potential Interpol red warrant for Pisan’s arrest, reported The Nation.
In related news, a car bomb exploded near the home of the Tak Bai district chief in Narathiwat on September 29, leaving two soldiers injured and setting nearby houses ablaze.
