The National Human Rights Commission issued a statement condemning the pipe bomb attack in Narathiwat that killed five rangers and injured civilians, urging swift legal action against the perpetrators to ensure justice.
On 23 July 2026, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) released a statement condemning an attack on the Buke Sami checkpoint in Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat province. It reported that a group of assailants brazenly fired guns and threw pipe bombs at the checkpoint in Buke Sami, Talat Tan Yong Mas village, Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat, on the evening of 22 July. The attack resulted in the deaths of five officers guarding public safety and injuries to six civilians, including children aged 3 and 10 years old.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) strongly condemns this brutal and inhumane act. The deliberate use of violence to take lives and harm others constitutes a grave crime. Regardless of any ideology or conflict claimed by the perpetrators, such killing of fellow human beings cannot be justified or accepted.
This act violates the most fundamental human right—the right to life. Every person is born with the right to live, and no one has the right to take another’s life. The state has the duty to protect and safeguard the lives of its citizens. This right is guaranteed under Section 28 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2560 (2017), and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Thailand is a party.
Moreover, the injury of children by gunfire and explosions is a grave concern for the NHRC and wholly unacceptable. Every child has the right to survive, grow, and develop and must be protected from all forms of violence according to Articles 6 and 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Thailand is obligated to implement.
The NHRC emphasizes that violence does not discriminate based on religion or ethnicity. Those who suffer pain and loss are fellow community members in the affected area. The NHRC extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased officers and sends its heartfelt wishes for a full recovery to all injured children and civilians. It calls on state agencies to provide fair and timely support and compensation to those affected and their families.
The NHRC calls on authorities to promptly bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law, alongside ensuring the safety of the public. Officials’ operations must be conducted with fairness and respect for human dignity, avoiding generalizations or creating suspicion toward any community. This is essential for restoring peace and security in the southern border provinces, making them truly safe areas for all.
