Bangkok: Army spokesperson clarifies in detail, denying that helicopters fired on a group of teenagers in the southern border provinces, stating they are only used for patrols and surveillance.
According to Thai News Agency, the Army spokesperson addressed concerns raised by a Member of Parliament who had posted leading questions about a helicopter allegedly shooting at teenagers in the Southern Border Provinces. The spokesperson stressed the importance of avoiding social unrest by spreading unverified information.
Major General Winthai Suwaree, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Army, responded to a post by a Member of Parliament (MP), which cited reports from residents in Chanae District about teenagers being injured by gunfire from a helicopter. He clarified that the reports were inaccurate, explaining that Royal Thai Army aircraft in the southern border provinces are used solely for reconnaissance and aerial surveillance. He emphasized that armed helicopters have never been deployed to attack targets.
He further explained that the use of armed force against violent groups in the Southern Border Provinces is always considered a "last resort." Historical operations, such as law enforcement actions against suspects with arrest warrants, illustrate that if there is no resistance or weapon use against officers, the authorities will not resort to using weapons. Any deployment of weapons is strictly for self-defense and adheres to both legal frameworks and international principles. Major General Suwaree cautioned that presenting information in this manner can create a skewed narrative and questioned why there was no official inquiry to the responsible agencies, especially given the complexity of the situation in the Southern Border Provinces.
The spokesperson warned that such actions could incite public panic and adversely affect the morale and performance of officials during crises. He noted a recent trend of unverified information being used to criticize government agencies and urged the public and media to exercise caution. He highlighted that this behavior might be part of a communication strategy designed to manipulate public opinion and foster negative attitudes towards officials and government agencies.
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