7-1-2027 (BANGKOK) Lt Gen Santi Sakuntanak, chief of the Fourth Army Region, dismissed allegations on Saturday that legal action was taken against youths in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat for wearing traditional Malay attire during a cultural fair. Lt Gen Santi clarified that those facing court summons were involved in activities promoting separatism, displaying the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu-Patani (BRN) separatist movement symbol.
He urged those spreading fake news to cease, emphasizing Thai authorities’ support for expressing cultural identities. Lt Gen Pramote Promin, spokesman for the 4th Region Army, revealed that some exploited the Malay culture fair for separatist purposes, conducting activities promoting separatism and displaying BRN flags.
Politicians attending the event were criticized last year, and Fair Party list-MP Kannavee Suebsang, aware of the youths facing summonses, denied BRN flags at the fair. He stated that most facing court summonses were fair organizers who had previously agreed to comply with the law. However, Lt Gen Santi later lodged a complaint against them, leading to confusion. The court summonses did not specify when the alleged misconduct occurred, prompting suspicion that it related to cultural activities held in 2022 and 2023.
