Former judge Suchinda Yongsunthorn said on Wednesday security forces with heavy weaponry stormed the historic Krue Se mosque and killed Muslim fighters armed only with machetes
and a single gun.
The storming of the mosque on 28 April was the final battle of a disastrous uprising that left 108 rebels dead.
It sparked international condemnation amid widespread accusations from the Muslim community that the authorities had been heavy-handed in crushing the unrest - part of a continuing uprising that has seen more than 250 killed this year.
No one blamed
In a report delivered to Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, the six-strong committee did not blame any individual
and cleared the military of wrongdoing since martial law had already
been imposed across parts of the country's restive south.
But asked if he believed the security
forces had used too much force against the lightly armed rebels,
Suchinda said: "Yes, I do feel that way.
"Various evidence convinced me, such as the many heavy
weapons ... and machine guns used by the military, while the
militants had only machetes and one gun with not many stolen
bullets," he said.
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"Based on the evidence, we found that the military was authorised in its use of force under martial law but public pressure at the scene also partly fuelled
the storming"
Suchinda Yongsunthorn, retired Thai judge who headed the
28 April violence inquiry |
"The conclusion was neutral, did not point out directly who was
to blame and it's merely a direct report of what happened."
He added: "Based on the evidence, we found that the military was
authorised in its use of force under martial law but public pressure
at the scene also partly fuelled the storming."
Gen. Panlop Pinmanee, the military commander who ordered the
operation, said he made the right decision to save the lives of
his men and to prevent the uprising from spreading.
'Ready to explain'
Three members of the security forces were killed at the mosque
and eight injured, General Pinmanee said.
"I had no choice. If I had delayed my decision by two or three
hours, there would have been more catastrophe according to
surrendered militants, who said they had planned simultaneous
attacks in five provinces.
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Bangkok is planning to launch a
fresh round of army operations |
"I am ready to explain my actions to every party concerned,
including the prime minister."
Thaksin set up the inquiry committee - which includes four
Muslim members - after coming under fierce international pressure
to investigate the killings at the mosque.
The uprising on 28 April also left five members of the security
forces dead during fighting in three Muslim-dominated provinces of
Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
Thailand's south has seen decades of separatist agitation, but
after a period of relative peace, trouble flared at the start of
this year, with bombings and killings targeting officials, security
forces and Buddhist monks.
Southern unrest
The violence sparked fears the conflict could broaden into major strife between Muslims, a majority in the south, and the overwhelmingly Buddhist population in Thailand.
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PM Shinawatra is seen by some
Thais as too supportive of Bush |
Analysts say Thailand's Muslim-majority south has been largely excluded from
the country's recent rapid development, while at the same time Islam has been a growing factor in local politics.
Suchinda said it was down to Thaksin whether or not to make the
report public, but warned "heavy-handed" tactics by the government
would not solve the problem.
The retired constitutional court judge said the
separatist movement, widespread smuggling and the abuse of power by
officials appointed by Bangkok, all contributed to the violence.
However, Thaksin's government signalled on Tuesday it was ready to embark on
renewed tough military action as killings continued after low-key
talks with the rebels.