PM says martial law limits his power to probe shooting

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today that he does not have the authority to directly appoint a fact-finding committee to investigate an allegation that youths were shot at from a helicopter in Narathiwat, saying the matter falls under the authority of the Fourth Army Region because martial law is in effect in the area.

Anutin was responding to calls from MPs in the southern border provinces for an investigation into the alleged shooting in Chanae district.

He said Lt Gen Narathip Poynok, commander of the Fourth Army Region and director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4, who is the incident commander and highest-ranking authority in the area, had confirmed that no such incident had occurred.

Anutin said the military is responsible for managing the situation. The Fourth Army Region commander has said a fact-finding investigation will be conducted and the government must wait for its findings.

Asked about calls for him to personally appoint an investigative committee, Anutin said the relevant laws first needed to be examined to determine whether he had the authority to do so, as there is already an incident commander who has been granted legal powers in the area.

He repeated that the imposition of martial law and emergency measures gives the military control over the situation.

Anutin cited the example of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s imposition of martial law before the 2014 coup, saying the civilian government at the time was also unable to intervene in certain matters that fell under powers granted by martial law.