The Security Committee summoned security agencies to explain the outbreak of unrest in the South, severely criticizing intelligence failures and uncoordinated operations. It revealed that for 22 years, MPs and local residents have never been invited to provide information.
On 27 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Mantian Songpracha, MP for Chainat from the Bhumjaithai Party and chairman of the Parliamentary Security Committee on State Affairs, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy, and National Reform, announced the results of a special meeting to examine unrest in the southern region. He said this meeting was historic, with 14 MPs from four southern provinces attending together.
The committee invited six security agencies to provide explanations: the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the National Security Council (NSC), the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), the Provincial Police Region 9, and the Director of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 (ISOC Region 4) (except ISOC headquarters, which was occupied). They were questioned about the causes behind over a hundred disturbances within three days, including the case of officials shooting at civilians from a helicopter.
Information revealed that security agencies lacked integrated collaboration, with inconsistent data on incident locations among them. Importantly, for 22 years, neither residents nor MPs in the area have ever been contacted by government agencies to provide information for use, even once. This has been a main reason for the public's lack of cooperation in intelligence matters. MPs in the area agree that government failures should be reviewed and efforts shifted toward solving problems through dialogue. Currently, the Prime Minister is personally overseeing the situation and has assigned the Foreign Minister to coordinate cooperation with Malaysia and Indonesia.
Mr. Natthanon Srikokeua, MP for Songkhla from the Bhumjaithai Party and deputy chairman of the committee, emphasized the consensus that local intelligence work has failed, despite not having its budget cut for 2026 and 2027. Regarding forensic issues, it was confirmed that evidence has been collected at the scenes. For the case of shooting from a helicopter where M16 and HK bullets were found lodged in a motorcycle, the relevant agencies requested three days to fully verify the facts. The committee plans to visit the area soon to monitor the situation and seek ways to prevent recurrence.