“Rome” asks “Phumtham” to show sincerity in Tak Bai case


Rome” set up a heated topic to ask “Phumtham”, slammed hard, at least help pretend to show sincerity in Tak Bai case, revealed that the police tried to blow the case until the statute of limitations expired. “Phumtham” hit back, do not use strong feelings, create more division, it will not make the situation better, insisted that the government regrets the incident – expedite the arrest of the suspect – no interference in the process

Today’s (October 3) House of Representatives meeting was chaired by Mr. Paradorn Prisananantakul, Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He considered the impromptu question of Mr. Rangsiman Rome, a party-list MP from the Prachachon Party, who asked Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, about the Tak Bai case, which will expire on October 25, 2024. This matter affects confidence. How will the government build confidence? Because while giving an interview to the media about this matter, he was still furious!

Mr. Phumtham explain
ed that the solution to the southern border problem must start with reason and must look at the problems that have occurred in all dimensions, not starting with violence or looking at only one negative aspect because every story is not just about the officials doing this, or this place dying like this, but there are many elements. Therefore, he would like you to be patient and look at the reasons and stories clearly.

As for the accusation that I lost my temper, I think that I used too harsh words. At that time, I was giving a press conference about the flood damage and reporters tried to ask about it. So I asked to finish talking about the flood first. It doesn’t mean that I don’t give importance to the Tak Bai issue. Every issue is important, but the government needs to do something urgent. At that time, the water was flooding and mud was collapsing people’s homes, so I wanted to clear up that issue first. I want you to understand that I didn’t lose my temper or feel angry about those questions. So if possi
ble, I want you to use words or look at it rationally, not just look at the emotions of the opposition.

Mr. Phumtham said that for the Tak Bai incident, we are the capital of the people. He himself is also sad and does not want anyone to see the deaths of so many people or protesters. He is sad about the incident and what happened and must learn from that to see what is the problem, not because he himself has done something wrong. Tak Bai happened in 2004, it will be 20 years now. In fact, there are many dimensions of truth involved. There are many more details about the incident. If you really read the report, the report concludes that everyone in the car died mainly from lack of oxygen, 78 people. It is an undesirable incident. We do not want this incident to happen. However, the incident that happened should be treated fairly because it was not an incident of intentional killing and there was no intention. It was chaos. However, the government must accept these things and must continue to solve the proble
ms.

As for the legal proceedings, which we think the relatives of the deceased risked their lives to come and ask for justice, we would like you to look at the world and society in a lighter way and look at the reality. The problems in the South could have been solved more than this. During the government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, there was already compensation. We think that all of this should not have happened and should be used as an example rather than a tool. We think that the government intended to kill people or the government sympathized with and valued the lives of the people. We confirm that this is something we regret. We did not want it to happen, but it was something that arose from the chaos. When it happened, the legal process had to proceed. However, the accused has not been found yet. However, we admit that this is not an easy matter. We must let the justice process do its job and achieve it as soon as possible.

Mr. Phumtham said that we have now adjusted our policies to prevent such inci
dents from happening because when an incident occurs, there are ill-wishers who exaggerate the issue. However, the important thing is how to prevent it from happening again. Let’s look at measures rather than using this issue to attack the government or talk about it until it causes more division. If we can help each other, I would like to ask for help and look at it constructively in solving the problem because today the government is trying to adjust many aspects because this incident has been exaggerated beyond reality, causing people to misunderstand more. What the government is trying to do is try to adjust the working methods towards peace. There are negotiations with the perpetrators in the southern border provinces, but there are still many problems. I confirm that in the legal process, I have instructed all relevant parties to proceed according to the law. I would like this issue to be constructive in order to help solve the problems in the three southern border provinces, which are becoming more vio
lent, rather than using this issue to talk about and trying to find answers and linking it from the ancient parties to the present, which causes unnecessary conflict. I ask for only constructiveness.

Mr. Rangsiman said that if today we still do not show sincerity to the people in the area, how can we solve the problem today? After 20 years, how can we remain indifferent with the remaining 22 days? ‘Excuse me, Chairman, do you still have a heart?’ He also compared the Tak Bai incident that happened in 2004 with the October 6, 1976 incident and felt pain from what happened. I know that the October 6 incident has not received justice and it is something that we must continue to demand. But are we going to let the Tak Bai incident happen like this? ‘When you look in the mirror, do you still remember yourself?’ Today, the important question is that there is an attempt to blow the case. Today, there is an attempt to help each other and the people who help are the police. How will you handle this matter? As the per
son overseeing the police.

Mr. Phumtham explained that if he said that his heart was hurting, today he would feel no different from him, but today I have feelings that need to be taken into consideration. Perhaps because I have more experience and am older than him, I can’t look at this issue from just one point, but from many points together and look at it fairly to solve the problem. He understands the strong emotions, but he would like to say that the strong emotions that are spoken out will not help solve the problem of violence and conflict in the southern border provinces. Just expressing them in front of the media and letting them know will not make the problem of violence worse. But we need to use our senses in this matter. We accept the sad and sorrowful event. Ask if we take care of and provide compensation, we do. There is care and compensation, but money is not important to the lives of those who lost, but it shows that we have tried to take care and fix it. But the entire process is not just abo
ut the police. And the fact that I came to see the police does not mean that I will protect the police. What happened was according to the process and the incident that happened was according to the forensic doctor’s report. But responsibility must be taken according to the legal process. If everything is handled according to emotions, everything in the country will be chaotic. Therefore, the court must decide everything according to the law. The relevant agencies are expediting the process. Please be patient and let’s see how this matter will be resolved to be fair. And fairness is on both sides, both the relatives of the deceased and the accused. And it is still uncertain whether they will be the ones who will really be held responsible or not. It depends on the justice process. If you decide on the urgent divorce, you will be the one to decide.

Mr. Rangsiman Rome said that if I were him, I would not bring up the experience and age issue because it has no significance. He just showed his adulthood and put
children down. This reflects his true way of thinking and he is not surprised that many incidents in this country are still like this. As for the compensation money, it is the tax money of the people of the whole country. He supports the compensation but we must not forget that the state of pain is like the people of the whole country having to bear the cost of paying for the officers’ negligence. People do not suffocate on their own and the documents in the report clearly show that the suffocation was not caused by someone putting a bag over them but by people stacking them up continuously.

I am well aware that today there is a court case where a Pheu Thai Party-list MP is being prosecuted. I am well aware that this has happened and I am well aware that today’s process has not progressed anywhere. There is still the enforcement of the law to prosecute anyone. But I would like to say that today the people are thinking that you and your political party that is the government want this matter to end. End with
the statute of limitations. Because when the statute of limitations expires, there will be no witness examination or testimony. If these processes occur, whether witness examination and the final testimony will point to someone higher up or not, I would like to hear the Deputy Prime Minister’s opinion on whether he wants the case to end like this or not.

Mr. Phumtham explained the last question that the debate question has more questions to answer than the real question because the real question of the person seems to not care to ask. He is interested in discrediting the government’s political party, interested in discrediting the elders. I think this is inappropriate. And when you said that you like to refer to experience, I talked about the experience of emotion, not the content because if we talk about the content, we can judge according to the content, but not by using anger to talk about problems that cause further division. This is something to worry about. Another thing I want to tell you is that sinc
erity or insincerity is not determined by the debate as you said, but sincerity or insincerity is determined by actions. And this matter is a justice process, not related to the police but to all parties. And the matter is currently in court. We are trying to do our best. All we can do is expedite the arrest, but we have to admit that it is not easy. And if you have clear evidence that the police are dragging the case, please tell me. I will investigate, but do not think for yourself that the court will be like this, the prosecutor will be like this, the police will be like that, and my political party will be like that. It is not appropriate to discuss real matters. I do not want to talk about emotions and unreasonable accusations.

However, while Mr. Rangsiman was asking questions to Mr. Phumtham, Dr. Srinyada Palimaphun, a party-list MP from the Pheu Thai Party, protested from time to time, claiming that Mr. Rangsiman was discussing more than asking questions, trying to sarcastically allude to accusing pol
itical parties of not being sincere in solving the problem, even though she was a member of the Legal Affairs Committee and had heard the Tak Bai case. Therefore, she could not accuse the government’s political parties of being insincere because sincerity is public, not something that Mr. Rangsiman would keep for himself. Therefore, she could not accuse anyone of being insincere, and asked that the questions be included in the questions.

While the chairman of the meeting warned Mr. Rangsiman several times for violating the rules, and after the questioning was finished, Mr. Rangsiman tried to protest Mr. Phumtham’s answer because he thought that Mr. Phumtham’s answer referred to him. However, Mr. Paradorn tried to cut him off to move on to the next questioning agenda, causing Mr. Rangsiman to protest Mr. Paradorn’s performance that he was not neutral. Mr. Paradorn then retorted, “Is it because I am too accommodating to Mr. Rangsiman?” and emphasized that Mr. Rangsiman’s time for questioning had run out.

Sou
rce: Thai News Agency

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