TJA condemns IO intimidation against media over assassination attempt on Deep South MP
The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) has condemned the use of Information Operations (IO) to intimidate a reporter after she asked the Commander of the 4th Army Region during a press conference about the Army’s possible involvement in the assassination attempt on a Deep South MP.In its statement issued on Wednesday (15 April), the TJA expressed concerns over intimidation against Thapanee Eadsrichai, founder of The Reporters.Thapanee raised questions during a Q&A session at the press conference held by the Commander of the 4th Army Region regarding the shooting of Kamonsak Leewamoh, a Prachachat MP for Narathiwat. She was later bombarded with hate speech believed to be part of an IO campaign.According to the statement, after the press conference, numerous social media pages appeared to act in a coordinated manner by spreading defamatory content against Thapanee. The speed and pattern suggested a deliberate information operation rather than a spontaneous public reaction.“We affirm that reporters have both the absolute right and responsibility to ask questions on issues of public concern, particularly when questioning state officials at press conferences, which is the cornerstone of the media’s duties. The problem therefore does not lie with the reporter’s ‘questions’, but rather with the reaction of those in power, which cannot be used as a reason to respond, attack, or create a wave of hatred in order to threaten the safety of the media," said the statement.The statement further added that the use of IO by security units in the Deep South has long been widely criticised. The tactics initially focused on shaping narratives to stigmatise political dissidents, politicians, and journalists.In recent years, they have evolved into attempts to undermine the credibility of those who question or challenge state power. They also aim to silence the media through methods that are difficult to trace but cause significant harm to society.“TJA therefore wishes to condemn the use of IO to intimidate the media and to call on the relevant agencies to expedite an investigation and halt the use of policies that create divisions," noted the TJA’s statement.On 20 March, attackers opened fire on MP Kamonsak’s vehicle following his return from Bangkok after a parliamentary session on 19 March.CCTV camera footage released by The Reporters shows an unknown number of attackers in a white truck opening fire at the vehicle while it was stopping at Kamonsak’s house.His driver and a police escort were reported to be seriously injured in the attack and have been taken to hospital. The MP is unharmed as he was able to duck out of the way.Kamonsak, 58, was active as a human rights lawyer in the Deep South before he joined the Prachachat Party and ran for office in the 2019 general election. He is now in his third term in office.Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has come under fire. Questions have been raised about its possible involvement in the attack following a 2 April press conference by the Prachachat Party, in which party leader Tawee Sodsong said that the pickup truck involved in the attack belonged to ISOC.During his press conference about this case on 13 April, Lt Gen Narathip Phoynork, Commander of the 4th Army Region and Director of ISOC Region 4, was asked whether the Army was involved in this assassination attempt.The commander denied the allegation. He later turned off the microphone and said, "I'm speaking personally. If it were me, I wouldn't let him survive. If I were the one who did it." He also reiterated that the case had nothing to do with the 4th Army Region.After his off-mike remark was released, he faced backlash from the general public. At the same time, Thapanee, who attended the press conference and asked the question, faced intimidation believed to be linked to IO.On her Facebook page, she said that the shooting of MP Kamonsak reflected public confidence in the state and the peace process. As the Commander overseeing security in the Deep South provinces, Lt Gen Narathip has a responsibility to address these concerns in order to maintain public confidence.She added that the use of IO to attack the media and ordinary people, as repeatedly occurred in the past, contradicted the state’s policy of promoting peace in the Deep South provinces. ISOC car used in attack on Deep South MP: what we know so far
eng editor 3
Thu, 2026-04-16 - 18:18
News
Kamonsak Leewamoh
Narathiwat
Deep South
