Article 54

Officials living in fear they might be next

POST REPORTERS

Three gunmen fatally shot a judge in downtown Pattani yesterday morning as he was driving to work with his mother.

The violence heightened fears about the safety of local officials.

Rapin Ruankaew, 37, a judge at Pattani provincial court, was on his way to work after dropping his child at school.

He and his mother were waiting for a traffic light to turn green at Roang Lao intersection in Pattani's Muang district when three men on two motorcycles stopped alongside his car and began spraying him with bullets.

Mr Rapin sped away but rammed into a pick-up truck. The gunmen followed and shot him again. One of them abandoned his Honda Wave motorcycle at the scene and fled with the two others on their bike.

The judge sustained eight gunshot wounds in his head and body. He died on his way to Pattani hospital. His mother, Pensri Ruankaew, was reportedly unhurt.

Pattani police chief Paithoon Pattanasopon said three suspects were arrested shortly after the shooting. One, identified only as Doloh, a Pattani native, confessed to the crime after the judge's mother identified him as one of the gunmen.

He was detained at Pattani police station for further questioning.

 Pattani court chief justice Chamras Phetsuwan said Mr Rapin was a good person. He believed the judge's death was related to ongoing troubles in the deep South, not personal conflicts or revenge for court verdicts.

``Mr Rapin was the first judge killed in the southern violence and this may just be the beginning. I think the degree of violence will magnify and that people in any profession can be attacked,'' Mr Chamras said. ``This is frightening.''

However, he said he would not ask for police protection for Pattani judges, since security officials were themselves targets.

Another judge, who asked not to be named, said Mr Rapin, while serving in Narathiwat and Pattani courts, had handed down verdicts on Muslim militants in connection with the unrest in the South.

Mr Rapin's wife, Duangnapa Ruankaew, also a judge, said she had always believed separatists would spare good people. ``What happened shows even judges are not safe so how can ordinary citizens can be guaranteed safety,'' she said.

Police Region 9 commander Manoj Kraiwong said government officials in the deep South are now living in fear amid reports that separatist rewards for killing state authorities had increased to as high as 100,000 baht per head from 50,000 baht.

Prakru Silmongkol, 76, abbot of Wat Sampaochoey in Pattani's Panare district, said Her Majesty the Queen told him during a visit to his temple after the judge was killed that she did not understand why people had to act against others with such violence. The Queen asked southerners to be patient as authorities worked to end troubles in the region, he said.

Chat Chonlaworn, secretary-general of the Office of the Judiciary, said his agency would consider again if judges in the deep South should carry firearms.

Charan Pakdeethanakul, secretary-general to Supreme Court president Atthaniti Dissatha-amnart, said Mr Atthaniti would meet judges and judicial officials in the South to give them moral support and brief them on measures to protect themselves and their families.

Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said the government was ready to provide protection for judges in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces.