Thailand’s army has vowed to hunt down those responsible for a deadly attack in the southern border province of Narathiwat that killed five paramilitary rangers and injured six others.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Chaipruk Duangprapat, who also serves as secretary-general of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), visited Narathiwat on Thursday following orders from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Army Commander Gen. Pana Klaewplodthuk.
The visit followed Wednesday’s attack, in which gunmen opened fire and hurled pipe bombs at a municipal checkpoint in Rangae district, killing five members of the Volunteer Defense Corps and wounding six people.
After inspecting the scene, receiving a security briefing and visiting the injured, Chaipruk ordered ISOC Region 4 Forward Command to tighten security measures and accelerate efforts to arrest those responsible.
He also instructed security forces to apply the Rules of Engagement (ROE) appropriately, stressing that operations must remain within the law while responding decisively to threats.
“We will hunt them down. The time has come,” Chaipruk said.
“Whoever helps them, whichever country supports them, we will hunt them down. It is time for us to become the hunters.”
Separately, Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) strongly condemned the attack, calling it “brutal and inhumane.”
The commission said the attack violated the fundamental right to life and expressed particular concern that two children, aged three and 10, were among the six people injured.
The NHRC urged authorities to swiftly bring those responsible to justice while ensuring security operations are conducted fairly and with respect for human rights, warning against actions that could stigmatize or create distrust toward any community.
It also called on the government to provide timely and fair assistance to the families of those killed and injured.