NARATHIWAT - Prachachat Party MP Kamonsak Leewamoh narrowly escaped an attack by gunmen as he was returning to his home in Bacho district in the early hours of Friday.
Bacho police said the attack took place around 1am in front of the politician’s house just as Mr Kamonsak was returning home from voting in parliament for Anutin Charnvirakul to be the next prime minister.
The lawmaker was unscathed by the assault but his driver and a police escort were seriously injured, according to authorities.
Mr Kamonsak is a well-known human rights attorney active in the southernmost region. He played a prominent role in the campaign to bring defendants from the Tak Bai massacre to trial and a push for legislative amendments aiding civilians involved in fatal conflicts with state agents.
"Is it time to amend laws governing deaths caused by authorities while on duty?" he said in an interview with the Bangkok Post in 2024, when he sat on the House committee on law, justice and human rights.
Security camera footage showed gunmen on a pickup truck fired about 10 rounds from heavy weaponry at his van before speeding off.
Prachachat party has strongly condemned the attack, saying it sets a dangerous precedent for peaceful society.
Party secretary-general Sukarno Matha urged a quick apprehension of the assailants, calling their actions a challenge to law enforcement in the country.
Mr Sukarno remarked that political conflicts or the southern unrest could have been the motives behind the shooting due to Mr Kamonsak’s dual roles.
