Army Denies Helicopter Fired on Teenagers in Jae Nae
The Thai Army denied allegations that a helicopter fired on teenagers in Jae Nae district, saying aircraft in the southern border region are used only for patrol and reconnaissance, never for armed attacks.
On August 23, army spokesman Vindhya Suwaree addressed claims made by a member of parliament through Facebook, citing reports from residents in Jae Nae district that a group of teenagers was injured by gunfire from a helicopter. Suwaree said the information did not align with facts, either tactically or strategically, because army aircraft in the southern border region are deployed solely for aerial patrol and reconnaissance and have never been used to attack targets with armed helicopters.
Regarding the use of force against violent offenders in the southern border region, officials treat it as a last resort, as evidenced by past operations such as law enforcement against warrant suspects. If there is no resistance or attack on officials, no weapons will be used by authorities. The military confirmed that any use of force follows self-defense principles within legal and international frameworks.
Suwaree criticized the presentation of one-sided, unverified information, questioning why proper channels and responsible agencies were not consulted. He noted that many situations in the southern border region cannot be judged from a single account and require multiple perspectives. The spokesman warned that such reports could alarm the public and damage morale and operational effectiveness of officials during a crisis.
He also noted that state agencies are increasingly criticized based on unfiltered information and urged the public and media to exercise caution, as such patterns may constitute a media strategy to manipulate public opinion and foster negative perceptions of state officials and institutions.
