BANGKOK, 9 November 2004 — A group of 144 academics upped the pressure on Thailand’s premier yesterday by releasing an open letter demanding he apologize for the deaths of 78 Muslim protesters piled on army trucks by security forces.
The academics from 18 Thai universities said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should take responsibility for the deaths following a riot two weeks ago in the Muslim-majority south of the country.
Thaksin has said the deaths should not have happened but has stopped short of a full apology. Yesterday, he said he could apologize if he thought it would help the situation.
“I am ready to do anything if it helps to stop the problem. I could apologize if it will help, I can walk to every single house if it helps,” he told reporters.
“The government has to do many things to heal people’s feelings after the incident.”
A total of 87 people died after troops broke up the riot at Tak Bai in the southern province of Narathiwat with tear gas, water cannon and gunfire.
The majority suffocated or were crushed after being bound and left for hours on trucks.
Since the tragedy, Thaksin has continued to take a hard line against separatists.
But the academics in their letter said the government had failed in its tough policy of suppression. “We totally disagree with the policy of using force to solve the problem and we call for the government to change its policies,” said the letter.
“We also agree the prime minister should consider his mistakes and express his responsibility.
“As the highest person in power, the prime minister cannot deny responsibility for the failure of the policies and the least the prime minister should do is apologize to the people, especially Muslims and relatives of the dead people.”
Thaksin said he was prepared to meet the academics to discuss their concerns.
Thaksin has come under harsh criticism at home and abroad for using heavy-handed tactics in dealing with the violence in the south, where most of Thailand’s Muslims live.
Meanwhile, Thaksin said yesterday he has not made a final decision on whether he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit later this month in Chile.
Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said the Thai leader was still “weighing his options” and had not made a final decision.
Thaksin told reporters yesterday he had not yet canceled his trip, after officials said earlier the Thai leader would not be attending the summit due to rising tensions in the southern provinces.
