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December 25, 2005
Thailand: More Killings Of Buddhists And Muslims In Troubled South
South Africa's Independent Online reports that the killings have begun again in the south of Thailand.
In the province of Yala, four people were shot down in separate incidents, police said today.
On Sunday, Christmas Day, two Buddhists were killed in the district of Raman while driving. 53-year old Term Srisuwan and 45-year old Nikhom Sae-ngao were shot by unidentified assailants.
In Bannag Sata district earlier in the day, a Buddhist man, 32-year old Paibool Upala was riding a motorcycle with a female Muslim companion, 30-year old Rahaya Yawo, when the couple was shot by suspected Islamists. Paibool died instantly, while his companion is in a critical condition.
According to the Bangkok Post the motorcycle incident happened at 7.30 am, while the Raman incident took place in Ban Salopatae in tambon Kototuera about 11am, the killings done by motorcycle gunmen
Yala is one of three provinces which lie in the south near the Malaysian border, which are predominantly Muslim, and were part of an independent sultanate of Pattani. The other two Thai provinces are Narathiwat and Pattani. The sultanate of Pattani was conquered by Bangkok in 1786, and was placed under central bureaucracy as part of Siam (Thailand) in 1902.
Currently there has been an insurgency raging since January 2004, in which more than a thousand people have died. Much of the unrest is caused by Muslims who wish the three provinces of former Pattani nation to become independent of Thailand, though their actions currently seem aimed at causing chaos, with many Muslims being attacked by the militants for being "collaborators".
In Narathiwat on Saturday night, the Bangkok Post reports that armed men attacked a school in Muang district, and killed Arong Tayeh, aged 46. Arong, a volunteer guard is said to have approached the armed men to ask for identification, and then was shot in the head. The incident happened at 7pm local time.
The Independent quotes police superintendent for Muang, Colonel Nukul Kraithong, who said: "Up to five militants came to school and called the victim's name. He came out of a prayer room and they sprayed him with an assault rifle." Colonel Nukul says the attackers stole Arong's handgun.
The chief investigator for the police in Raman, Yala province, Lt Col Sukhon Suchanthabut, said "It's clear that the gunmen want to incite unrest since there are many killings today."
These acts of violence follow a car-bombing outside a teashop frequented by police and official figures, which happened on Friday 22nd, in the town of Narathiwat, which injured seven people.
Currently, the south is undergoing a problem with its schools, caused by widespread flooding which took place between 17 and 20 December, with more than 350 schools now closed in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
On Dec 17 and 18, flash floods particularly affected Yaha district in Yala, where 2,500 families, mainly in tambon Sa-ae, were hit, with houses damaged. Soldiers distributed relief items and clean water, and assisted in repairing damaged buildings.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at December 25, 2005 4:18 PM
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