Parliamentary Panel Probes Shooting of Narathiwat MP

A House committee on law, chaired by Rangsiman Rom and including Major General Tawi Sod Sod, visited Yala and Songkhla provinces to review law enforcement and justice administration while monitoring human rights protections to support peace-building efforts in the southern border region, which remains troubled. The delegation also met at the Yala Police Operations Center to discuss the assassination attempt on Kamlasak Leewamueaw, a Narathiwat MP from the Pracharaj Party. Although the connection to the southern conflict remains uncertain, the case has damaged public confidence in the area. Major General Tawi stressed to officials the importance of investigating the two M-16 rifles used in the attack by checking manufacturer and customs records to determine which agency received them. The weapons had previously been found near Narathiwat Rajanagarindra University, prompting investigators to establish the facts. Public perception of the case has led some to suspect state involvement in the killing, undermining faith in the justice system and human rights principles in the region. Officials were asked to handle the case transparently and to expand the investigation to include suspects who had allegedly been following the MP to establish the truth and ensure fairness to all parties. Currently, five defendants—former naval personnel, former rangers, and an auto-shop owner—are in custody with security agencies, while two naval officers face court proceedings. The shop owner has been sentenced to prison for his role in destroying the getaway vehicle. However, the case remains problematic because those who allegedly directed the attack remain unidentified, and the ownership and chain of custody of the weapons used require further clarification. Authorities are urged to pursue the investigation transparently, as clearing up this case would help build peace in the region.