Anger is simmering in southern Thailand after officials accused of the Tak Bai massacre missed their court date

In August, seven military and police officers were charged with murder in the October 25, 2004, raids in which seven protesters were shot dead and another 78 suffocated after they were piled face-down and handcuffed into army trucks.

However, the statute of limitations is set to expire at midnight on Friday as the suspects are believed to have fled Thailand, meaning the charges must be dropped by the court.

Commemorative events marking the 20th anniversary of the massacre were held in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces, recalling a tragedy that is often cited as an example of state impunity and became a recruiting tool for an insurgency that has claimed 7,500 lives over the past two decades .

Among the refugees is General Pisal Wattanwongkiri, who was responsible for security measures in the south at the time.