Boxed In - Can't Beat the BRN, So They Target the Media and Politicians Instead
Security forces unable to suppress southern insurgents have resorted to targeting media, politicians, and civil society with false accusations of BRN sympathies, a pattern highlighted after a naval officer allegedly shot MP Kamlasak Leewame
Social media users are sharing satirical jabs at security agencies operating in the three southern border provinces, and they're clearly enjoying it. Many agree these are apt jabs that ring remarkably true: the military and security forces in the southern border region, realistically speaking, have proven incapable of suppressing insurgents. After years of southern unrest, unable to defeat the BRN, they've resorted to targeting media, politicians, NGOs, and others instead.
Using IO (information operations) units from security agencies, they've manufactured narratives accusing media outlets, politicians, NGOs, and civil society figures of being BRN sympathizers. Is this the security apparatus's idea of counterinsurgency? They simply accuse others of being BRN operatives and challenge them to fight back—chaotic and absurd.
The reality in the three southern border provinces heated up recently when an assailant used an M16 to gun down MP Kamlasak Leewameuk from the Prachathai Party. Because Prachathai refused to stay silent and police quickly investigated and arrested the perpetrator, the case exploded—the shooter was a former naval officer and former ranger using a government vehicle. Incredibly, an active-duty naval captain from the Narathiwat Royal Thai Navy provided the vehicle. Both former and current government officials were involved, and Regional Commander 4 stirred the pot further, making this a massive story.
Clearly, the incident began with an attack on an elected politician, the assailant was apprehended—someone from within government using official vehicles. Yet state IO units launched a diversion operation, attacking those investigating the matter as BRN sympathizers. These are completely different issues.
It started with former and current government officials using government vehicles to open fire on an elected Prachathai politician, and they've since attacked journalist Prasad Iedsirichay as BRN media, accused civil society of breeding violence, and had the shooter himself—the former naval officer—accuse his victim of separatism. Enough. Stop the attacks on media, human rights defenders, and politicians. The facts won't disappear regardless.
Stop the diversion. You can't divert this. And when you lack the capability to defeat the BRN, don't divert by targeting media, politicians, and NGOs with false accusations—that only fuels deeper conflict.
—Wong Tawan
