January 6, 2005

Schools shut `indefinitely' across Yala

Decision comes after Monday arson attack

MUHAMMAD AYUB PATHAN WAERDAO HARAI

The Yala teachers federation has decided to close indefinitely all

schools in two education zones following the torching of a primary

school in Bannang Sata district on Monday.

Sanya Suphannapho, chairman of the federation, yesterday called an

urgent meeting with representatives from education zones 1 and 2 and

administrators of schools in the two zones to discuss unrest in the

province. They agreed to close all schools indefinitely.

Earlier, the schools were shut for a week as teachers feared for their

safety after the fatal shooting of a teacher at Ban Sakhor school in

Muang district of Yala.

On Monday, Nikhom Sangton-eng Pattana Paktai primary school in Bannang

Sata district was set on fire. A building, two teachers' quarters and a

science laboratory were destroyed.

Col Somkhuan Saengpattranet, spokesman for the Southern Border

Provinces Peace-building Command (SBPPC), and education zone 2 director

Adinant Pakbara yesterday inspected the torched school and ordered the

wreckage of the burnt buildings be cleared away.

Col Somkhuan said Yala Technical College has been asked to construct a

new building for the school.

The construction cost for the two-storey building with eight classrooms

was estimated at three million baht.

Pending completion, the office of tambon Talingchan administration

organisation will serve as a temporary classroom for students.

Police officers from eight police regions have been sent to reinforce

units in the deep South to prevent Muslim militants from launching

further attacks.

National police chief Kowit Wattana has ordered reinforcements of all

tambon and district police stations in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

Patrols along areas vulnerable to attack and government offices have

also been increased. Teams of police have also been sent to beef up

security for teachers.

A combined force of soldiers, police and local officials in Narathiwat

increased security levels across Narathiwat on Tuesday night in

anticipation there might be an attack on military units to mark the

first anniversary of the Jan 4 2003 raid on an army camp in the province

when four soldiers were killed and weapons were looted.

The Fourth Army Region has dispatched helicopters to help patrol 13

districts of the three southern provinces. Road checkpoints have also

been set up.

Despite the increased security, more than 80 durian and longong trees

owned by a local resident in Sungai Padi district of Narathiwat were

destroyed yesterday by unknown attackers.

Mahama Metharong, 50, the owner of the fruit orchard, said the

attackers fled after local residents who lived near his fruit orchard

saw them. He dared not file a complaint with police for fear they might

return to attack him and his family.