January 25, 2005

Policeman murdered in cold blood

A police officer was shot dead yesterday morning after completing

patrol duty at a school in Narathiwat's Rangae district.

Pol Snr Sgt-Maj Uthai Wutthinan, 48, was hit by five bullets fired by a

gunman on the back of a motorcycle near Lubo Kayo school about 7.40am

and fell from his motorbike. Witnesses said the gunman then delivered a

final shot to his head and stole the dead officer's .38 pistol.

In Yala, an employee of the Bannang Sata district post office was shot

dead about noon yesterday.

Witnesses told police Damrong Pipatpakdi, 44, of tambon Khuan Banglang,

was shot three times while riding his motorcycle to the Bannang Sata

town post office.

On Sunday night, an assistant village head and two other men who all

claimed they were drunk were arrested after firing shots at a patrol

vehicle in Pattani's Panare district. They denied being separatists.

Sama-ae Suemeng, 52, assistant village head of tambon Krarae in

Pattani's Mayo district, was arrested along with driver Tuwae-achi

Tuwae-lomi, 35, and Mayalee, alias Nimae Sameng, 43.

They were apparently still intoxicated when arrested, police said, and

were later sent to Panare police station for questioning and detention.

Police said three men in a pick-up truck followed the patrol vehicle

before firing two shots from a .357 pistol. Police and soldiers returned

fire and give chase.

The men's pick-up was cornered at Wat Phor intersection in Panare

district where they were arrested.

``I was drunk as I had been drinking since the afternoon. I didn't know

what made me fire shots at a police vehicle,'' Mr Sama-ae said. ``I just

wanted to shoot at the time. I'm not a separatist. I don't know any of

them. I'm very sorry for my actions. I couldn't control myself.''.

Police seized a .357 pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition from Mr

Sama-ae. Two spent bullets were also found at the scene. The patrol

vehicle was not damaged.

Mr Mayalee said he had not encouraged the assistant village chief to

open fire. All of them had been drunk, he said.

The driver of the pick-up, Mr Tuwae-achi, said he overtook the patrol

vehicle as it was travelling slowly. He had no idea why Mr Sama-ae

started shooting.