Time’s up: House Speaker warns of ticking tensions in Tak Bai turmoil

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha sounded the alarm over the simmering unrest in Thailand’s volatile Deep South. With the clock ticking down to the looming deadline for the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case, police are under pressure to seize suspects or risk letting them slip away forever.

Wan Muhamad has thrown down the gauntlet, insisting security forces must snag those on the wanted list before the 20-year statute of limitations slams shut on October 25. Could these arrests be the magic key to unlocking regional peace? He thinks so.

Despite governmental attempts to smooth tensions with peace talks, backed by Malaysia, the needle hasn’t moved much according to the Speaker.

Quizzed about the recent spike in violence against security officers and its potential links to the deadline, Wan Muhamad hinted at a connection.

“Not all cases tie into the Tak Bai deadline, but the mounting attacks suggest locals are demanding action on outstanding warrants.

“If the police had truly given it their all, some fugitive faces might already be behind bars.”

With intelligence and community cooperation on his radar, Wan Muhamad insists these are essential for quelling the insurgency and restoring calm.

“Sending in police and soldiers only puts a lid on violence temporarily. I propose empowering people’s organisations – train volunteers, subdistrict and village leaders to partner with the state for sustained peace in the Deep South.”

His rallying cry came after a high-stakes meeting on Friday, with brains from the Metropolitan Police, Central Investigation Bureau, and other top agencies pooling ideas to crack the Tak Bai conundrum, Bangkok Post reported. Police Lieutenant Gen Samran Nuanma, playing lead investigator, revealed Interpol’s Red Notices for 14 elusive suspects.

In related news, earlier this month, five activists in Thailand’s insurgency-plagued Deep South are facing prison after hosting a mock referendum on self-determination.

On October 3, police charged two activists and three students for organising the event in June last year, sparking renewed debates about free speech in the volatile, heavily militarised border region.