"21 Years of Tak Bai" – Project Sama Sama Calls for a New Investigation, Martial Law Reform, and No Statute of Limitations for State Crimes

Photo: Punyaphon Rakcharoen via SAP NEWS

On 15th October 2025, at 11:30 a.m., at the Parliament Building, representatives of the Patani civil society network under the group “Project Sama Sama” submitted a petition to MP Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People's Party and Leader of the Opposition, along with MP Romadon Panjor of the People's Party. The petition proposed structural reforms for the constitution, focusing on state powers, special laws, and justice in cases of state-perpetrated crimes.

Representatives from the Patani civil society network marked the 21st anniversary of the Tak Bai incident, coinciding with a parliamentary session reviewing proposed constitutional amendments. They used the occasion to submit proposals regarding both the constitutional reform and justice for the Tak Bai case.

The representatives stated that the Tak Bai incident reflects the failures embedded within the state's structural and legal frameworks, failures that have enabled severe human rights violations to occur without oversight or accountability. As a result, the network put forward the following proposals for the new constitution:

1. Special Laws, Martial Law, and Emergency Decrees

1.1 The new constitution should require parliamentary consideration and approval for the     declaration or termination of special laws, particularly martial law.

1.2 The executive branch should have full authority to declare or terminate special laws, together with oversight mechanisms from both the legislative and judicial branches.

1.3 The use of special laws must not be indefinite. They should be subject to review and     amendment to ensure compliance with international human rights standards.

2. State Crime

2.1 The new constitution should define serious human rights violations by the state as special crimes that are not subject to any statute of limitations and cannot be granted amnesty.

2.2 An independent mechanism should be established to investigate and prosecute such cases.

3. A new constitution for all

3.1 The new constitution must not limit the people's right to draft the constitution. It must ensure public participation and reflect the people's voices.

3.2 The constitution must ensure clear representation of ethnic groups, issue-based political groups, and regional representation.

3.3 The constitution should include a comprehensive chapter on rights.

In addition to constitutional reform proposals, Project Sama Sama also submitted urgent proposals specifically related to the Tak Bai case:

Photo: Punyaphon Rakcharoen via SAP NEWS

1. The government should officially recognize the Tak Bai incident as a “state-led tragedy” and issue a formal apology to the victims.

2. Martial law and the emergency decree should be terminated in the three southern border provinces.

3. A new investigation into the Tak Bai case should be conducted through international mechanisms.

At the last part, MP Natthapong stated, “If we do not begin a process that is correct and fair to everyone, we cannot heal the wounds inflicted upon the people." He also added, “A good constitution is one that equally protects the rights of all citizens, regardless of where they come from."

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