Village Chiefs & Headmen Accept MP's ApologyOver Drug Link Allegations; Hope Incident Serves as Crucial Lesson

Bangkok, May 6, 2026 (9:30 AM) – At Parliament, the Village Chiefs and Sub-district Headmen Association of Thailand submitted a letter to Bhumjaithai Party MPs to express concern regarding remarks made by Mr. Panthil Nuamjerm, a Bangkok MP from the People's Party. The remarks were viewed as devaluing and damaging the prestige of local administrators nationwide. Mr. Yongyos Kaewkhiao, President of the Association, acted as the representative to read the following statement of intent:

1. Acceptance of Apology: As local administrators who serve as the people's pillars and uphold moral integrity, the Association is pleased to accept the apology. We thank the MP for recognizing the error and having the courage to take responsibility for his words. This sets a positive standard in a democracy when both the representative and their party publicly acknowledge mistakes.

2. Call for Professionalism: The Association sincerely hopes this incident serves as a vital lesson for all honorable members of Parliament. Oversight and criticism should be based on factual information and respect for frontline workers. Using broad generalizations not only demoralizes staff but creates unnecessary social division.

3. Turning Crisis into Motivation: Although this incident deeply hurt the feelings of village chiefs, headmen, sub-district medics, and assistants, we will use this crisis as motivation to continue our mission of "Ending Suffering, Promoting Happiness." We stand as the frontline against drug abuse with integrity and justice to prove our true honor through our work and the faith of the people.

Mr. Yongyos further emphasized the critical role of local leaders in drug suppression, citing a case in Nakhon Si Thammarat where 600,000 narcotics pills were seized. He noted that private courier services are being exploited as loopholes. The Association is calling on the Prime Minister to establish penalties and stricter regulations for private transport companies. Furthermore, Mr. Yongyos revealed that he questioned a transport company before the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), where they admitted that drug shipments from the border had successfully bypassed them three times previously, totaling 1.8 million pills.

He also highlighted the risks faced by local officers, mentioning a case where a village chief used rubber bullets to stop a drug-induced rampage, resulting in a fatality and subsequent murder charges against the officer.

Government Response:

Mr. Korrawee Prissananantakul (Bhumjaithai MP) reaffirmed his understanding of the vital role local leaders play as the frontline for the public. He stated that it is natural for workers to feel offended when their integrity is questioned. He thanked the Association President for leading with a stance of forgiveness by accepting the apology.

Mr. Korrawee added that he would bring this matter to the Government Whip meeting to inform all coalition parties. He stressed that this incident serves as a reminder for all MPs, regardless of party affiliation, to be cautious and responsible with their words. If parliamentary remarks cause damage to individuals or organizations, it must be taken as a lesson for every member of the House to exercise better judgment in the future.

Photo : Weeraphat Ratsameerueangrong