Tak Bai, Narathiwat Travel Package Tours, Thailand Tour Information Hotel Guide

TAK BAI OVERVIEW

This sleepy little town has a post office, bank, police station, hospital and a market, along with a largely deserted stretch of beach but is best known for what became known as the Tak Bai Massacre on 25 October 2004. On that day a largely peaceful protest in front of Tak Bai police station of some 1,500 people, demanding the release of six village defence volunteers, turned ugly, when, after the crowd refused (or was unable) to disperse, authorities fired into the crowd. This action killed seven protesters, including a 14 year old. The aftermath formed one of the most shameful episodes of the long-running troubles in far southern Thailand. After allowing women and children to leave, police rounded up some 1,300 men and boys and laid them up to six deep in 28 trucks for transfer to an army base in Pattani. The ensuring trip, which would normally take no more the one and a half hours took an average of five hours as the trucks took varied routes and stopped or were delayed for long periods of time. During the transportation 78 protestors died, mostly of asphyxiation. In response to the explosion of local and international outrage following this incident, PM Thaksin Shinawatra first reaction was to suggest that the deaths were the Muslims' own fault for fasting during Ramadan: "It's normal that their bodies could not handle it. It's not about someone attacking them". While he later back-pedalled somewhat, his comment well-illustrated his apparent lack of concern for the victims and lack of understanding of what atually happened. The investigation into the massacre found some of the military officers at fault for the deaths and they were transferred to other posts. Meanwhile the families of the bereaved were offered 10,000B each in compensation. Today, Tak Bai police station remains cordoned off, but, as with so many of the problems in the far south, there is otherwise no evidence that anything ever happened.

Taba Checkpoint or Tak Bai Checkpoint
This checkpoint is at Ban Taba, Tambon Chehe, approximately 3 kilometers from the district. The checkpoint is another trading post between Thailand and Malaysia apart from the Su-ngai Kolok checkpoint. Crossing over is possible by long-tail boats or by ferry (different landings). Boats leave every 15 minutes and operate between 6.30 a.m. and 5.15 p.m. The fee is 6 baht per person. (same price for every pier) The fee for a motorcycle is 15 baht, a 4-wheel car is 50 baht and a bus is 100 baht. Visitors wishing to drive a car further than the customs checkpoint have to obtain car insurance for driving in Malaysia. Other regulations are that the car must not have more than 40% tinting and must have seatbelts, as Malaysia is very strict about vehicle safety. It is possible to purchase insurance in Thailand providing coverage for 9 days to 1 year with the normal cost of insurance being between 600 and 700 baht. To get there, take Highway No. 4084 (Amphoe Mueang-Amphoe Tak Bai).