"I was labeled a criminal lawyer by the opposing side." This opens the life story of MP Kamolsak Leewamo after an assassination attempt. He reveals his inner frustrations, why he never accepted drug cases throughout his life, and examines his stance on "putting out the southern fire" amid the information operation war.
The Thairath Online special news team arrived in Narathiwat province in the afternoon, one month after the assassination attempt on Mr. Kamolsak Leewamo, also known as Lawyer Waewhae, MP for Narathiwat district 5 of the Prachachat Party.
Security personnel were still stationed in front of his residence. Inside, MP Kamolsak greeted us with a smile. He pointed out the wounds on his neck from the shooting. Although he was not seriously injured, two others who came with him were severely wounded.
Locals know MP Kamolsak Leewamo as Lawyer Waewhae. He openly shared his life journey, from dreaming of becoming a police cadet to initially passing as a reserve police officer, and significant moments meeting Lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, who became his role model in life.
Mr. Kamolsak Leewamo recalled that in 1984, after completing basic education in Narathiwat, there was a privilege for Muslims to enter police cadet training. He passed provincial selection and became the first reserve candidate using that privilege. However, since no one forfeited their spot, he enrolled at Ramkhamhaeng University’s Faculty of Law, still hoping to retake the police cadet exam after earning his degree.
After graduating in 1990, he worked in Bangkok. At that time, he wanted to work abroad and studied English. He worked as an operator for about a year. Since his parents were teachers, they wanted him to return home.
Back then, few people from the three southern border provinces studied law, so there were no seniors to guide him. A peer suggested he pursue the Bar Examination. He told his family he would quit his job to focus on a legal career. He trained at a law firm near Phra Khanong and later helped open a law office.
A turning point came in 1997 when he met Lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit. They worked together in law and human rights. Every weekend, he joined Somchai’s activities, helping defend those prosecuted in the three southern border provinces.
When Lawyer Somchai disappeared on 12 March 2004, they continued his ideals. That same year, after a gun robbery incident early in the year, he returned to Narathiwat to run for election under the Prachathipatai Party but lost.
He then decided to establish a law office in Narathiwat to assist locals in distress. He traveled from Bangkok nearly every weekend. At that time, few people in the three provinces knew the law. Before Lawyer Somchai, he had trained juniors in legal education.
"I am the first Muslim in Narathiwat to pass the Bar Examination, so many locals sought legal advice from me. From Lawyer Somchai, I learned sacrifice and human rights. Right or wrong is determined by law; the court is the judge."
On the other hand, working on legal rights for locals in the three southern provinces caused others to see him as aligned with the opposition. Many do not respect court decisions, often judging before rulings are made. They viewed the legal team as obstacles, though the justice process’s arrests are just the beginning.
One case that left a strong impression was the Dr. Wa case, a security case in 2003. When the court acquitted, everyone shed tears. It was a deeply emotional moment.
As a lawyer helping locals, he kept his home open for legal consultations without charging fees or limiting time. However, he refused to take on drug cases. He never held a license to defend drug offenses because he strongly opposed drugs and felt negative about them.
"Someone once offered me a high fee to defend a drug case, but I refused. I told him, ‘I am a doctor for other diseases, but you need to find a doctor who treats that specific illness.’"
His political journey began after offering legal advice, gaining recognition in Narathiwat. He first ran for election under the Prachathipatai Party but did not enter parliament. Later, he ran under the Matubhum Party led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin but lost to the incumbent. He then offered legal advice locally before running under the Pheu Thai Party; however, that election was annulled. In 2017, the Prachachat Party was founded.
In the 2019 election, he won a seat for the first time. He was re-elected in 2023 and again in 2026. During the Prachachat Party era, he spoke most about human rights issues for people in the three southern border provinces in parliament.
In his first term, he raised issues about locals detained under special laws who returned traumatized. He submitted parliamentary questions focusing on the villagers' problems.
"I was labeled a criminal lawyer since my time defending locals, but I didn’t mind. We don't take sides; we are lawyers according to the law, and we are not judges. If acquitted, it is the state’s role to follow up and explain, not the lawyer’s. We just represent clients in court. Importantly, none of the locals ever called me a criminal lawyer; usually, such accusations come from agencies."
After the shooting incident, social media saw information operations from both pro-government and opposing sides. MP Kamolsak views this as a dangerous new kind of war. The civilian side seems unprepared and disadvantaged. This is not a minor issue; the minister overseeing the Digital Ministry should take serious action.
He said the IO war escalated after the shooting in Narathiwat, causing suspicion among dissenters. Similar to after the 2004 gun robbery, when over 500 billion baht was spent on peacebuilding in the three southern border provinces, but ultimately, efforts had to restart—wasting resources.
The peace process in the southern border provinces has repeatedly failed due to politics and has stalled. In the last term, he intended to submit a motion to parliament to establish a special committee to review the peace process. After two years of study, they produced an excellent report, but the parliament was dissolved before presenting it. He hopes the new government will continue this work.
