January 24, 2005
Najmuddin denies link to ambush of opponent
WASSANA NANUAM
Najmuddin Umar, Thai Rak Thai candidate for Narathiwat's constituency 3, is telling local people he had nothing to do with the roadside ambush of his Chart Thai opponent Kuheng Yaworhasan on Friday.
Mr Najmuddin said yesterday he wanted local people to understand the circumstances concerning the attack which injured the Chart Thai candidate in his right wrist and killed his canvasser in Cho Airong district.
``I do not regard Kuheng as my rival. Why should I hurt him? Besides, many members of the Yaworhasan family have been shot who were not involved in politics,'' Mr Najmuddin told villagers in Ban Awae village of tambon Matur Botok in Rangae district.
Four years ago Mr Kuheng ran for the Democrat party, standing against Mr Najmuddin, and won.
Mr Kuheng has moved to the Chart Thai party for this election. His father Kuseng is chairman of the Narathiwat provincial administration organisation.
Mr Najmuddin said incidents related to politics and regional violence were likely in the election lead-up and he would seek protection from the military.
During his campaign, Mr Najmuddin has had to defend himself in a court case in which he was accused of masterminding the arms robbery of the Fourth Development Battalion in Cho Airong district on Jan 4 last year.
``I am being bullied,'' he said.
``It's a political issue. Now, Anupong Panthachayangkoon, former kamnan of tambon Todeng, and others have changed their accounts.
``They no longer make accusations against me,'' the former MP said, referring to state witnesses in the case. His next court hearing is on Feb 22.
In his campaign, Mr Najmuddin cited his role in getting Narathiwat University open, and boosting rubber prices.
He helped end the violence by trying to convince Masae Useng, head of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) regional terrorist umbrella group, to surrender, before the terrorist managed to flee.
He had also tried to persuade separatists to abandon their goals.