Published on June 21, 2005

One year after the murder of environmentalist Charoen Wat-aksorn, his widow said she had lost faith in the justice system and was now convinced the masterminds behind the killing would never be brought to justice.

“I feel the investigation has been pre-determined to let the masterminds off the hook. The long arm of the law will never reach the culprits, who have Mafia-style influence, just like many other cases before this,” Korn-uma Pongnoi said in a recent interview.

Her husband was gunned down on June 21 last year after returning to Prachuap Khiri Khan from Bangkok, where he had testified before a Senate committee over alleged attempts by local influential people to grab public land in Tambon Bo Nok in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Muang district.

Charoen was credited with pressuring the government into cancelling a plan to build the Bo Nok power plant in Prachuap Khiri Khan due to environmental concerns.

In the face of a public uproar over his death, the Special Investigation Department (SID) took over the case from local police and initially identified five suspects, including a former kamnan of Tambon Bo Nok.

The SID stepped in after locals complained that witnesses were afraid to talk to local police whom they regarded as being close to the influential suspects.

The two suspected gunmen behind the murder told investigators they shot Charoen because of a personal grudge.

They did not implicate the three alleged masterminds behind the killing.

As a result, the suspected masterminds were released on bail, while the two suspected gunmen remain in detention.

The investigation has since focused on a theory that Charoen’s murder was motivated by personal vengeance, while conflicts surrounding his fight to protect the environment and public land were downplayed.

Upset with the investigation, Korn-uma has refused to be a joint plaintiff in the case when it is forwarded to the court.

“Had she agreed to be a joint plaintiff, she would have been rubber stamping the fact that Charoen was killed because of personal conflicts,” said Sangchai Rattanaseriwong, a lawyer who represented the Bo Nok activists.

The murder trial is scheduled to begin next year.

Saengchai said Korn-uma had no problem waiting for justice, but was at a loss because it now appeared justice might never prevail.

“I don’t know why the SID has concluded its investigation like this,” the lawyer said.

SID director-general Sombat Amornwiwat said yesterday the agency was still pursuing all leads that would implicate the three suspected masterminds.

“We have encountered problems but we have not yet given up,” he said. He was prepared to meet with Bo Nok protesters today. The protesters are to gather at the SID office to demand justice for Charoen.

Local environmentalist Terdsak Rungjaeng said yesterday he and other locals felt the SID only acted because of public pressure.

“It was very active at first, but now we feel the SID is doing nothing,” he said.

Watcharin Panuran, a public prosecutor at the Department of Special Litigation, described Charoen’s case as “difficult” because of the lack of witnesses.

“Even the best public prosecutor would not be able to nail down the suspected masterminds because no one has agreed to testify against them. What can we do then,” he asked.

However, he said the case had a legal limitation of 20 years, during which time new evidence could lead to the prosecution of other suspects.

“If you can act as witnesses in this case or have any useful information, please step forward so that we can take action,” Watcharin said.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan, Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

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