Military Commander Praises Unity After Shooting Incident, Confirms Cooperation with Authorities in Southern Thailand Investigation

Thai military police have arrested a lieutenant colonel suspected of shooting a member of parliament in southern Thailand, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The suspect, identified as Lieutenant Colonel Wiroj Ketumanee, was apprehended near the Thai-Myanmar border in Sangkhla Buri district on April 22, 2026, following a weeks-long manhunt. He is accused of opening fire on Kamolsak Liewamae, the MP for Narathiwat’s Constituency 5, during an attack on March 20, 2026. Royal Thai Army’s Fourth Region Commander met with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on April 23 to brief him on the arrest and ongoing security developments in the deep south. The commander reportedly gave a thumbs-up gesture during the meeting, signaling confidence in the operation’s progress and troop morale. Security forces, including the Lad Ya special task force under the 9th Infantry Division, coordinated with border patrol units to track the suspect’s movements. Intelligence led troops to a Japanese-era well area in Ban Bo Nippon, directly across from Sangkhla Buri, where Wiroj was located and taken into custody. After his arrest, the suspect was transported to Bangkok for initial processing at Royal Thai Police headquarters before being transferred back to Narathiwat province to face charges related to the attempted assassination. The case has drawn significant attention due to the victim’s prominence and the rarity of such attacks targeting elected officials in Thailand’s restive southern provinces, where insurgent activity has persisted for years. Authorities say the arrest marks a key breakthrough in efforts to dismantle networks linked to political violence in the region.