There has been considerable international publicity about the role of Colonel Manas (or Manat) Kongpan in the action against the Rohingya refugees. Readers interested in his record may find the following extract from the Asian Human Rights Commission informative:
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that a court in Thailand has identified three army officers as responsible for the killing of 28 persons inside the Krue Se Mosque on 28 April 2004. The court verdict, in a post mortem inquest, now opens the way for criminal charges to be lodged against the three. However, your assistance is needed to see that the police and public prosecutor do their jobs, particularly at this time that the authorities in Thailand are under heavy intimidation from the military. Meanwhile, despite the dropping of charges against 58 innocent persons in the infamous Tak Bai case, no charges have yet been laid against any of the military and government officers responsible for the mass deaths in custody and other gross abuses committed there. …
The inquest began in the Pattani Provincial Court in November 2004 and was completed in September 2006. On 28 November 2006 the judge held that out of the 32 persons, four had been killed in fighting with police at a nearby checkpoint. However, the remaining 28 persons had fled to the Krue Se Mosque and had hidden inside and were armed only with knives. The military subsequently stormed the mosque and killed all 28 of the persons there. A full list of the victims follows. It was widely reported that they had been killed execution-style after surrendering. The court identified the three officers responsible for the killings as:
1. General Pallop Pinmanee
2. Colonel Manas Kongpan
3. Lieutenant Colonel Tanaphat Nakchaiya
Thanks to a regular reader for the tip!