January 18, 2004

Shootings, arson again daily events

POST REPORTERS

A school, a public telephone booth and a roadside shelter in Yala were

torched, a teacher killed in Pattani and a Democrat party canvasser shot

and seriously wounded in Narathiwat, as daily violence again gripped the

deep South with fear.

The attacks followed Sunday's bomb explosion triggered by a mobile

telephone at a noodle shop in downtown Yala, where the shop owner, Ket

Ratson, was killed and 47 people injured.

Less than 24 hours after the bombing, Ban Pru school in Yala's Raman

district was destroyed in a fire believed to be set when a village

security team guarding the school returned home for their morning

prayers.

The whole building housing three classrooms of Prathom 1, 2 and 3

students was razed. Damage was estimated at 500,000 baht. The school,

which will be rebuilt, has 169 students and eight teachers.

In Yala's Bannang Sata district, a phone booth and a roadside shelter

were burnt about the same time. There were no injuries.

In Pattani's Sai Buri district, Mana Salae, 49, deputy director of Ban

Pa Muang school, was driving his pick-up truck to school when two men on

a motorcycle fired shots in his body and head. Mana died later at Sai

Buri hospital.

The murder caused fearful teachers to shut down at least an 10 nearby

schools.

Pattani governor Cherdpan na Songkhla ordered all government agencies

to heighten security in the wake of reports that insurgents were

planning car bomb attacks in the province.

In Narathiwat's Rangae district, Manawee Jehlae, 53, a village headman

and canvasser of Democrat poll candidate Waehama Baka, was shot three

times with an 11mm pistol while riding his motorcycle home. Mr Manawee

was hit in the chin, left shoulder and abdomen and was in critical

condition in Narathiwat Ratchanakharin hospital.

Yala governor Boonyasit Suwannarat, meanwhile, reported to the Interior

Ministry that the bomb attack on the noodle shop was believed to be

revenge by Muslim militants for last month's arrest of three religious

teachers suspected of involvement in the southern violence.

Yala residents yesterday put up a big billboard near Siroros hospital

which read: ``The people of the three southern provinces are not stupid.

Don't think that killing can help you separate this land. We are Muslims

and we love Thailand. The new Pattani State is doomed.''