On August 23, 2024, a Thai court decided to prosecute seven former military and police officials for their roles in the deaths of 85 Muslim men during a 2004 protest in Tak Bai. The officials face charges of murder, attempted murder, and unlawful detention. The statute of limitations on these charges expires at the end of October, marking 20 years since the massacre.

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, a human rights lawyer, expressed relief and satisfaction with the decision. The case involves the deaths of 85 individuals, including 78 who suffocated in overcrowded police trucks. An earlier inquest criticized the use of excessive force but did not result in charges.

Of the nine officers sued by survivors and relatives, the court chose not to prosecute two. This decision is seen as a rare move towards accountability in Thailand, where high-ranking officials are often considered immune to prosecution. Amnesty International welcomed the decision but urged that at least one defendant must appear in court by October 25 for the case to proceed. Concerns remain that the accused may try to avoid trial.

The decision is viewed as a small but significant step toward justice for the Muslim community in southern Thailand, where ethnic conflict and violence have persisted for decades.